Toggle the Real-time protection switch off. You may receive a User Account Control (UAC) prompt asking if you want to allow the change to occur. Select Yes. When you're ready to turn system protection ...

Most modern Windows PCs rely on Microsoft Defender as their first line of defense against malware. Over the years, it has evolved into a capable and often underrated antivirus that blocks a wide range ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Davey Winder is a veteran cybersecurity writer, hacker and analyst. There are a number of antivirus, anti-malware, and internet ...

To permanently remove Windows Security, use Local Group Policy Editor, Windows Registry tweaks, or the Windows Defender Remover tool. Be cautious— removal can leave your PC vulnerable. Always back up ...

Microsoft Defender (previously Windows Defender) has been a part of the Windows operating system since the early 2000s, with Microsoft improving and iterating on it up to the present — and presumably ...

SmartScreen is designed to automatically block suspicious files, but it often flags genuine downloads as malicious. Here's how you can disable Windows Defender SmartScreen on Windows 11 to download ...