should i turn on avast antivirus windows 7

Your decision doesn't have to be permanent but can change according to your situation and needs. Nonetheless, you can still disable Windows Defender on Windows 10 if you find that it does more harm than good. It removed users' ability to permanently disable it by altering a registry key called “DisableAntiSpyware.” And while Microsoft claims that this decision was to promote the safety and security for all users, some found the decision bothersome. Microsoft has made it more challenging to turn off Windows Defender. Make sure you have another security suite set up-and of course the onus is still on you to practice sensible safety precautions. The problem arises when you disable it without providing a replacement. On its own, it is entirely safe to disable Windows Defender. With two antivirus software running simultaneously, you don't get all of the benefits but you do get the drawbacks-from frequent software crashes and your device overloading to even crashing your operating system.Īs antivirus software, Windows Defender is the first line of defense between you and any malicious software you might stumble upon while browsing the internet or using external storage.ĭisabling it without proper consideration could be detrimental to your security. Since Windows Defender is an antivirus responsible for constantly scanning your device for suspicious activity and self-duplicating files that could be a sign of malware, it could detect the other antivirus doing its job and interrupt it, and vice versa.

Whether it’s free antivirus, like Bitwarden or Avast, or a complete security suite, your new software won't work properly alongside Windows Defender.Īnd while Windows Defender can turn itself off if it detects another antivirus in order to avoid interference, it’s not always reliable.

When it comes to security and antivirus software, two are not better than one. So, what are some reasons to turn off Microsoft Defender on Windows 10? And how do you make sure it's safe to do so? It's completely free to use and comes enabled with every Windows device.īut not all default settings and software are necessary or even beneficial. Windows Defender, now known as Microsoft Defender, is Windows' built-in antivirus software.

Should i turn on avast antivirus windows 7