Advice Request Is it possible to use WD as only a cloud AV?

[Nagisa]

I’m currently using SysH + WD + VS + NVTOSA combo. I don’t think I need an AV that much at this point. So I would like to tweak mine to make it only use the cloud engine. Is it possible?

Does it give any significant security problem? How can I do this?

 

[imuade]

I’m currently using SysH + WD + VS + NVTOSA combo. I don’t think I need an AV that much at this point. So I would like to tweak mine to make it only use the cloud engine. Is it possible?

Does it give any significant security problem? How can I do this?

That's not possible, you can only set an exclusion on WD (for ?:\* that means any file on any drive), but it will exclude the files from both cloud-based and signature-based AV.
Smartscreen, anti-exploit and network protection will still work

 

[shmu26]

you can only set an exclusion on WD (for ?:\*

I like that idea, but I would modify it a little, based on @Windows_Security's suggestion to me:
set an exclusion for C:\Windows, and for the two Programs files folders. This way, the AV won't slow you down, and won't scan areas of the system that are already sufficiently (and perhaps overly) protected.

 

[Ink]

Not a good idea to solely rely on Windows SmartScreen. Your device is better protected with the local Windows Defender Antivirus. No need to stack multiple whitelisting, behaviour softwares (VDS, OSA etc.) to replace an Antivirus.

 

[LDogg]

Maybe you can utilise Window Defender with Configure Defender to make use of the settings it has? I don't think OSA & VDS are needed on the same system, they pretty much have the same concept, however VDS does use VirusTotal to make sure you make a better informed decision about anything blocked.

~LDogg