Questions re: Windows Defender on W11

With previous versions of Windows I've always used third-party security apps, but with Windows 11 I'd like to stick with Windows Defender. But right off the bat, I have some questions or minor concerns about the seemingly limited configuration options, especially for the automatic scan.

First, it looks like Defender automatically conducts a scan periodically. Is there any way to adjust or specify how often the automatic scan occurs? I'm also not sure how to adjust what drives or folders are included in the automatic scan, and I can't tell if the automatic scan is just a "quick scan" or a full scan.

I see "Scan options" settings to initiate a quick scan, full scan, custom scan, etc. but the interface design kind of visually suggests that these settings apply only to a user-initiated scan, not to the automatic scan. Will the automatic scan use these settings?

Hi,

No I have never found a method to do as you wish; someone here may well do so and I just do the scan regularly from the icon in the tray and it's no problem its easy to do. I also have a coy of Trojan Remover from Simply Sup software and that you can program to do a very fast boot ONCE your desktop loaded and it is a good I've used 5 years or more but it doe not sit in your tray and always on though.
Another utility that makes life easy with Windows Defender and its continual bleating about virus it's found and what needs done is this as it makes it easy to read and automates it.

Paul

I use WD and the free Malwarebytes and do manual full scans, and also the offline scans. I am aware that WD performs automatic scanning, but have no idea what the frequency is, or if there is any user adjustment.
Because this pc has secure boot with a password, the offline scans are interrupted by the need to put the password in before the scan starts.

paulhatton said:

Hi,

No I have never found a method to do as you wish; someone here may well do so and I just do the scan regularly from the icon in the tray and it's no problem its easy to do. I also have a coy of Trojan Remover from Simply Sup software and that you can program to do a very fast boot ONCE your desktop loaded and it is a good I've used 5 years or more but it doe not sit in your tray and always on though.

Simply Super Software - Trojan Remover

Another utility that makes life easy with Windows Defender and its continual bleating about virus it's found and what needs done is this as it makes it easy to read and automates it.

Download WinDefThreatsView - MajorGeeks

WinDefThreatsView is a portable tool that allows you to view and take action on all threats detected by Windows Defender Antivirus. WinDefThreatsView permits you to set the default action easily (Allow, Block, Clean, Quarantine, Remove, or No Action) for multiple threats at once. You can use...

www.majorgeeks.com

Paul

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"continual bleating"? Defender never finds anything on any of my systems and it's the only thing I use since Windows 10 hit the scene. In my opinion, it is all a home user needs. I do run a threat scan with the free version of Malwarebytes occasionally. That never finds anything either. Along with the built in firewall in it's default state, that's it as far as security goes.

The scheduled scan is a quick scan and can not be configured.

tinmar49 said:

I use WD and the free Malwarebytes and do manual full scans, and also the offline scans. I am aware that WD performs automatic scanning, but have no idea what the frequency is, or if there is any user adjustment.
Because this pc has secure boot with a password, the offline scans are interrupted by the need to put the password in before the scan starts.

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I have never done anything but the quick scan with Defender and an occasional threat scan with Malwarebytes. I don't have passwords. My systems are all configured to log me in automatically at startup. There is a PIN set up but I very rarely have to use it.

@Smithee I always have used 3rd party AV, myself I do not like defender as I had a problem with it years ago on a test machine. I always use Norton as I would not not want to have to use Defender and another program like Malwarebytes as well. Whatever you decide, get a good one and that should be all you need.

I use Defender and Malwarebytes free and it has been enough for me. I run a manual quick scan from defender around once a week and a malware scan around 2 times a week. I haven't had a virus on my systems since windows 95. I did have a pup install around 5 years ago and was able to remove that. I don't find that defender "bleats continually" In fact the only notification I get is a once a week notification that windows Defender has checked my computer and found no threats. It aso informs me in that notice that it has scanned my computer 5 or 6 times, which has been daily when my laptop boots. Otherwise it just sits quietly in my tray. You could probably hunt online for directions on the innards of Defender but I just use all the defaults.

That is why I use Norton, It scans automatically, gives full time protection and I can get a scan on demand if I need it.
I do not want to run a scan to see if I have been infected, I want a program that protects. Also I feel that if defender is so good why do I need Malwarebytes as well

The-Hive said:

That is why I use Norton, It scans automatically, gives full time protection and I can get a scan on demand if I need it.
I do not want to run a scan to see if I have been infected, I want a program that protects. Also I feel that if defender is so good why do I need Malwarebytes as well

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Lol you do have a point but like I said Defender does scan my computer at boot time every morning. I set it to notify me less a long time ago and cannot even remember the setting but it was in windows 10 and seemed to carry over to 11. I do my own scans for my own sanity. I did used to have Norton antivirus, firewall and password keeper years ago and liked it too.

The-Hive said:

That is why I use Norton, It scans automatically, gives full time protection and I can get a scan on demand if I need it.
I do not want to run a scan to see if I have been infected, I want a program that protects. Also I feel that if defender is so good why do I need Malwarebytes as well

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You don't "need" Malwarebytes. It's always good to have a backup scanner with a different set of definitions just in case no matter what your primary protection is. Defender protects full time just as well as Norton does. All the reporting agencies acknowledge that. Everybody would be well served to have the free Malwarebytes on hand but it is not necessary.

You also say you had a problem with Defender years ago. People have had problems with Norton too. Defender has come a long way in the past 5 years. No, it wasn't all that good in the beginning but it just keeps getting better and better and is now an excellent solution.

@Dch48 I quite agree with you. After having a virus a few years ago through defender, it put me off. I have always had Norton ever since the old days of Systemworks on my best machine and it has never let me down, now I have it on all machines

Defender has been in use on my PC's for the last 15 years and never had any problems. My install programs for utilities etc. are periodically stored on DVD, especially those that I used only once and then uninstalled. On a rare occasion I will pop one of those DVD's in to search for some old utility. The current Defender will popup warnings about some of these old programs (usually a PUP) that Icannot remeber if they were detected.

I had Malwarebytes installed for a few year, but it was annoying with its periodic update and subscription requires. Do not miss it.

Use whatever protection you are most comfortable with. I think there are still annual review of AV products where edge cases are thrown at each of them. If you practice safe computing then Defender should be fine.

Prior to COVID I never got the annual flu vaccine and cannot remember the last time I had the flu. Since then I have upped my protection. The similarity, maybe I could have been running without any AV products for years and been fine.

I usually start a WD full scan when I'm about to leave the pc for a while, such as getting a meal ready and then just switch off the monitor. The same goes for Malwarebytes. I do tend to wonder why Malwarebytes scans only take 1/6th of the time that WD does.
Over the years, I have used Norton, MacAfee, Avast, AVG and Kasperski.

tinmar49 said:

I usually start a WD full scan when I'm about to leave the pc for a while, such as getting a meal ready and then just switch off the monitor. The same goes for Malwarebytes. I do tend to wonder why Malwarebytes scans only take 1/6th of the time that WD does.
Over the years, I have used Norton, MacAfee, Avast, AVG and Kasperski.

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Different programs check more or less areas on your drive. Malwarebytes may not be checking areas where malware is never found. Some programs scan every byte on your drive which really is not necessary. Some also just scan the headers of the files and not the entire file. That's why it's good to have more than one scanner available. Having said that, Defender has always been slow in full scan mode. I'd like to think it's because it's being thorough.

Well add me to the Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Free band wagon. Recently switched over from Bitdefender Free with Malwarebytes Free since they discontinued Bitdefender Free. Was very happy with Bitdefender by the way. Anyhow since switching to WD this month so far so good and no complaints (yet).

Dch48 said:

You don't "need" Malwarebytes. It's always good to have a backup scanner with a different set of definitions just in case no matter what your primary protection is. Defender protects full time just as well as Norton does. All the reporting agencies acknowledge that. Everybody would be well served to have the free Malwarebytes on hand but it is not necessary.

You also say you had a problem with Defender years ago. People have had problems with Norton too. Defender has come a long way in the past 5 years. No, it wasn't all that good in the beginning but it just keeps getting better and better and is now an excellent solution.

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I agree that Windows Defender is adequate. And, yep, Defender let one through a few years ago and I no longer trusted it. However, Microsoft has worked diligently to make Windows as safe as it can be. Windows Defender is a huge part of that solution. And yes, you can knock Microsoft for lots of mistakes, but Defender isn't one of them.

Windows Defender is my sole security solution at the moment and I haven't had any problems with malware. And I know I don't "need" Malwarebytes, but I think I'm going to install the free version on all my computers if only for a bit of insurance. At least it will be there if I need it.

I have noticed that when I check for updates (unneccessary, I know, but its a habit of mine), there are frequent security updates every day for WD. And the free version of Malwarebytes always checks for updates before running the manual scan.

tinmar49 said:

I have noticed that when I check for updates (unneccessary, I know, but its a habit of mine), there are frequent security updates every day for WD. And the free version of Malwarebytes always checks for updates before running the manual scan.

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Yes, Windows keeps Defender up to date through Windows Update. Malwarebytes Free behaves exactly like you said.