Malwarebytes Premium Turned Off Windows Defender??

woodbine · 05 Apr 2022

Have to start by saying I know little about PCs. Just updated my Malwarebytes Premium and noticed that my Windows Defender anti virus appears to be turned off on my Acer laptop.

Should I turn Win Defender back on? Or is Malwarebytes Premium good enough to handle anti virus and malware? I would prefer Win Defender to handle the anti virus as I believe it's very good, but I don't understand how to change the settings and make sure I still have full protection. How can I run things so Defender handles the anti virus and Malwarebytes just does the malware?

Any help appreciated.

Matthew Wai · 05 Apr 2022

You have to choose between Malwarebytes Premium and Microsoft Defender.
You can't have your cake and eat it.

woodbine · 05 Apr 2022

Matthew Wai said:

You have to choose between Malwarebytes Premium and Microsoft Defender.
You can't have your cake and eat it.

Thanks for your reply. I don't know which is best - Win Defender or Malwarebytes for anti-virus. Should I stay with Malwarebytes for everything?

Or should I uninstall Malwarebytes Premium and just use the free, basic version? And let Win Defender handle anti-virus.

Apologies, but I'm not sure the best way to go.

Matthew Wai · 05 Apr 2022

How to Run Malwarebytes Alongside Another Antivirus

Samuria · 05 Apr 2022

If you have two av they can block each other you can run defender and leave mb not running all the time but run it to do scans that's the best way

Matthew Wai · 05 Apr 2022

The OP may try leaving both running and see whether they will block each other.
I have Microsoft Defender and WiseVector StopX, which will not block each other.

Paul Black · 05 Apr 2022

Hello @woodbine,

Obviously Anti-Virus/Malware Programs/Software is personal choice and down to the user to decide what coverage they want for their computer, and then investigate and pick a suitable option, or options.

Some AV's throttle your Internet connection, or often give FALSE Positives.

Microsoft Defender [ formerly Windows defender ] has come a LONG way over the past few years and is now VERY good and more than capable. I also understand that Malwarebytes is VERY complimentary with it.

I hope this helps.

mrgeek · 05 Apr 2022

I don't understand how to change the settings and make sure I still have full protection. How can I run things so Defender handles the anti virus and Malwarebytes just does the malware?

I only have Malwarebytes Premium and Windows Defender for AV. They can run side-by-side. Simply turn of registering MB in Windows Security. This will disappear the panel in WS which shows MB as your AV and disables WS except for periodic scanning. Here's MB setting to use

Malwarebytes Premium Turned Off Windows Defender??-screenshot_1.jpg

Now, Open WS Center, click Virus & threat tile. If you toggle it 'On' you'll see that MB has taken over as AV provider. Toggle 'Off' you'll see that Defender is provider (use link in R column to confirm) but MB Prem IS running side-by-side. I have had notifications from both running some exe's and lots of MB blocking web site visiting which WS doesn't do. Running processes and R-click on MB tray icon confirms too.

Malwarebytes Premium Turned Off Windows Defender??-screenshot_2.jpg

Malwarebytes Premium Turned Off Windows Defender??-screenshot_3.jpg

Digmor Crusher · 05 Apr 2022

Just turn off the setting " Always Register Malwarebytes In The Windows Security Center" and then you can run both with real time protection with no issues.

woodbine · 06 Apr 2022

mrgeek said:

I don't understand how to change the settings and make sure I still have full protection. How can I run things so Defender handles the anti virus and Malwarebytes just does the malware?

I only have Malwarebytes Premium and Windows Defender for AV. They can run side-by-side. Simply turn of registering MB in Windows Security. This will disappear the panel in WS which shows MB as your AV and disables WS except for periodic scanning. Here's MB setting to use

Now, Open WS Center, click Virus & threat tile. If you toggle it 'On' you'll see that MB has taken over as AV provider. Toggle 'Off' you'll see that Defender is provider (use link in R column to confirm) but MB Prem IS running side-by-side. [COLOR=#333333]I have had notifications from both running some exe's and lots of MB blocking web site visiting which WS doesn't do. Running processes and R-click on MB tray icon confirms too.

Thanks mrgeek. I switched off "always register Malwarebytes in the Windows security centre" on Malwarebytes. When I checked on Win Security (see my attachment below) it looks like Defender is now turned on for anti-virus.

However, under "web Providers" it says there are no providers. Is this correct? Should there be protection here?