Windows defender performance

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Prayag

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How much does windows defender impact system performance?
I have uninstalled avast and not want to use any third party AV?
Does windows defender uses heuristics and how fast is it's scanning speed and resource usage while scanning?
 

Evjl's Rain

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heavily impact here
I monitor my laptop every day so if there is any small drop in performance, I can sense it easily

WD only doesn't slow down the boot speed, the rest are unbearable in my standard: CPU and disk activity
 

brambedkar59

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After running a full system scan it has almost minimal impact on system. There is still a problem/bug, when you open a folder containing many exe files it will take a min or two to show their icons/thumbnails. It's not a big issue.

I don't think Windows Defender uses heuristic if no resgistry tweaks are mode, relying only on signatures.
Some users report some slowdown impact running .exe files, but I do not notice anything in my machine.
Windows defender in Win 10 CU has heuristics, behaviour monitoring and cloud protection, and these are enabled by default. There effectiveness on the other hand is debatable
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mekelek

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according to the last performance test, WD has piss poor performance compared to 3rd party AVs.
 

Ink

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Minimal performance impact, unless you're downloading many software and files. For example, Downloads folder.

Recently uninstalled Avast due to constant moderate CPU usage from Behaviour Shield and Loss of Internet Connectivity from Web Shield.
upload_2017-7-17_16-50-53.png


Whilst typing in Opera browser, laptop is silent (no fan).
upload_2017-7-17_16-53-23.png


Overall Windows Defender is a great choice for mid-spec or higher computers and PC users who don't need OTT protection layers.
 

Maxwell Sien

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Nov 15, 2016
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I don't think Windows Defender uses heuristic if no resgistry tweaks are mode, relying only on signatures.
Some users report some slowdown impact running .exe files, but I do not notice anything in my machine.

If you Scan a *rack file with Windows Defender, it will be detect as Hack.Tool/Risk.Tool, that is from Heuristic.

Beside that, i haven't see any AntiVirus that just rely on Signature. CMIIW..
 

brod56

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If you Scan a *rack file with Windows Defender, it will be detect as Hack.Tool/Risk.Tool, that is from Heuristic.

Beside that, i haven't see any AntiVirus that just rely on Signature. CMIIW..

Then I might be unupdated. But I am sure the initial version of WD back in Windows 8 relied only on signatures.
Glad to see MS improved the default Windows protection a little bit.
 

TairikuOkami

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WD has a heavy impact on HDD (I/O) rather than CPU/RAM. I always disable it, because sometimes it causes 30-50% CPU or HDD usage for whatever reason.
 
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jamescv7

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Windows Defender performance is a case to case basis, although majority of system contains the result of minimal impact.

The engine of Windows Defender tends to exert some high usage of Disk I/O often because of scanning both read and write, however not in regular matter.

As long you have a desktop/laptop that runs in decent specification then you cannot feel any slowdown for Windows Defender.
 
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