Virus & threat protection option disappeared

Anonymous
2020-01-12T15:46:45+00:00

I have attached a screenshot of my windows security, and as you can see, there is no "Virus & threat protection" option, when it should be in between "Home" and "Account protection". I have no idea how this happened. It just disappeared one day. I have already tried restarting the computer, and running my antivirus. both to no avail. I'm running Windows 10 Home version 1809. I hope that someone can help me.

Thanks.

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Anonymous
2020-04-20T08:37:36+00:00

Hi Vishan,

I'm sorry, I never intended to insinuate that you should "install" Group Edit.

I said "Assuming you did have W10 PRO or Education, you would have Group Edit."

That was apparently a bad assumption on my part.

I'm not sure if it is a good idea to enable it on your PC. But since you did, see Option One

in this link. In step 1, click on how to "Open Local Group Policy Editor". This describes how to navigate through Group Policy. The link supplies the path that you should follow, to find the policy in question. Two paths are described. Try them both, to see which one will succeed.

When you double-click that policy, you will see the options that you can use to disable it.

"Disable" or "Not Configure". Which will prevent the policy from hiding Virus & Threat...

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/99493-hide-virus-threat-protection-windows-security-windows-10-a.html 

If no luck.....

You can determine if a policy is involved in your problem by examining this Registry key.

Enter the Registry by clicking "Start" and Type "regedit". Select "Run as an Administrator".

Navigate through the Registry *Hkey_Local_Machine\Software\Policies\Microsoft*

*WindowsDefender* and select Policy Manager.

This folder should only contain Default. If it contains a list of policies, come back and we

can discuss how to proceed.  A policy is probably causing your problem!

To keep the Registry uncluttered, exit by retracing the steps that you used to navigate in.

AT HKLM click "File" then "Exit"

Good luck,  Glen

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Anonymous
2020-04-19T00:15:00+00:00

Hi VishanShan,

Your school account, probably has a Policy set, that prevents students from altering

any of the Windows Defender functions. If you are no longer under the supervision

of the school, but wish to use the school account, you can make a Policy change

that will allow you to access "Virus & Threat Protection" again. And let you regain

control over Windows Defender.

See option ONE in this link for the procedure. Assuming that you have W10 PRO,

or Education. The link describes the Group Policy procedure, to "Show" or "Hide"

Virus & Threat Protection.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/99493-hide-virus-threat-protection-windows-security-windows-10-a.html

If you can't access "gpedit.msc, return, and I will describe a Registry modification

that will accomplish this same result.

Regards,  Glen

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-03-06T21:24:56+00:00

    Hi Kendawgg,

    I believe that you misinterpreted Vishan's post of April 18. Disconnecting Office 365 had

    nothing to do with fixing his problem. Changing his account from the "school" account is

    what fixed it.

    Some School or Work accounts, purposefully "Hide" Virus & Threat Protection, to prevent

    the users from changing Defender's settings. To prevent problems, the Administrator handles

    that. They achieve that end by setting a Policy that Hides "Virus & Threat Protection".

    Conversely, The School Board is not promoting a virus, but preventing curious students

    from damaging their own PCs by jacking around with the settings.

    Glen.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-03-14T06:44:07+00:00

    I went onto this and there is a list of policies what should I do?

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-03-15T01:16:43+00:00

    Hi Jonathan,

    You should first determine if your account is a "School" account. School accounts usually

    set a "Policy" that "hides" Virus & Threat Protection". If this is your case, you can solve

    your problem, by changing your account to a regular account.

    That said, If yours is not a School account, then some other entity has set the Policy that

    is hiding Virus & Threat Protection.

    If you are able to open Gpedit.msc you can try terminating the Policy in this manner....

    Navigate through the Editor using this path.  Computer Configuration>Administrative

    Templates>Windows Components>Windows Defender Security Center>Virus and

    Threat Protection. In the right pane find "Hide the Virus and Protection Area".

    Double-click it and select "Disabled". Click OK and exit the Editor.

    If you cannot access the Group Policy Editor, you will need to approach this, using the Registry.

    First, determine if there is a particular "Scheduled Task" that may be setting the offending Policy.

    Go into the Task Scheduler at Microsoft>Windows>EnterpriseMgmt. The only task that should

    be present is the "MMDMaintenance Task". Disable any others that are there.

    Regarding the list of policies that you found in the 'Windows Defender\Policy Manager'. If they

    are still present, they indicate that there is a policy still set in Windows Defender. You can attempt

    to nullify the effects of that policy in the following manner.

    Open the Registry by searching for "regedit" and then select "Run as Administrator". In the Editor

    navigate as follows: Hkey_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Policy Manager\Default and

    then Expand Defender. You will see a list of policies. Find and select AllowUserUIAccess.

    This displays the Registry Key that sets UILockdown to a Dword of 1, and that is what hides

    Virus & Threat Protection.

    To prevent it from setting the Dword to 1, make this minor modification to the key.

    Right-click on the sub-key highrange and select "Modify". Type 0 and click OK. To change the

    Dword of highrange to 0. Exit the Registry and Restart your PC.****

    Virus & Threat Protection should be visible in the "Security at a Glance" screen. If it is not, run

    this cmdlet using Windows PowerShell (Admin). Right-click Start and select "PowerShell (Admin).

    In PowerShell type this command   Set-MpPreference -UILockdown 0   <enter>

                                                          Exit    <enter>

    Virus & Threat Protection should be visible now. Ensure that it remains visible through a Restart.

    Good luck,  Glen

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