Windows Defender - "Actions recommended" - but what are they???

Anonymous
2018-07-19T04:49:39+00:00

I have been using Windows Defender for years, and Microsoft Security Essentials before that. I haven't had any problems with either one-- but in the last day or two the Windows Defender icon in my system tray has been showing a yellow caution sign on it, and if I hover my mouse pointer over the icon it says "Actions recommended." However, when I open Windows Defender everything shows a green check and says "No action needed." How can I find out what is causing the yellow caution sign? All Windows updates have been downloaded and applied, the Windows Defender is up to date. and the last scan (which was done automatically after the caution sign appeared) shows no threats found.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Security and privacy

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Anonymous
2018-10-02T12:35:44+00:00

*SOLVED*

Log into your microsoft account and under Devices section you can see the details why this warning sign occurs.

You need to signed in with you microsoft account to do so.

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-08-18T17:10:32+00:00

    Outatimez,

    Thank you so much for the information, your suggestion worked.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-08-16T15:12:03+00:00

    Thanks Outatimez, this worked for me. Maybe I was not able to see the warning on the Action Center because i had Windows Defender Periodic Scan off. After enabling it, I was able to see the Ransomware Protection warning.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-08-15T08:55:37+00:00

    I found my issue, maybe it will help others. Go into the security center / click on the Shield (left side) Virus and Threat Protection. Look for Ransomware protection. I had a message about setting up OneDrive for file recovery in case of a ransomware attack. I dismissed the alert.

    More info on why you might or might not want to set this up:

    https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/5/17201660/microsoft-onedrive-files-restore-feature-ransomware-protection

    OMG THANK YOU! that was it and that caution box by the shield was driving me nuts! wanted to use One Drive but I gots me own back up server set up with True Image.

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-08-15T03:12:51+00:00

    I had already checked all of the screens, and every option on every screen was checked green and said that no actions were needed, so that wasn't it in my particular case.

    However, the alert on the icon did eventually go away by itself after about three weeks-- I think after the cumulative Windows update that came out last week.

    My biggest complaint was that I get notifications from Windows Defender all the time telling me that my computer was scanned and that no threats were found, yet I never got any notifications telling me about some recommended action, which made the caution sign on the icon and the "actions recommended" tooltip message all the more frustrating.

    As a suggestion for possible improvement, I think it would be extremely helpful if Windows Defender would send you a notification that explicitly states which actions are recommended, rather than simply changing the icon in the system tray to include a caution sign but not give you any clue as to what the recommended actions are.

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