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Is there a way to whitelist a file (or entire flash drive) in Defender?

Anonymous
2020-10-07T16:59:21+00:00

Is there a way to whitelist a file, folder or entire (flash) drive in/from Defender?

Every time I open the folder to software *I* have written, Defender flags much of the contents as a "Potential threat" and quarantines them. Ditto for a flashdrive I store all my utilities on (both sources are virus free. These are False Positives.)

I can tell Windows to ignore each file AFTER the fact, but that's very annoying. TIA

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Security and privacy

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  1. DaveM121 872.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2020-10-07T20:47:52+00:00

    Hi Mugsy'sRapSheet

    Here are the steps to add an exclusion to Windows Security in Windows 10

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/402848...

    The exclusion process will allow you to add a file, folder or a drive letter as a folder to the exclusion list, with regards to that USB drive, it would b ebest to add an exclusion to a folder on that drive . . .

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  2. DaveM121 872.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2020-10-07T17:08:32+00:00

    Hi Mugsy'sRapSheet

    I am Dave, an Independent Advisor, I will help you with this . . .

    1

    When developing software on a PC, Defender will usually flag your newly compiled executables because those are not recognized when compared against the database, the best option is to use one folder on your PC for all your coding projects, then add that folder to the exclusion list in Windows Defender, so nothing in that folder is scanned

    You can also use the same method to stop Defender scanning that USB drive or a folder on that drive . . .

    2

    To disable Defender scanning all external drives, you can run this command in PowerShell as Admin:

    Set-MpPreference -DisableRemovableDriveScanning 1

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-10-07T20:38:14+00:00

    Thx for the reply.

    1. Where is there an "exclusion list" in Defender?
    2. How do I set the Drive to exclude? I do not wish to disable scanning of ALL removable drives, just one. (The "Exclusion List" will let me specify a drive by Letter?)
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