Windows 10: Windows Security app crashes when trying to view Protection History

I'm running 1909. Whenever I try viewing "Protection History", the Windows Security app crashes:

Because of this, I cannot respond to "Ransomware protection" blocks when needed.

I am guessing that something to do with Windows Defender became corrupted. I have already tried deleting "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Scans\History" and rebooting, but that didn't help. I've run "sfc /scannow", but that only replaced ("repaired") unrelated shortcut files I'd deleted previously.

I'm pretty much out of ideas. Can someone help?

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Here are the last few lines of output from Sysinternals Process Monitor, right before the crash:



I created the missing "GEH" directory, and then noticed that the "POF.dat" file was successfully created inside it when I tried viewing "Protection History" again, but SecHealthUI.exe still crashed.

:)

 

Windows Security - Protection History

Whoa! Hold on... I see a couple of things wrong here at a few different levels.

Command line vs. GUI: Using PowerShell to change settings in Windows Security?

So you're telling me that there is no graphical way of "setting to block potentially unwanted apps" in "Windows Security"? Even though the message is coming right from the GUI of "Windows Security"? In other words, I have to use "PowerShell" to accomplish the
task? Fancy! Now, how many normal/regular Windows users know what PowerShell is or how to use it with confidence?...

@Micrsooft: Is this some inside joke that I'm not getting? If you as a programmer present such a message graphically in the context of "Windows Security" where you rant about some setting for "unwanted apps" being
turned off, then I expect you to graphically present the option to remedy that problem. Albeit there is a contextual "Actions" drop-down menu, but it has no "off" option as presented in the message, and there is no "on" option (as implicated by the message).
So even if these actionable commands so to speak do remedy the problem (I haven't actually tried it), this is not the way to interact or communicate well with the user. There needs to be an option to flip this setting
on or off right there in the GUI of "Windows Security", instead of issuing some PowerShell command in the background.

Truths about the state of things in Windows Security and Windows

Let's try to establish some truths about what is and what isn't true about Windows Security. I invite you to correct me if I'm wrong at any point.

• "setting to block potentially unwanted apps" is equal to "PUAProtection".
  
• "PUAProtection" is equal to "SmartScreen".
  
• "Microsoft Defender" is equal to "Windows Defender Security Center".
  
• "Windows Defender Security Center" is equal to "Windows Security".
  
• "PUAProtection" is disabled by default.
  
• "PUAProtection"/"SmartScreen" cannot be changed from within "Microsoft Defender"/"Windows Defender"/"Windows Security".

Windows Defender Security Center vs. Windows Security

Here are a couple of things that are not matching in my version of Windows 10 and "Windows Security" with the linked article on Windows Central and "Windows Defender Security Center". Today is 2019-12-06, and that article was published 2018-08-20.

• There is no "Threat history" under "Virus & threat protection". I can see why. It would seem redundant to say the same thing twice: "Threat history" and "Protection history". (Pun! Protection is history!)
• There are no "Quarantined threats" under "Virus & threat protection". This is now "Allowed threats". I can see why: "Allowed" is simple English.
  

 

Windows 10 View Update History

There is no "View your update history" option in the Advanced option Window. Things have apparently changed since you posted this. Have another suggestion?

 

Windows Defender Threat Protection history crashes

I used to be able to see and alter the controlled folder access protection history with windows 10. Ever since a recent update I cannot view my protection history without the window crashing. I have tried deleting my threat protection history but even
in Command Prompt and the other solutions I found it cannot find any folders for it. I am at a loss because Windows Defender blocks nearly everything I try to save and its harder to exclude it without being able to see my history. Any help would be appreciated,
thank you.