Customize Windows Defender’s protection options

Windows Defender is a built in malware protection software included in Windows Vista. If you are running other spyware and malware protection tools like Avira, Norton or McAfee, it is a good idea to turn off specific redundant Defender processes to avoid system performance loss.

On the other hand, you might not be satisfied with your 3rd part protection so turning on Defender options could be your choice. In this post we will show you how to access and modify specific Defender real time protection options.

First go to the control panel by clicking Start then Control Panel:

Choose “Security”:

Choose Windows Defender:

In the Windows Defender dialogue box click Tools to open the Tools and Settings Window then click Options:

Uncheck/check the options that you want to disable/enable:

Below is the list of options with their corresponding descriptions [source: Walter Glenn’s post about Windows Defender]:

Auto Start. This option monitors programs that start with Windows and warns you when a program attempts to add itself to this list.
System Configuration (Settings). This option monitors Windows security settings and warns you when a program attempts to change them.
Internet Explorer Add-ons. This option monitors programs that start with Microsoft Internet Explorer and warns you when a program attempts to add itself to this list.
Internet Explorer Configurations (Settings). This option monitors Internet Explorer security settings and warns you when a program attempts to change these settings.
Internet Explorer Downloads. This option monitors add-ins for Internet Explorer and warns you when a program attempts to add itself to Internet Explorer.
Services and Drivers. This option monitors services and drivers and warns you if a program attempts to make changes to them.
Application Execution. This option monitors when programs start and any operations they perform while running.
Application Registration. This option monitors tools and files in the operating system where programs can register to run at any time, not just when you start Windows or another program.
Windows Add-ons. This option monitors add-on programs for Windows and warns you when an unknown or malicious program attempts to add itself to the list.

Windows Defender is an essential protection tool if you don’t have any 3rd party security programs for system protection. However, when you add 3rd party protection software, a redundant Defender’s process could run along with your other protection tools. Turn-on or off specific Defender options to suit your setup.