Can one prevent Antimalware Executable to start hogging CPU for extended periods each time some network adapter gets active?

Anonymous
2013-03-15T20:00:20+00:00

One of the most annoying habits in Windows 8 is, that the built-in "Antimalware Service Executable" (part of "Windows Defender") starts hogging my device's CPU with 60-70% (and 100% disk) for extended periods EACH AND EVERY time after I wake it up.

I wouldn't mind if it starts doing its business IN THE BACKGROUND but when I wake my device up from standby it's usually to get something done NOW and thus I find it increasingly unacceptable, that the system is always taken over by Window's defender exactly then and for up to several minutes! If I don't find a solution soon to throttle this beast, then I will disable Defender altogether!

What I noticed is, that this process seems to be actually triggered not by the system waking up, but by the network adapter becoming active. And actually, this happens each and every time ANY network adapter gets active! E.g. if my system has NO network connection at all and I plugin the network cable the Antimalware Service Executable starts. When - after it has settled again - I additionally enable Bluetooth then the Antimalware Service Executable starts its hogging business again. And if I then additionally enable the WLAN a few minutes later, it will AGAIN start to consume CPU!

So: can one decouple this? Running a scan ONCE after (re-)starting it is definitely enough, especially if Defender hasn't downloaded any new signatures since the last run! And, second, can one make Defender convince to strictly run in the background ONLY?

Michael

[Moved from Windows]

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Security and privacy

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-07-23T07:00:01+00:00
    1. You could either install a 3rd party AV, which should disable Defender automatically.
    2. Or you could just disable Defender manually: 

    http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5918-windows-defender-turn-off-windows-10-a.html

    I used the option 2, disabling it via the registry. It's worked so far, although definitely seems like a brute force approach.

    1. You could also try excluding Windows Defender from Windows Defender (sometimes it gets stuck in a loop):

    Open Windows Defender

    Open the "Settings" tab

    Select "Excluded Files and Locations"

    Select "Browse"

    Navigate to C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MsMpEng.exe (Unless Windows Defender is installed elsewhere for whatever reason)

    Select "OK"

    Select "Add"

    Select "Save Changes"

    1. You could also try running a system file check via cmd:

    sfc /scannow

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-07-22T17:06:39+00:00

    I am having this issue on a Windows 10 Home 64Bit Dell laptop computer.

    I did not read all of the posts in this extensive thread, but from reading a lot of it, I get the impression that there is no answer to fix this problem.

    Please tell me that I am wrong and tell me where to find the answer.

    Thanks,

    Tony

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-06-10T14:21:13+00:00

    Tnx you so! ♥

    I had this problem and it fixed with your help! ;)

    but in windows defender folder i just disabled**"Windows Defender Scheduled Scan"**and then==> No Problem Now!  ****

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-05-28T19:37:28+00:00

    I am facing the same issue. W8 is such a **** and cant believe this problem from 3 years ago still no fixed for it.. :(

    I fought this issue for several years, and I finally found the cure by accident.

    There was an Estate sale in my home town, they were selling off everything.

    There was a computer just like mine, HP Touchsmart with 23" screen.

    But it had i7 Intel 8 core processor @3400 GHz. With 16 GB Ram and 4 TB

    Hard Drives, and 64bit too boot.

    I HAVE NO MORE PROBLES WITH THIS ISSUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    It even indexes my NAS "Network Attached Storage" . And it 12 TB.

    Again NO MORE PROBLEMS!!!!!

    I guess Microsoft builds all their operating systems to work best with this setup.

    I now have Win 8.1pro 64bit and Win 10pro 64bit in the same computer with

    "NO ISSUES AT ALL" now!

    I hope this helps someone else.

    MUCHOFREEO.

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-05-28T16:28:32+00:00

    I am facing the same issue. W8 is such a **** and cant believe this problem from 3 years ago still no fixed for it.. :(

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