Malwarebytes and Windows Defender are two popular antivirus software programs that are widely used by computer users. Malwarebytes is known for its advanced malware detection and removal capabilities, while Windows Defender is a built-in antivirus software program that comes with Windows 10. However, some users have reported conflicts between these two antivirus programs. In this article, we will discuss the causes of the conflict and how to resolve it.
What is Malwarebytes?
Malwarebytes is an antivirus software program that is designed to protect your computer from malware, viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. It can detect and remove malware that other antivirus programs may miss. Malwarebytes is available in both free and paid versions. The paid version offers more advanced features, such as real-time protection, scheduled scanning, and automatic updates.
What is Windows Defender?
Windows Defender is a built-in antivirus software program that comes with Windows 10. It provides basic protection against malware, viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. Windows Defender offers real-time protection, automatic updates, and scheduled scanning. It is a good option for users who do not want to spend money on antivirus software.
Why Malwarebytes and Windows Defender Conflict?
The conflict between Malwarebytes and Windows Defender can occur when both programs are running at the same time. This can cause performance issues, such as slow computer speed, freezes, and crashes. The conflict can also lead to false positive detections, where Malwarebytes detects a file as malware, but Windows Defender does not. This can cause confusion and inconvenience for users.
How to Resolve Malwarebytes Conflict with Windows Defender?
There are several ways to resolve the conflict between Malwarebytes and Windows Defender:
Disable Windows Defender
If you are using Malwarebytes as your primary antivirus software, you can disable Windows Defender to avoid conflicts. To disable Windows Defender, follow these steps:
- Open Windows Defender Security Center.
- Click on Virus & threat protection.
- Click on Manage settings.
- Turn off Real-time protection.
Exclude Malwarebytes from Windows Defender
If you want to use both Malwarebytes and Windows Defender, you can exclude Malwarebytes from Windows Defender to avoid conflicts. To exclude Malwarebytes from Windows Defender, follow these steps:
- Open Windows Defender Security Center.
- Click on Virus & threat protection.
- Click on Manage settings.
- Scroll down to Exclusions and click on Add or remove exclusions.
- Click on Add an exclusion and select Folder.
- Browse to the location of Malwarebytes and select the folder.
- Click on Exclude this folder.
Exclude Windows Defender from Malwarebytes
If you want to use both Malwarebytes and Windows Defender, you can exclude Windows Defender from Malwarebytes to avoid conflicts. To exclude Windows Defender from Malwarebytes, follow these steps:
- Open Malwarebytes.
- Click on Settings.
- Click on Exclusions.
- Click on Add exclusion.
- Select Exclude a website or IP address.
- Type in "Windows Defender" and click on Add.
Use Malwarebytes as a Second Opinion Scanner
If you want to use both Malwarebytes and Windows Defender, you can use Malwarebytes as a second opinion scanner. This means that you can run Malwarebytes to scan your computer for malware, and then run Windows Defender to scan your computer again. This can help you to detect and remove any malware that may have been missed by either antivirus software.
Conclusion
Malwarebytes and Windows Defender are two popular antivirus software programs that can conflict with each other. The conflict can cause performance issues and false positive detections. However, there are several ways to resolve the conflict, such as disabling Windows Defender, excluding Malwarebytes from Windows Defender, excluding Windows Defender from Malwarebytes, and using Malwarebytes as a second opinion scanner. By following these solutions, you can use both Malwarebytes and Windows Defender without any conflicts.
