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I have an older laptop and this thing is hogging memory. I would prefer to have malware. I've already shut off every user/administrator accessible element of Windows Defender. How do I get rid of this?
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Hi，
This always related to Real-time Protection. Try the methods below:
1.Try to find the Registry below:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows Defender
Right-click on Windows Defender > select New > DWORD.
Double click the newly created DWORD > name it DisableAntiSpyware > set the value to 1.
2.Try to find the group policy below:
Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Windows Defender Antivirus/Real-time Protection
In the right pane, double click on Turn off real-time protection. Enabled
If you find this service eats high CPU and memory, I consider that you also could check the Task Scheduler to disable or delete related Windows Defender task.
At last, I think you may disable Windows Defender service. Type services.msc in Search Bar to open service window.
However, we do not recommend turning off Windows Defender, as this may increase the risk to your system security.
Hope this helps and please help to accept as Answer if the response is useful.
Best Regards,
Carl
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This method doesn't work. Never did. The registry entries for all of Windows Defender in the HKEY location you mentioned are write-protected. No user can modify them. Cannot add, delete, or modify any key in that tree.
Also, the services for Windows Defender are also locked. They cannot be stopped, and cannot have their startup type changed. All options are greyed out.
At this point, Windows Defender is NOT able to be "disabled". I also want to remove it, as one of my files it keeps deleting, even though I KNOW the file is good. But since I can't get Defender to STOP RUNNING, I will never be able to access my file.
This forced behavior needs to stop. I need a way to COMPLETELY DISABLE Windows Defender AND it's related processes and services, with a method that DOES work.
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