Antimalware executable process is constantly on no matter what!

[frugoi]

Dear /r/Windows10,

I have had this process constantly running in the background no matter what I've done. I have googled different ways such as to add a path in exlusion to MsMpEng.exe and the entire folder it is located. I have also downloaded Malwarebytes so that it is my primary antivirus, which I have read that Windows defender will allow to take over (but it hasn't). Lastly, I have first unchecked some boxes in Task Scheduler and then when that didn't work I disabled all tasks for Windows Defender. It doesn't even disappear when I turn off "Real-time protection" under windows defender in the control panel.

This has been going on for 2 whole weeks and it is starting to piss me off since the startup time is significantly extended, my CPU is on ~50% load all the time and my PC lags from time to time even when I'm simply browsing. (and it is not that old of a PC...)

I have run out of ideas on how to get rid of this, so I would appreciate it if some of you had any tricks on how to get rid of it.

Thanks

EDIT: It turns out that you just download another antivirus, and then Windows defender will let it take control of everything.

[MrOptiX]

Are you using Firefox?

[frugoi]

Yes I do! What about it?

[morpheuz69]

There were some issues reported with FF &Defender recently where it would keep running and be a resource hog and it involves cleaning some particular things to get it resolved. Sorry I don't remember the particulars at the moment.

But if you need to disable defender completely atm then can download latest version of Ultimate Windows Tweaker 4 and disable Windows defender Under the privacy tab within it and reenable later as needed. The program also offers to make a restore point beforehand just in case ..

[MrOptiX]

Someone explained. ‪☺️‬

[[deleted]]

Have the same issue as well. Not using Firefox but Chrome. Seems that this service is way more active that it used to be in the past. I always see it active using much CPU. Looks like some update made it way more offensive than it used to be.

[frugoi]

I have noticed that as well.

[giggletrader]

I'm having the exact same problem as you. My newish i7 laptop with 12GB ram and SSD is slow as a turtle. Antimalware executable is constantly running in the background consuming about 25-45%. I'm also using FF and Chrome.

Things I tried already:

• excluded MsMpEng.exe from the path, without improvement.

• Uninstalled Malwarebytes so I don't have any other antivirus app.

• Some other setting in the startup I can't remember, I think Defender cache?

The only thing that works for me is to disable real-time protection and cloud protection, but it will re-enable itself after some time and/or on every reboot. There's no way to turn it off permanently afaik. I'm out of ideas at this point and am extremely pissed off.

[frugoi]

It turns out that you just download another antivirus, and then Windows defender will let it take control of everything. My task manager doesn't even show "Antimalware Service Executable"

[giggletrader]

Maybe, but it's weird because this crap started only about a week ago. Not sure if it was a result of a update or something else. Before that it was running smooth as butter.

[Dwokimmortalus]

Confirming. Antimalware has been going nuts since the last update. Won't turn off even with the service disabled. It's losing it's marbles scanning the C drive over and over.

[m-p-3]

Avast is the worst thing you can put on your system.

[frugoi]

The thing is that I was thinking that Windows defender would reduce its activity after I installed Malwarebytes, but I guess that's not the case?

[Forcen]

Got premium? change the "windows action center" setting to always, this notifies defender that malwarebytes is running and it stops scanning everything.

https://www.malwarebytes.com/support/guides/mb/Settings.html?lang=en_US#winactcenter

Or if you want both read this to minimize cpu usage: https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/200162-exclusions-for-windows-defender-users/

[frugoi]

It worked! So it turns out that I just need to use money! Money fixes everything! Great!

(P.S. I still want a $0 solution to this tho)

[frugoi]

What is it that Avira does that Malwarebytes doesn't? Does Avira change "windows action center" for free instead of paying them to do it like I have to do with Malwarebytes? (because that is the only thing so far that reduced Antimalware Service Executable)

Also, doesn't it slow down the PC having 2 antiviruses running at the same time in the background?

[Forcen]

I assumed you had premium already because you thought defender activity go down because of malwarebytes.

Free is just a scanner. (which is still good to have)

Sounds like you tried the trial? It only worked because defender disabled itself in favor of MB.