View Full Version : Does SpyBot S&D affect W10's Windows Defender?
I've been testing Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview. When I try to use Windows Defender it's not highlighted and I can't turn it on.
I tried a fix that is supposed to allow Windows Defender to be turned on but it didn't work. The prompts suggest that another security app may be the cause.
I'm using SpyBot S&D v 2.4.40.0.
Got tip?
Thanks, Kerry
Hello iKerry,
Spybot 2.4 and Windows 10 (https://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?72492-Spybot-2-4-and-Windows-10&goto=newpost)
Have you posted the Windows Defender issue in the Windows 10 Insider Preview Forums and provided the build? :)
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/forum/insider_wintp?tab=Threads
Best regards.
Hi tashi,
Yes, I have reported the problem. Dozens of others have reported same problem.
Since posting here I uninstalled Spy... and Windows Defender did turn on but, I couldn't get it to do a scan. The message was: "The group or resource is not in the correct state to perform the requested operation."
I am now reinstalling Spy...
Thanks, Kerry
Hi iKerry,
Hi tashi,
Yes, I have reported the problem. Dozens of others have reported same problem.
With Spybot and Windows Defender? If so can you provide a link please. :)
Hi tashi,
I did a cursory search to find my last post with no luck; I find the site to be a bit confusing, not as easy to browse as your forum. http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/search/search?SearchTerm=windows+defender+and+spybot+search+and+destroy&IsSuggestedTerm=false&tab=&x=8&y=6&CurrentScope.ForumName=Protect&CurrentScope.Filter=protect_defender-protect_start&ContentTypeScope=#/Protect/protect_defender-protect_start//1
also, Google, "Windows Defender and Search and Destroy" —that's where I got "Dozens of others have reported same problem." With a complete uninstall and the clean install of SSD Home W10's build 10162 WD still didn't work, so I upgraded to the 2.4 Home version so as to stay protected.
Thanks, Kerry
Update: Windows Defender and Spybot... 2.4 both work now as of (7/11/15) with W10 build 10166.
Thanks, Kerry
Thank you for letting us know Kerry. :)
Thank you for letting us know Kerry. :)
No sooner did I post than I started getting warnings about not being protected. I tried to turn on Windows Defender and it won't work.
Kerry
SSD 2.4
Windows 10 Pro Preview (build 10260)
Hello iKerry,
As this issue is on a Windows 10 build, not a final, it might be best if you post in the Microsoft forums and let us know the outcome. :)
Best regards.
Hi tashi,
Done. Will do.
Kerry
Just uninstalled SSD and Windows Defender automatically turned itself on.
Kerry
drghughes
2015-07-29, 09:26
Just found the same thing. Windows Defender was off and couldn't be started. I tried updating Spybot to v2.5 using the updater on the desktop, and there was no change. After removing Spybot, Windows Defender is working again.
Details:
Windows 10 Build 10162
Problem was initially with Spybot v2.4, but also with v2.5, both free versions
There's some automatic on and off for Defender initiated by Action Center. I'll try to find more details about that asap.
drghughes
2015-07-29, 10:00
Note that uninstalling Spybot v2.5 doesn't uninstall the startup entry "Makes sure Spybot 2 is there on Windows 10".
That entry will become passive after five reboots (there's a counter in the registry for that), but we indeed could not make it uninstallable, otherwise it would conflict with our survival solution in some scenarios.
Maybe we can check if we can make it self destruct instead of getting passive...
edit: how exactly do you try to start/activate/enable Windows Defender? Haven't found anything so far, seems contrary to previous versions of Windows that reported multiple active AV/AS, 10 will only accept one?
drghughes
2015-07-29, 17:10
When Windows Defender isn't running you should be able to restart it in Control Panel under System and Security, then Security and Maintenance, i.e.
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Obviously, since I've uninstalled Spybot, you can't see it here, but that's where it will be.
Regarding the "Makes sure Spybot 2 is there on Windows 10" entry, it's pretty aggressive as is since what appears is the UAC popup asking whether I want to run it. You need to give it some more context, rather than just dumping users into the install process.
It's not there in Action Center, since MS seem to have changed the Action Center behaviour to list only one application.
Even though we started months before the Windows 10 release to contact and ask Microsoft, the WSC/AC team in special, we didn't receive the WSC software vendor documentation until July 27th.
Anyway, to reproduce, I probably would need the exact steps you've taken. IF you're sure you were able to try to re-enable Windows Defender in Action Center, we'll have another look.
A UAC popup? Actually, test.exe is there specially to avoid UAC, which would only appear when the installer needs to run. test.exe simply checks for the proper circumstances (Windows 10, no Spybot installed, no previous attempt), and launches the UAC part only when necessary.
Microsoft actually suggests a very similar way (as "aggressive"), possibly with even less user interaction, for installation of new versions after the upgrade.
drghughes
2015-07-30, 17:10
Anyway, to reproduce, I probably would need the exact steps you've taken. IF you're sure you were able to try to re-enable Windows Defender in Action Center, we'll have another look.
I think that there is some confusion here. No one, as far as I can see in this thread, has reported being able to enable Windows Defender with Spybot running.
However, when Spybot is blocking Windows Defender and you try and fix it, e.g. by following the warning in the notifications, you get taken to the Control Panel section I showed you, and Windows Defender is shown as not started with a button that you should be able to click to restart it.
A UAC popup? Actually, test.exe is there specially to avoid UAC, which would only appear when the installer needs to run. test.exe simply checks for the proper circumstances (Windows 10, no Spybot installed, no previous attempt), and launches the UAC part only when necessary.
Microsoft actually suggests a very similar way (as "aggressive"), possibly with even less user interaction, for installation of new versions after the upgrade.
Exactly. I'd uninstalled Spybot, and then when I restart I get this message trying to reinstall it.
Anyhow, I've given you the feedback - I think that you could do better by introducing a step that asks whether the user wants to reinstall Spybot, rather than assuming that it has been removed by the Windows 10 upgrade process.
drghughes
2015-07-31, 09:47
This isn't fixed in build 10240.
And here is the screenshot to prove it:
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Clicking on the <Turn on now> button does nothing.
Thanks, that screenshot clarifies some things. I can reproduce this now, looks to be an issue in Defender though. Nothing in the event log. Maybe defender can only serve both at once, not just one?
Windows Defender will not work with Spybot, or any other antivirus program I have tested so far, on Windows 10.
It seems that WD is only available on Windows 10 as backup security if no other security is installed.
From Microsoft:
When you install some 3rd party antivirus (AV) programs, they may automatically turn off Windows Defender. In this case you will not be able to turn on Windows Defender again until the 3rd party AV program has been completely uninstalled.
found here:
http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5918-windows-defender-turn-off-windows-10-a.html
drghughes
2015-08-07, 10:49
Windows Defender will not work with Spybot, or any other antivirus program I have tested so far, on Windows 10.
Windows Defender and Spybot v2.4 were working together for me on Windows 10 build 10162 (and earlier builds) up until about the time that the installer for Spybot v2.5 was placed on the desktop.
I've just successfully installed Malwarebytes Free (so very similar to Spybot Free) on Windows 10 and Windows Defender is still working.
Spybot Free is not an anti-virus. It should work with Windows Defender/MSE, just like it has on previous versions of Windows.