Microsoft Defender Antivirus security intelligence and product updates
Applies to:
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plans 1 and 2
- Microsoft Defender Antivirus
Platforms
- Windows
Keeping Microsoft Defender Antivirus up to date is critical to assure your devices have the latest technology and features needed to protect against new malware and attack techniques. Update your antivirus protection, even if Microsoft Defender Antivirus is running in passive mode. This article includes information about the two types of updates for keeping Microsoft Defender Antivirus current:
This article also includes:
- Microsoft Defender Antivirus platform support
- How to roll back an update (if necessary)
- Platform version included with Windows 10 releases
- Updates for Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM)
To see the most current engine, platform, and signature date, see Security intelligence updates for Microsoft Defender Antivirus and other Microsoft antimalware.
Tip
As a companion to this article, see our Security Analyzer setup guide to review best practices and learn to fortify defenses, improve compliance, and navigate the cybersecurity landscape with confidence. For a customized experience based on your environment, you can access the Security Analyzer automated setup guide in the Microsoft 365 admin center.
Security intelligence updates
Microsoft Defender Antivirus uses cloud-delivered protection (also called the Microsoft Advanced Protection Service, or MAPS) and periodically downloads dynamic security intelligence updates to provide more protection. These dynamic updates don't take the place of regular security intelligence updates via security intelligence update KB2267602.
Note
Updates are released under the following KBs:
- Microsoft Defender Antivirus: KB2267602
- System Center Endpoint Protection: KB2461484
Cloud-delivered protection is always on and requires an active connection to the Internet to function. Security intelligence updates occur on a scheduled cadence (configurable via policy). For more information, see Use Microsoft cloud-provided protection in Microsoft Defender Antivirus.
For a list of recent security intelligence updates, see Security intelligence updates for Microsoft Defender Antivirus and other Microsoft antimalware.
Engine updates are included with security intelligence updates and are released on a monthly cadence.
Product updates
Microsoft Defender Antivirus requires monthly updates (KB4052623) known as platform updates.
You can manage the distribution of updates through one of the following methods:
- Windows Server Update Service (WSUS)
- Microsoft Configuration Manager
- The usual methods you use to deploy Microsoft and Windows updates to endpoints in your network.
For more information, see Manage the sources for Microsoft Defender Antivirus protection updates.
Important points about product updates
Monthly updates are released in phases, resulting in multiple packages visible in your Window Server Update Services.
This article lists changes that are included in the broad release channel. See the latest broad channel release here.
To learn more about the gradual rollout process, and to see more information about the next release, see Manage the gradual rollout process for Microsoft Defender updates.
To learn more about security intelligence updates, see Security intelligence updates for Microsoft Defender Antivirus and other Microsoft antimalware.
If you're looking for a list of Microsoft Defender processes, see the spreadsheet provided at Enable access to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint service URLs in the proxy server. The sheet also lists the services and their associated URLs that your network must be able to connect to.
Platform updates can be temporarily postponed if other protection features, such as Endpoint DLP or Device Control are actively monitoring running processes. Platform updates are retried after a reboot or when all monitored services are stopped.
In the Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager / Windows Server Update Services (MECM/WSUS) catalog, the category Microsoft Defender for Endpoint includes updates for the
MSSenseservice in KB5005292. KB5005292 includes updates and fixes to the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint endpoint detection and response (EDR) sensor. For more information, see Microsoft Defender for Endpoint update for EDR Sensor and What's new in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on Windows.
Platform and engine releases
Updates contain:
- Performance improvements
- Serviceability improvements
- Integration improvements (Cloud, Microsoft Defender XDR)
September-2024 (Platform: 4.18.24090.11 | Engine 1.1.24090.11)
- Security intelligence update version: 1.421.12.0
- Release date: October 30, 2024 (Engine and Platform)
- Platform: 4.18.24090.11
- Engine: 1.1.24090.11
- Support phase: Security and Critical Updates
What's new
- Improved detection logic to reduce false positives related to the ASR rule, Block Office applications from injecting code into other processes
- Resolved an issue that could lead to a Windows device to be marked as non-compliant in Intune when Microsoft Defender Antivirus starts.
- Resolved an issue with catchup scan configuration, where the DaysUntilAggressiveCatchupQuickScan policy setting was not honored.
- Fixed
SharedSignatureRootprocessing when an empty value was set. - Fixed a problem with device control where certain file systems (like
FAT,FAT32,exFAT) with volume information displayed when a blocking rule was defined. - Improved performance in specific scenarios where network files were accessed.
- Fixed an issue with Azure Virtual Desktop where the Intune policy was not being honored.
- Fixed potential deadlock for custom detection rules on the Windows client
- Resolved an issue where antivirus exclusions were not being honored with AMSI.
- Fixed issue impacting a subset of devices where antivirus exclusions configured through SCCM were not honored
Important
On Windows Server 2019 and later, a new binary (MpDefenderCoreService.exe) will be included in the update package to support future service improvements (more information to follow).
August-2024 (Platform: 4.18.24080.9 | Engine: 1.1.24080.9)
- Security intelligence update version: 1.419.1.0
- Release date: September 17, 2024 (Engine and Platform)
- Platform: 4.18.24080.9
- Engine: 1.1.24080.9
- Support phase: Security and Critical Updates
What's new
- Added a new parameter (
ControlledFolderAccessDefaultProtectedFolders) to Get-MpPreference cmdlet to show default protected folders for controlled folder access. - Fixed an issue with device control regarding printer security checks.
- Resolved an issue with platform rollback after an upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11.
- Fixed an issue where volume exclusions weren't properly enforced in real-time protection after the completion of OOBE.
- Removed support for Windows RT devices, like Surface RT, that use 32-bit ARM processors and have reached their end-of-servicing date.
July-2024 (Platform: 4.18.24070.5 | Engine: 1.1.24070.3)
- Security intelligence update version: 1.417.14.0
- Release date: August 7, 2024 (Engine and Platform)
- Platform: 4.18.24070.5
- Engine: 1.1.24070.3
- Support phase: Security and Critical Updates
What's new
- False positive detections are no longer reported as
ThreatNotFoundin the Microsoft Defender portal. - Optimized network protection calls to the backend that occur as a result of suspicious connection checks.
- Fixed the PerformanceModeStatus configuration key in the Defender CSP so that changing this value in the console takes effect on the endpoint.
- Resolved an issue where file evidence location was not always captured in scenarios where the remote location is inaccessible.
- New event log added (
5016) to report Microsoft Defender Antivirus self-healed when a deadlock is detected during shutdown. - Fixed a prioritization issue with full scans initiated from the portal that resulted in longer than expected full scan duration.
Previous version updates: Technical upgrade support only
After a new package version is released, support for the previous two versions is reduced to technical support only. For more information about previous versions, see Microsoft Defender Antivirus updates: Previous versions for technical upgrade support.
Microsoft Defender Antivirus platform and engine support
Platform and engine updates are provided on a monthly cadence. To be fully supported, keep current with the latest platform and engine updates. Our support structure is dynamic, evolving into two phases depending on the availability of the latest platform and engine version:
Security and Critical Updates servicing phase - When running the latest platform and engine version, you're eligible to receive both Security and Critical updates to the anti-malware platform.
Technical Support (Only) phase - After a new platform and engine version is released, support for older versions (N-2) reduce to technical support only. Platform and engine versions older than N-2 are no longer supported. Technical support continues to be provided for upgrades from the Windows 10 release version (see Platform version included with Windows 10 releases) to the latest platform version.
During the technical support (only) phase, commercially reasonable support incidents are provided through Microsoft Customer Service & Support and Microsoft's managed support offerings (such as Premier Support). If a support incident requires escalation to development for further guidance, requires a nonsecurity update, or requires a security update, customers are asked to upgrade to the latest platform version or an intermediate update (*).
Note
If you are manually deploying Microsoft Defender Antivirus Platform Update, or if you are using a script or a non-Microsoft management product to deploy Microsoft Defender Antivirus Platform Update, make sure that version 4.18.2001.10 is installed from the Microsoft Update Catalog before the latest version of Platform Update (N-2) is installed.
How to roll back an update
In the unfortunate event that you encounter issues after a platform update, you can roll back to the previous or the inbox version of the Microsoft Defender platform.
To roll back to the previous version, run the following command:
"%programdata%\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Platform\<version>\MpCmdRun.exe" -RevertPlatformTo roll back this update to the version shipped with the Operating System ("%ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender")
"%programdata%\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Platform\<version>\MpCmdRun.exe" -ResetPlatform
Platform version included with Windows 10 releases
The below table provides the Microsoft Defender Antivirus platform and engine versions that are shipped with the latest Windows 10 releases:
| Windows 10 release | Platform version | Engine version | Support phase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 (20H1/20H2) | 4.18.1909.6 |
1.1.17000.2 |
Technical upgrade support (only) |
| 1909 (19H2) | 4.18.1902.5 |
1.1.16700.3 |
Technical upgrade support (only) |
| 1903 (19H1) | 4.18.1902.5 |
1.1.15600.4 |
Technical upgrade support (only) |
| 1809 (RS5) | 4.18.1807.5 |
1.1.15000.2 |
Technical upgrade support (only) |
| 1803 (RS4) | 4.13.17134.1 |
1.1.14600.4 |
Technical upgrade support (only) |
| 1709 (RS3) | 4.12.16299.15 |
1.1.14104.0 |
Technical upgrade support (only) |
| 1703 (RS2) | 4.11.15603.2 |
1.1.13504.0 |
Technical upgrade support (only) |
| 1607 (RS1) | 4.10.14393.3683 |
1.1.12805.0 |
Technical upgrade support (only) |
For Windows 10 release information, see the Windows lifecycle fact sheet.
Note
Windows Server 2016 ships with the same Platform version as RS1 and falls under the same support phase: Technical upgrade support (only)
Windows Server 2019 ships with the same Platform version as RS5 and falls under the same support phase: Technical upgrade support (only)
Updates for Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM)
To avoid a gap in protection, keep your OS installation images up to date with the latest antivirus and antimalware updates. Updates are available for:
- Windows 10 and 11 (Enterprise, Pro, and Home editions)
- Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2012 R2
- WIM and VHD(x) files
Updates are released for x86, x64, and ARM64 Windows architecture.
For more information, see Microsoft Defender update for Windows operating system installation images.
After a new package version is released, support for the previous two versions is reduced to technical support only. To view a list of previous versions, see Previous DISM updates.
1.417.472.0
- Defender package version:
1.417.472.0 - Security intelligence version:
1.417.472.0 - Engine version:
1.24080.9
Fixes
- None
Additional information
- None
1.415.295.0
- Defender package version:
1.415.295.0 - Security intelligence version:
1.415.295.0 - Engine version:
1.24070.1 - Platform version:
4.18.24070.5
Fixes
- None
Additional information
- None
1.415.235.0
- Defender package version:
1.415.235.0 - Security intelligence version:
1.415.235.0 - Engine version:
1.24070.1 - Platform version:
4.18.24070.5
Fixes
- None
Additional information
- None
More resources
| Article | Description |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Defender update for Windows operating system installation images | Review antimalware update packages for your OS installation images (WIM and VHD files). Get Microsoft Defender Antivirus updates for Windows 10 (Enterprise, Pro, and Home editions), Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2012 R2 installation images. |
| Manage how protection updates are downloaded and applied | Protection updates can be delivered through many sources. |
| Manage when protection updates should be downloaded and applied | You can schedule when protection updates should be downloaded. |
| Manage updates for endpoints that are out of date | If an endpoint misses an update or scheduled scan, you can force an update or scan the next time a user signs in. |
| Manage event-based forced updates | You can set protection updates to be downloaded at startup or after certain cloud-delivered protection events. |
| Manage updates for mobile devices and virtual machines (VMs) | You can specify settings, such as whether updates should occur on battery power that 's especially useful for mobile devices and virtual machines. |
| Microsoft Defender for Endpoint update for EDR Sensor | You can update the EDR sensor (MsSense.exe) that's included in the new Microsoft Defender for Endpoint unified solution package released in 2021. |
Tip
If you're looking for Antivirus related information for other platforms, see:
- Set preferences for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on macOS
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on Mac
- macOS Antivirus policy settings for Microsoft Defender Antivirus for Intune
- Set preferences for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on Linux
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on Linux
- Configure Defender for Endpoint on Android features
- Configure Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on iOS features
Tip
Do you want to learn more? Engage with the Microsoft Security community in our Tech Community: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Tech Community.