Defender don't allow neighbor like AVG

Hi guys

I notice if AVG antivirus is installed, the defender can't be turn on. This is true and can i have both working together.

Just a side note: just update to win10 version 20H2 from the earlier version,, pretty fast and no problem.

 

As Pete noted, Microsoft Defender (formally Windows Defender) is automatically disabled when you install a 3rd party anti-malware solution. That's by design. Microsoft knows that some would prefer to run with alternative solutions so Microsoft Defender is designed to gracefully step aside whenever another anti-malware solution registers itself in Windows Security Center.

Conflicts used to be a big problem back in the day. I used to say it was like two dogs guarding the same bone, each wondering what the other was up to. But actual conflicts (where one program would interfere with, or even block the operation of the other) really are not a problem today. What is common when running two real-time solutions, however, is the computer gets bogged down as both programs start hogging system resources (CPU cycles and RAM). So the point being, it really isn't necessary to run with two capable programs AS LONG AS you keep the OS and your security programs current and you are not "click-happy" on unsolicited links, attachments, popups, and downloads.

But regardless your primary scanner, it is still a good idea to periodically scan with a secondary scanner just to make sure you (the user and ALWAYS weakest link in security) or your primary scanner didn't let something slip by. And as Steve notes, Malwarebytes is good for that.

And speaking of Malwarebytes, Malwarebytes Premium (which has a real-time component) is one of the few alternative solutions that does play very well together with Microsoft Defender, without hogging system resources or bogging down systems. This combination is what I use on this computer, my secondary PC and my laptop.

To keep Microsoft Defender enabled, you have to tell Malwarebytes not to register itself with Windows. This is easily done by opening the Malwarebytes control panel, clicking on the settings (gear) icon > Security tab, then scrolling down to Windows Security Center. Then make sure the slider to "Always register Malwarebytes in the Windows Security Center" is set to "Off".

I don't know if AVG has a similar setting but frankly, while good at protecting the computer from security threats, AVG (which now part of Avast) is not known for being light on resources. And with Microsoft Defender having proved itself to be a very capable security solution too, many are just sticking with Microsoft Defender, then scanning every so often with the free version of Malwarebytes. This is what I do on my other two systems here and the solution I recommend to all my friends, colleagues and clients. For those that feel more comfortable running with a second layer of protection in real-time, I then recommend Malwarebytes Premium, configured as above.

 

FuzMic,
I have 3 systems, 2 desktops and 1 laptop, configured as Bill described above and am very happy with that setup. I was not aware that "Always register Malwarebytes in the Windows Security Center" should be set to "Off" in the Premium version. Checked mine and it was already set that way.

 

That is only if you want Microsoft Defender to stay active along side Malwarebytes. Normally, as Pete suggested above, you don't want two real-time anti-malware programs running simultaneously. But since Malwarebytes Premium and Microsoft Defender coexist so well together without hogging resources and bogging down systems, this is an exception.

By default, that setting would have been set to "On" when Malwarebytes Premium was first installed. So at some point, you, or someone using your computer and account, must have changed it. Since you didn't seem to notice any performance hit, it was not a problem.

 

Probably gets set to OFF after the 14 day free trial expires.

 

I've never seen it change by itself. Users don't normally like changes forced on them without their knowledge or permission. And there are many out there that don't like Defender just because it has the Microsoft brand on it. So for sure, if suddenly Malwarebytes enabled Microsoft Defender without getting users permission first, it would be all over the Internet how Malwarebytes is kissing up to Microsoft, or how Microsoft is (once again) forcing changes on users.

Plus, not sure Malwarebytes would like the impression it might give some users that Malwarebytes is not good enough on its own.

 

Enjoy the gentle chattering. Appreciate.