Windows Defender

[GTP]

Does anyone know of a safe, reliable and permanent way to expunge Defender from Windows 10?
My issue with it is that it sticks an icon on the tray that customers can open. Believing that my AV is not needed, they remove it.
Turning Defender off in Settings works only about 50% of the time. It always seems to get turned back on? Microsoft playing silly buggers??

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

I haven't tried this, but here are a few methods including GP, Registry and Task Scheduler: http://www.ghacks.net/2015/10/25/how-to-disable-windows-defender-in-windows-10-permanently/

 

[glennd]

Does anyone know of a safe, reliable and permanent way to expunge Defender from Windows 10?
My issue with it is that it sticks an icon on the tray that customers can open. Believing that my AV is not needed, they remove it.
Turning Defender off in Settings works only about 50% of the time. It always seems to get turned back on? Microsoft playing silly buggers??

As best I can figure it out, Windows will enable Defender if it thinks there's no other A/V active. It puts a nice message in the security centre to that effect.

 

[GTP]

I haven't tried this, but here are a few methods including GP, Registry and Task Scheduler: http://www.ghacks.net/2015/10/25/how-to-disable-windows-defender-in-windows-10-permanently/

Thanks Adam, I've tried all three of these "tricks." The third option actually does the first two.
Also, disabling it this way doesn't remove the "sliders" from setting so it can be manually turned back on. Even when "greyed out" after running these tips, a few days later they are not "greyed out" anymore.
I wouldn't like to speculate why, but 1 day, 2 days, a week later the settings have been reversed. At first I was thinking maybe the client did a system restore or Windows booted from a "known good restore point" or something?
Nothing in logs about "dirty" shutdows/restores/failed boots or anything else.
Win 10 Home doesn't have GP either

As best I can figure it out, Windows will enable Defender if it thinks there's no other A/V active. It puts a nice message in the security centre to that effect.

Definately got an active AV already. Happens with Kaspersky, Trend Micro and Avira and managed Emsisoft.

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

I would imagine updates bring it back as well.

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

Hmm, just checked my Win 10 Enterprise with n-able/bitdefender and no tray icon.

 

[Koala]

I've had success with O&OSU10

 

[GTP]

Hmm, just checked my Win 10 Enterprise with n-able/bitdefender and no tray icon.

Yes, it's weird it doesn't happen on all machines - just some. (Workstations/Laptops)
Most of the time it's just a simple turn off, but others are like "Lazarus" keep coming back from the dead!
As an example I turned it off/disabled it on two office workstations over a week ago. One had it enabled the next day, the other is still off.
Identical workstations, exactly the same OS, productivity software and AV.

 

[glennd]

Yes, it's weird it doesn't happen on all machines - just some. (Workstations/Laptops)
Most of the time it's just a simple turn off, but others are like "Lazarus" keep coming back from the dead!
As an example I turned it off/disabled it on two office workstations over a week ago. One had it enabled the next day, the other is still off.
Identical workstations, exactly the same OS, productivity software and AV.

does it show up in event viewer?