Windows Security detecting threats even when all options are turned off

I have a Windows 11 VM and have turned off all the options in the Windows Security app but still when I open some folders (that might contain potential malware/false positives), I see a message and it automatically removes the files that it thinks is malware.



Is there some other setting that I may have missed? I am not logged in to a MS account on the VM. Windows is up to date on the VM.

How can I completely disable Windows Security on an 'on-demand' basis? I know that I can specify the folder in the Exclusions list in the Security app, and it won't bother to scan/detect files in them, but I don't want to do that. I would like to be able to completely disable the protection when I want to and then reenable protection back when needed without going through each setting and toggling them on (several of them in the app settings). Is there a third-party app/script/reg hack with which I can achieve this? MS should have included a native option in the right-click context menu of the taskbar icon (just like Avast) that allows the user to toggle protection when needed using just a single click allowing the protection to be disabled completely.

I realise you don't want to do this but I think your only solution is to add Exclusions to the folders containing the things Defender dislikes.
You'll also have to manually, Restore & Allow each detected thread if it's already been quarantined.
Add or Remove Windows Defender Exclusions - ElevenForumTutorials


Best of luck,
Denis

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Nzyme said:

How can I completely disable Windows Security on an 'on-demand' basis?

Click to expand...

Enable or Disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus - ElevenForumTutorials
Disabling Defender has its limitations though.


Denis

Yes and not only does it do it actual infected files but even legit files and folders. Its seckening really. I have bought and paid for games i install they work for a day then when I try to open the .exe i get the good ol erro file was a virus pop up and have to manually ALLOW and RESTORE ...so annoying.

You can turn off Windows Defender if you install a third-party AV but to get get rid of WD, you have to stop the service and disable it.