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
    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
    2014-07-22T11:05:27+00:00

    The mentioned workaround didn't work for me, Antimalware kept hogging my cpu, leading to performance drops and lags. Switched antimalware off altogether. Works like a charm! The Antimalware Service Executable is the only malware I've had on my computer anyway... dysfunctional peice of $#!+.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-07-21T18:35:15+00:00

    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.

    Oh no! The boxes are all grayed out and cannot be changed even though I'm on an Administrator account. :(

    Microsoft is the most frustrating corporation ever!!

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-04-07T23:06:47+00:00

    I have admin rights on my Win8 pc, and in the Task Scheduler **Library/Microsoft/Windows/Windows defender,**the condition "Power" has a checkmark but it is greyed out so I cannot remove the checkmark. how to "ungrey" this condition ?

    Click properties on the right hand side of the window.

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  5. Anonymous
    2014-03-28T01:38:49+00:00

    Telling people to go into administrative tools, navigating into tasks and schedules, unchecking settings that are primarily greyed out, is *not* a fix. This is basic stuff!

    Agreed - the very fact that one has to do a difficult workaround is bad design.  Why in the world is the default to do this ALL THE TIME!

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