SpybotSD 2 conflicts with Windows Defender in Windows 8

Tex10

New member
My experience with SpybotSD 2 was not a good one. Acer Laptop computer came with McAfee Security Suite as a 3 month trial version which I removed. I installed Spybot - Search & Destroy 2 and then noticed an Action Center message stating that Windows Defender (the default Virus Checker replacing MS Security Essentials in Windows 8) was turned off. I tried using the Services under Administrative Tools to turn it on, but it would NOT stay turned on. I had to uninstall Spybot - Search & Destroy 2 in order to get Windows Defender to Start and run. I have now installed the old Spybot - Search & Destroy version 1.6.2 and now both applications are working properly. It appears that Spybot - Search & Destroy 2 conflicts with the default Windows Defender in Windows 8. I don't know if there are any solutions to this conflicting issue, but I will stay with Spybot - Search & Destroy version 1.6.2 for unless someone has a way to make things work properly.
 
If i remember correctly windows 8 shuts off windows defender if it detects an anti-virus/anti-malware software is installed.
 
Tex10 please look for the McAffee-Removal-Tool and run it on your Computer, to make sure there are no files left from the McAffee-Security, you have been using.
 
SpyBot S&D Conflicts with Defender in Win8

If i remember correctly windows 8 shuts off windows defender if it detects an anti-virus/anti-malware software is installed.

This conflict can be avoided by uninstalling the integration with Windows Security.

Open Spybot, click Advanced User Mode, go to Settings>System Services tab, and uninstall the Security Center Service.

You will now be able to start Windows Defender and have both programs running and checking for virus as well as malware.
 
This workaround has not worked for me, unfortunately

This conflict can be avoided by uninstalling the integration with Windows Security.

Open Spybot, click Advanced User Mode, go to Settings>System Services tab, and uninstall the Security Center Service.

You will now be able to start Windows Defender and have both programs running and checking for virus as well as malware.

Thanks for posting this suggestion. I have also found (In Windows 8.1) that Turning Spybot on causes Windows defender to report that it is turned off. And I would like to use multiple anti-virus systems: it seems like it ought to be safer, unless someone can convince me that this is a bad idea :)

I tried this suggestion, but hit a problem.

I STOPPED the Security service centre, got it not to restart on reboot, and then restarted.

Here's a screenshot showing which settings I changed: spybot settings.PNG

But this resulted in my PC reporting that both Spybot and Windows Defender were now off. So I undid that change!

Did I go wrong in that I stopped the Security service centre rather than altering it in some other way? That is, perhaps I misunderstood the instructions. Or is there another problem with this workaround?

On another machine (a Windows 7 one) I have the free version of Spybot installed, and Windows reports that this is active (along with Windows Defender and MacAfee.)
 
Last edited:
Back
Top