I have a windows defender issue
windows 10 pro 64bit
version 1703
OS Build 15063.296
I use Kaspersky total rather than windows defender but windows defender seems messed up and is causing issues on my PC, and with kaspersky:
- Service host: local service with 3 subtasks - windows firewall, core messaging and base filtering engine running at around 26% CPU
- Windows defender is showing a "!" in the system tray
- On the windows defender firewall and network tab windows defender reports "windows firewall is using settings that may make your device unsafe"
- On the same tab there is a button "restore settings" - clicking that prompts to allow a change but makes no difference.
- Any web page shows "resolving host" for an extended period before opening
- Downloads take a few minutes before the save as dialogue opens
The issue started yesterday when I reset Kaspersky to default settings to clear some constraints. Having re-cycled Kaspersky (I guess it went off line during this) windows defender tried to take over but seems to be stuck in a loop with the firewall task
taking high CPU.
On the windows defender firewall and network tab (where I see the message "windows firewall is using settings that may make your device unsafe" there is a button "restore settings" - clicking that prompts to allow a change but makes no difference.
Having got into this situation windows defender would not allow the Kaspersky app to take over to run the firewall. I assumed that maybe something was screwed up with the process so took off Kaspersky and re-installed - I used the Kaspersky removal tool
in safe mode to make sure it was all gone. With Kaspersky off the PC the windows firewall was still in the same state.
I tried the firewall diag (WindowsFirewall.diagcab) in safe mode because in normal windows mode it just hung saying checking - it reported another firewall - I have looked through the installed programs and there is nothing else there.
I re-installed Kaspersky - this took a couple of hours because of the issues caused by windows defender but finally got there. The issue with the firewall did not go away and defender still showed the error messages described above. 5 hours later the situation
had not changed but this morning the problem appeared to solve itself.
I did notice overnight that windows applied a definition update "Installation Successful: Windows successfully installed the following update: Definition Update for Windows Defender - KB2267602 (Definition 1.243.792.0)" - I don't know if this was connected
to the change or it is was just looping so much and eventually processed whatever it was trying to process.
To verify if the issue was solved or just masked I disabled and re-enabled the Kaspersky firewall - having disabled it windows defender went into its same loop again and would not allow me to re-enable Kaspersky firewall ...
after 2 hours I tried again and successfully re-enabled Kaspersky but I was back to the same issues - high CPU on windows firewall, error message on the firewall tab and ! in the system tray.
Reading the forums I see others with the same issue - I tried to use the Microsoft support via the chat service by they said the wanted to charge me for the privilege of fixing what appears to be an issue with their software ...
Anyone got a magic incantation to solve this ? I don't seem to be able to close down windows defender to stop it getting in the way - is there a way?
Ideas would be welcome ... or if not then "same for me" tags.