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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-09-20T14:55:34+00:00

    MSFT: I finally fingered it out.  Go finger.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-09-21T00:43:29+00:00

    after you click on windows defender go to top and click on Action then click on Properties a new window will open now click on conditions now you can remove the check marks

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-09-21T14:51:30+00:00

    This problem and it solutions are so Microosoft.  I am the admin and only user of this PC.  It will not let me check or uncheck any of the conditions boxes suggested above.  ?

    You’ve been duped by a totally bogus reply that mysteriously continues to chalk up lots of bogus “helpful” votes. First you have to realize that there isn’t any real oversight in this forum, and that there are lots of people who are perfectly willing to take advantage of that fact. That means that you’re going to be forced to put on your thinking cap and ask yourself how removing the requirement for a system idle state, and for AC power, and for a network connection, could possibly serve to disable the Windows Defender Scheduled Scan task (AC power is actually the only requirement). You can’t disable a task by removing all of its restrictions – but you can disable it by right-clicking on it and choosing “Disable”. Unfortunately, that won’t help at all if the CPU consumption isn’t being caused by a scheduled scan that’s run amok (see above).

    GreginMich

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-10-24T23:45:53+00:00

    Hello there i've got a problem, i've gone through every step but im lost at step D.

    I cant find anything about idel or something like that !  

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  5. Anonymous
    2014-10-27T02:18:52+00:00

    Hi Michael,

    Thank you for choosing Windows 8 and joining us on our Community.

    From the issue description, I understand that Windows Defender runs the security scan when the system wakes up from sleep mode or when you try to plug a network cable to the computer. And you don’t want this.

    You would have scheduled Windows Defender to do so. So I would suggest you to unschedule Windows Defender to do so and check.

    Follow these steps:

    a.      Press Windows key + W and type administrative tools.

    b.      Select Administrative Tools and select Task Scheduler.

    c.       Follow this path in the left hand pane. Task Scheduler Library/Microsoft/Windows/Windows defender

    d.      Uncheck all the boxes under Idle, Power and Network.

    e.      Now it won’t scan your computer.

    For any further queries related to Windows defender, feel free to get back to us any time. We will be glad to assist you.

    Im having a problem, when I try to uncheck any of the boxes, It would not work. I have tried to run as administrator

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