Solved Windows defender has gone MAD! (false positive-ing Tons of files)

Many of Nirsoft's Utilities are definitely "hacking tools" in the broadest sense:

e.g. Nirsoft's site states: "WirelessNetView is a small utility that runs in the background, and monitor the activity of wireless networks around you. For each detected network, it displays the following information: SSID, Last Signal Quality, Average Signal Quality, Detection Counter, Authentication Algorithm, Cipher Algorithm, MAC Address, RSSI, Channel Frequency, Channel Number, and more."

What legitimate reason is there for monitoring your neighbours' networks without their knowledge? Other Nirsoft Tools that are designed for the recovery of 'lost' passwords/registration details/data would be entirely legitimate if used by, or at the explicit request of, the computer/data owner, but the same tools could equally be used by anyone who can gain access to the computer/data without the owner's knowledge. One of Nirsoft's explicit "selling points" is that his utilities can be used without installation and will leave no trace on the computer, even in the Windows Registry, of ever have being used.

So, it's solely down to whether these tools are used for ethical or unethical purposes. There are, for example, numerous Linux Distributions that are openly promoted as designed for learning "ethical hacking, virus testing etc.", but that doesn't mean they couldn't be used for non-legitimate purposes.

hsehestedt said:

Resistance is futile!

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Yes!
Windows has grown so huge over the years that it can walk roughshod over all its users!!
I am still using Windows 10 which is giving me lots and lots of headaches due to its very frequent BSOD screen when loading at startup and this problem is continuous.
And after every update, lots of problems will also ensue!
Like having the desktop icons rearranged or having my original settings reset for me!
I am also wondering if I can upgrade to Windows 11 on my desktop computer which was bought about eight years ago - I hope someone here can advise me as I may not have the necessary hardware to make the upgrade.
I wonder whether the problems associated with Windows 10 will also be carried over to Windows 11!
Perhaps the boffins at Microsoft should use AI to do the coding for Windows 11 and all future versions!

Tomkunzo said:

Yes!
Windows has grown so huge over the years that it can walk roughshod over all its users!!
I am still using Windows 10 which is giving me lots and lots of headaches due to its very frequent BSOD screen when loading at startup and this problem is continuous.
And after every update, lots of problems will also ensue!
Like having the desktop icons rearranged or having my original settings reset for me!
I am also wondering if I can upgrade to Windows 11 on my desktop computer which was bought about eight years ago - I hope someone here can advise me as I may not have the necessary hardware to make the upgrade.
I wonder whether the problems associated with Windows 10 will also be carried over to Windows 11!
Perhaps the boffins at Microsoft should use AI to do the coding for Windows 11 and all future versions!

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If you are having that problem, forget about upgrade... the cure to your problem is clean install.

badrobot said:

If you are having that problem, forget about upgrade... the cure to your problem is clean install.

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I think he has bigger issues and Windows isn't one of them

LeLibran said:

What legitimate reason is there for monitoring your neighbours' networks without their knowledge?

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The one I have been using WirelessNetView for years to do - choose a WiFi channel that has the least chance of interference....


And it cannot 'monitor' any network traffic, all it can do is show the SSIDs and specs of the WiFi signals around you. If looking at your neighbours' SSIDs is 'hacking' then Windows is a hacking tool....

Bree said:

The one I have been using WirelessNetView for years to do - choose a WiFi channel that has the least chance of interference....

How to Find the Best Wi-Fi Channel for Your Router on Any Operating System

If you live somewhere with congested Wi-Fi, you've probably experienced slow, unreliable wireless connections before. Here's how to fix it.

www.howtogeek.com

And it cannot 'monitor' any network traffic, all it can do is show the SSIDs and specs of the WiFi signals around you. If looking at your neighbours' SSIDs is 'hacking' then Windows is a hacking tool....

View attachment 8022

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Yes, WirelessNetView is a very handy tool.
It's great for checking signal strengths and see what PHY Types and channels you are broadcasting for each wireless access point.

Stigg said:

@XDM may be right about Windows Defender going MAD.

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not anymore. with version 2.0 of Defender Control, it correctly disables it in Win11 and with recent defender antimalware client platform updates for recent Win10 versions. Msmpeng.exe in Win11 no longer comes back after a W11 reboot or update

sanity restored with the use of Defender Control 2.0 :)

BunnyJ said:

I think he has bigger issues and Windows isn't one of them

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Sounds like a RAM-resident virus, not going to sugar-coat it.