Many computer users have discovered that the protective equipment provided by Windows itself conflicts with the security software installed separately, causing the system to become laggy or causing false positives.
Automatic operation of system protection
Starting with Windows Vista, Microsoft has integrated a security component called Windows Defender into the system. This program runs in the background by default. Its purpose is to provide basic virus and spyware protection. For users who do not have other security software installed, it provides a layer of basic protection at no additional cost.
However, once users install third-party anti-virus software, the situation becomes complicated. Defender does not always exit automatically, and it may continue to occupy system memory and CPU resources. Especially when running large programs or games, such background resource usage may slow down the computer and affect the user experience.
Conflicts with third-party software
User-installed antivirus software, such as Kaspersky, Norton and Tinder, generally have more comprehensive real-time monitoring and virus databases. When Defender runs together, the two may scan the same files repeatedly or misjudge each other's activities. If such a conflict is minor, it will lead to more pop-up warnings. If it is serious, it may cause system instability.
For example, in some versions of Windows 10, users reported that Defender and other security software competed for system control, resulting in abnormal scanning functions or failed updates. This conflict has caused many users to look for ways to completely shut down Defender to ensure that their main anti-virus software can work normally.
Cumbersome steps for manual shutdown
It is not possible to completely disable Defender with just one click in Windows settings. Users have to enter the "Windows Security Center" and turn off various virus and threat protection functions one by one in order. Sometimes they have to use the Group Policy Editor to make deeper settings. This process has certain technical thresholds for ordinary users.
What's even more troublesome is that Windows system updates occasionally reset these security settings, causing Defender that has been turned off to be activated again. This indicates that users may have to perform shutdown operations repeatedly, which undoubtedly increases the maintenance burden and also brings the risk of potentially confusing security policies.
Convenience of special tools
To solve the above problems, some developers have created small tools specifically responsible for managing Defender. Free software such as "Defender Control" provides an intuitive interface that can clearly display the real-time status of Defender. Green represents a running state, red represents a completely closed state, and orange means that real-time protection has been turned off but the service is still running.
When using this type of tool, users only need to click a button to switch the Defender state, and the operation is greatly simplified. This is particularly suitable for users who need to temporarily turn off protection and then quickly restore it under certain scenarios (such as running large software and copying a large number of files).
Temporary shutdown to improve efficiency
In a specific operation, temporarily disabling Defender will actually improve efficiency. When it is necessary to copy dozens of GB of game files or video materials from a computer to a mobile hard drive, the continuous scanning of real-time precautions will significantly slow down the transfer speed. After turning off Defender, the copying time may be reduced by more than half.
Similarly, when developing software, operating virtual machines, or running certain industry software that is sensitive to system resources, temporarily turning off background scanning can reduce interference and allow these programs to run more smoothly. After it is completed, you can restore the protection with one click, thus taking into account both efficiency and security.
Choose security strategies wisely
Whether to turn off Defender ultimately depends on the user's specific needs and security habits. For those light users who only perform web browsing and document processing, simply using Defender combined with good Internet habits may be enough. Its advantage is that it can be deeply integrated with the system, has good compatibility and does not incur additional costs.
However, for those users who need to handle sensitive data, often download unknown files, or players who are looking for more powerful firewall and active defense functions, a comprehensive third-party security software will be a more ideal choice. Under such a situation, it is a more reasonable configuration plan to turn off Defender to avoid conflicts and allow the main security software to enjoy system resources alone.
In daily life, would you choose to let Windows Defender exist together with other anti-virus software, or would you resolutely turn off one of them to ensure a smooth system? You are welcome to share your experiences and opinions in the comment area. If you find this article helpful, please give it a like and support.
