When you are using Windows 10, one of the things that you might be wondering about is how to remove Windows Defender. The Windows Defender is the default antivirus protection program installed on your PC. However, you can easily disable it or even altogether remove it. You can do this by disabling the Firewall, Cloud-Based Protection, and Tamper Protection that the program provides.
Disable Tamper Protection
When you install Windows 10 on a new computer, you will find the option to turn on or off Tamper Protection. This feature is designed to prevent malicious applications from altering the settings of Windows Security and Windows Defender. Typically, tampering with security features reduces the overall system security.
The feature can be turned on or off at any time. However, it is essential to know that tampering can occur through a malicious virus, group policies, or Windows command line tools. In most cases, keeping the setting on is best to protect your system.
To turn on or off Tamper Protection, go to the Virus & Threat Protection section in Manage Settings. You can also change the setting from the registry. For example, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows DefenderFeatures and type in the “TamperProtection” value. Alternatively, you can create a batch file and automate the process.
After typing in the values, you can export them by clicking the right-click menu and choosing “Export.” If you have a backup of the registry, make sure to restore the value before you edit the registry. Otherwise, you could cause a severe issue with your operating system.
Disable Firewall
Several options are available if you are looking to disable the firewall in Windows 10. Depending on your network setup, there are two primary methods of doing so. The first involves using the command line, and the second uses the GUI tools. For most home users, the GUI tools are the easiest way to disable the firewall.
Disabling the firewall can be helpful if you are looking to troubleshoot a connection issue. However, it can also be a security risk. To minimize the chance of a breach, you should disable the system firewall only when necessary.
First, navigate to the Control Panel by clicking on the Start button. Next, click on the Control Panel icon and select Network and Internet Connections from the menu. Select the Local Area Connection in the Network Connections window.
Next, click on the Advanced tab in the window. You should see a series of buttons, including the one demonstrating the most important of the Windows Firewall functions.
Disable Cloud-Based Protection
Windows Defender is a malware protection utility built into Windows 10 to protect your computer from threats. The software runs in the background and analyzes malicious files. When it detects a potential threat, it sends the file data to Microsoft’s cloud security service. This allows the service to determine whether the file is safe in milliseconds.
Cloud-delivered protection can be turned on or off, allowing you to decide what’s best for your system. Disabling the feature can be done through the Windows Registry or Group Policy Editor. You can manually turn it off if you aren’t comfortable using these tools.
Cloud-delivered protection is part of the Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (ECM) and can be configured to block connections to potentially malicious hosts. Aside from preventing tampering, this feature also helps protect your network from unauthorized access.
The tamper-proofing dashboard offered by the M365 Defender Portal makes it easy to make changes across all devices. However, a local administrator’s role is necessary for those who want to control tamper-proofing on a per-device basis.
Remove Windows Defender
Windows Defender is a built-in antivirus program in Windows 10. It is designed to protect your computer from viruses and malware. However, it can sometimes prevent the installation of legitimate software. There are several ways to disable the program.
The first method is to use the registry. To disable Windows Defender in Windows 10 via the registry, you’ll need to know how to use the Registry Editor.
You can also use the Services Control Panel if you don’t have a registry editor. In this way, you can easily disable the service.
This method is also more permanent than the Local Group Policy window. You’ll need to reboot your computer to apply the changes. Alternatively, you can boot your computer into safe mode.
You’ll see a “Real-time protection” toggle when you open the Settings menu. If you disable this toggle, your PC will temporarily stop protecting your computer from virus and malware attacks.