Windows 7: Windows Defender - Turn On or Off

Brink · 03 Apr 2009

How to Turn Windows Defender On or Off in Windows 7

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Click here to read the entire tutorial

Last edited by Brink; 25 Mar 2013 at 10:15 PM..

gregrocker · 01 Mar 2012

Have you heard of the MSE beta which has auto-updating and silent threat removal?

Brink · 01 Mar 2012

Yep.

New Microsoft Security Essentials beta available to select testers | ZDNet

anaron · 01 Mar 2012

Thanks Brink, got it downloaded and will give it a try.
Ron Burnes

Brink · 01 Mar 2012

You're welcome Ron.

hdc · 09 Mar 2012

These methods certainly disable the defender service, but you will probably still see a popup at boot saying the service is disabled. This is caused by another startup item. In vista, it was obvious - windows defender, but in Windows 7, it is obfuscated under MS(R) Win(R) Operating System. Look in the command column to find the culprit - defender\msascui.exe.

anaron · 09 Mar 2012

Thanks, I'll keep this in mind but a week now and no issues with Defender - fingers crossed!'
Ron Burnes

anaron · 19 Mar 2012

Thanks Brink, it has worked out as you said. Defender is no longer an issue and MSE appears to be pretty good.

Ron Burnes

Brink · 19 Mar 2012

That's great new Ron. Thank you for posting back with an update.

XP1 · 22 Apr 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

Hello Nalbe,

Thank you, but it would be this instead.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender]

ON
"DisableAntiSpyware"=dword:00000000

OFF
"DisableAntiSpyware"=dword:00000001

You have to set registry permissions for "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender" on Windows Vista and 7. Otherwise, you get registry import error:

Code:

[Window Title]
Registry Editor

[Content]
Cannot import .\Disable Windows Defender.reg: Not all data was successfully written to the registry.  Some keys are open by the system or other processes.

[OK]

You must follow these steps:

Right click on key > Permissions...> Advanced > Owner.
Under "Change owner to:", select "Administrators" > Enable "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects" > OK.
Under "Group or user names:", select "Administrators" > Under "Allow", enable "Full Control" > OK.

Otherwise, setting permissions will show this error:

Code:

---------------------------
Windows Security
---------------------------
Unable to save permission changes on Windows Defender.

Access is denied.

---------------------------
OK   
---------------------------

Hunter36 · 25 Mar 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

Hello Ron,

Personally, I would ditch Windows Defender by installing MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials). It's a lot better IMO. Either way, the updates for Windows Defender or MSE are definition updates that need to be installed to help keep your system protected from the latest malware and virus threats.

I was wondering about Windows Defender. Usually in XP, WD has an unistaller, but in Windows 7, it does not. I have MSE as my main security software right now, how do I if possible, remove Windows Defender off from my computer?

Windows 7: Windows Defender - Turn On or Off

Windows Defender - Turn On or Off problems?