Windows Defender, "Items Skipped During Scan"

I have paused Microsoft updates for a while because of the myriad of issues with the process. I still have the issue despite doing a System Restore back to last week. Each Defender scan still adds the exclusion message. I dont think Microsoft has dealt with this issue yet.

I just wanted to revive this post to say after this morning's updates I still have the issue. Could I get some clarification that this is still going on and I wasn't the one very unlucky man?

UPDATE: It appears this is a problem for multiple people, not just me. (Link goes to a Reddit post) That being said, it doesn't appear to be EVERYONE's problem, I checked another PC in my house and it doesn't have this issue.

FYI: I also encountered the very same problem as you when I ran a routine scan this morning after checking for updates.   I have sent the following Feedback to Microsoft:

QUOTE:

"I manually run Windows Update and run  Windows Defender quick scan on a daily basis and full scans less frequently. I have never added ANY (than means zero, none,  nada, etc.) exclusions to Windows Defender!   This morning, for the first time, this message appeared in my notifications window when the scan finished: "Windows Defender skipped an item due to exclusions or network protection settings."  I have seen that several others have experienced the same problem today.  Before I waste a BUNCH of precious time fruitlessly  'jumping through hoops" to solve a problem that doesn't exist,  like I did with / before the Sept. 19, 2019 update bug was acknowledged, I am wondering if this might be attributable to the latest definition update, as nothing else other than Microsoft updates has been downloaded or changed on my system recently???? "

Hi SP. I'm Greg, an installation specialist, 10 year Windows MVP, and Volunteer Moderator here to help you.

Several people have reported the message lately which does not yet have an explanation. If you want to report this to Microsoft use the Feedback Hub app in Start Menu where developers are tasked to process consumer feedback. They will not even see it here. This is a tech forums staffed mostly by volunteers trying to help others with your problems.

If you want to post back a Share link from your Feedback here others who see this thread can vote it up and add to it. If you are an Insider I can also vote it up with my MVP badge and track the issue for you.

Make sure there are no exclusions following this guide:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5924-add-re...

Then Download, install and run a full scan with the most powerful on-demand free scanner Malwarebytes. This is a much better scan than what Defender can give, although Defender offers adequate real time protection:

https://www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download/.

In the Malwarebytes Settings > Security tab set it to include scanning for Rootkits.

If necessary run it in Safe Mode with Networking, or Safe Mode accessed by one of these methods: https://www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-saf...

Clean up anything found, restart PC and then run again until it comes up clean.

Then download, install and run a full scan with AdwCleaner:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcle... Remove whatever it finds.

Check for any remainders in Settings > Apps > Apps & Features, and also in each of your browser's Extensions, Home Page settings, Search service or Add-On's as shown here: https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001411.htm

Then check for damaged System files by running System File Checker from Step 10 in this checklist:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki....

If completing all of Step 10 in above Checklist doesn't fix it then run a Repair Install which reinstalls WIndows while keeping your files, programs and most settings in place, by installing the Media Creation Tool from this link http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m..., open the tool and choose Upgrade This PC Now. This will solve most problems and also bring it up to the latest version which you need anyway and by the most stable method.

If you want to keep Malwarebytes as an on-demand scanner then you can turn off its Real Time trial version in it's Settings > Account Details tab.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

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