Windows 10: Windows Defender tray icon, remove "!" with unused features?

I recently 'upgraded' to Win10 Version 1703 (Creator's), which uses Windows Defender Security Center, rather than good ol' Windows Defender. I have the tray icon in the Notification Area set to always show, but it displays a yellow exclamation point if the 'App and browser control' feature is not completely engaged. I do not use MS Edge and have the Smart Screen utility turned off for that, plus the one for the MS App Store as well. If I turn these on the yellow ! goes away, but I'd rather leave them off. Is there any way to remove the yellow ! from the icon when certain utilities are purposely turned off? Alternatively, does anyone (really) know if no data will be forwarded to Redmond (or Mumbai or wherever) if these features are enabled but the associated applications (Edge/Store) are never used/visited? Thanks in advance.

:)

 

Windows Defender

Hello Kenneth,

In order to assist you, we need to know if your Windows Defender notification icon is included on your startup item. Go to
Task Manager then go to Startup tab to check if Windows Defender is enabled or not.

We'll wait for your reply.

 

lost icon

 

@Electrojim
Currently, I don't believe you can do that. I do believe that in the forthcoming Fall Update (Sept), your choices for those options will be honored and you will not have the yellow ! I will have to hunt up the announcement on that if you need to see it.


Edit: I found it. Read the answer from MS on this:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-security/creators-update-windows-defender-problem-device/9ddcdd41-c754-4167-9706-00756fc49248


Also this from Insider release notes for 16232

We’ve listened to feedback and in Windows Defender Security Center you will soon have the option to dismiss recommendations (yellow badged items). In this build, you will see the upcoming addition however it is under construction and not up and running yet. Stay tuned and we’ll let you know when we have it finished.

 

I created a schedule in Task Scheduler so it will auto scan at certain intervals. That is why the yellow shield is there. Beats me why it does not do this on it's own.

 

Thanks, guys,

Good info; we'll see if it's fixed in a forthcoming update. I marked as 'solved' for now.