Goodbye Microsoft Defender

Windows Defender can be a massive drain on system performance and often can have a lot of false positives. While I recommend Anti-virus for most, I don’t like having it enabled on my systems that aren’t used for web browsing.

[ChrisTitusTech]

After reading the comments, this video shouldn't be interpreted as "Everyone should delete Defender", but more for those that don't web browse and are obsessed with performance. Also, I'm tired of folks saying "Defender is good enough". Yes, its better than nothing, but if I were ever to "Break Bad" the first people I'd go after is the windows defender users.
For Antivirus Recommendations:
Free Alternative: BitDefender Free or Kaspersky Cloud (Not great for privacy though)
With any Antivirus do NOT buy an internet security or anything BUT the Antivirus ONLY!

[trappedcat]

Unplugging the PC and destroying the wifi component is the best firewall

[linuxninja]

What Chris says about Defender is true for ALL anti-virus software. Has everyone forgotten that Defender is a rename of the anti-virus software MicroSoft acquired? It's just one of many.

[zbarczy]

I remember you said just the opposite in a previous video, something like "don't use anti-virus, it is not necessary, Windows Defender is already protecting you", or something down this line. I may remember wrong, or mix it up and it was yet another tech guru, but I remember someone argued for that. Now what? :)

[Yinzzy]

Defender causes me no issues. So im fine with it.

[DawidFreeman]

Can you make some performance comparison with and without defender ? Just for curiosity sake.

[bryndal]

I've had more issues installing third party anti virus software than going without it and using Windows Defender.

[scpatlnow]

I certainly don't miss having to deal with registry hacks in Windows. I left that behind for Linux in 2005. In tech support we called "scorched earth" "Nuke and Pave"...lol

[baddealrage]

Chris, App control and XDR are features of Windows Defender Enterprise, you can control cloud apps, application prevalence and have alert and custom actions trough Cloud App security (Recently renamed to Defender for cloud apps). Thats great that some people talk about these scripts, but in a fully managed Windows Defender Enterprise the registry keys will be locked down and changes will be ignored.

[Adam_Lyskawa]

I used many AV programs in recent years. All of them (beside the price) have also one common disadvantage. They are intrusive. They show dialogs, windows, messages, alerts when IMO they shouldn't. Also, they have conflicts with other software. Various weird problems that magically disappeared when the AV got disabled. Always some performance hit. So - actually I find the Windows Defender as the least intrusive. I use it not because it's good (I guess it's probably not). I use it because it takes no effort. It's just preinstalled by default, preconfigured, not a single click from me is needed. Then - IT SITS QUIET. Yes, sometimes it causes some system slowdown - especially after downloading a big game from Steam or installing a big program. I can tolerate this. This suboptimal protection is still better than no protection at all. I'm a power user, I don't install just anything on my PC, I don't even open e-mails from unknown senders. Still, any small tool or even a document you download from even a trusted site can contain some malware and it actually happens from time to time. If not Defender then what? My requirement is the program must be FASTER (because the greatest flaw of Defender is slowness) and as QUIET / maintenance free as Defender. The only time I want to see any notification from AV is when a real threat is found.

[irbaboon]

So given admin rights you can break stuff? What’s next? Rm -r /etc breaks stuff too? Come on…this is just clickbait/flame bait nonsense. Defender is a first line defense and fairly sufficient (and doesn’t shove scare-ware adds in your face) at that when compared to other ‘free’ stuff’. Switch to Linux if you want more freedom or Mac if you’re into that kind of lock-ins.
If you’re worried about virus crud you’re in the wrong areas of the internet and it’s your own fault (or you should get more reliable sources for your illegal stuff) :) Windows is not the holy grail, it’s a tool like any OS but your brain is the biggest tool to use: don’t trust anything, don’t install/click random cool sound stuff. You’re not going to saw the handle of your hammer and then nag it’s difficult to hold, are you?

[Valenorious]

Let's hope that people importing such a registy file from a random github are smart enough to notice or look for a RunOnce registry key to wget a malware file and auto run it. Registry key-files are not inherrently safer than a batch file that runs a script.

They are just to easier enable/undo your changes. The code and files of defender are still on your system.

[DizConnected]

Would love to see this added as an option in The Ultimate Windows Utility. Maybe add a recommended, free, anti-virus to the programs in The Ultimate Windows Utility.

[BatJeff]

Its wild to me that tech youtubers will say that Defender is great and totally fine to use by itself, and then other ones that say its a waste of space and to get it removed. Who am I supposed to listen to???

[normalizedaudio]

Registry could be argued as a stronger point of MS Windows.

[nesper]

But the question is "Should you really do this?"

[RoadRunner]

Wait... didn't you make a video a while ago where you said that Windows Defender is good enough and you don't really need a third party AV?

[fordgary]

I NEVER EVER HAD NO KIND OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE MICROSOFT WINDOWS DEFENDER AT ALL FOLKS.

[alanelston]

This is another interesting update on your thoughts on Windows Defender, following your video from a month ago, “Why I HATE Windows Defender”
Disabling Windows Defender and/ or Enabling it, featured in your early Debloat script utility things, but did not feature in more recent ones. It will be interesting to compare the PowerShell script in those early things with the info in this video and in the other places you referenced.
A lot of good insights, heads-up, and learning potential here, IMO.

[dandeson]

For me Defender is all I need, I just boot to Windows so i can play Tarkov, 97% of the time I'm using Fedora, never had any problem with it besides one miner that destroyed it few years back.