Virus and threat protection settings UNKNOWN and many settings including realtime protection can't be turned on.

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Virus and threat protection settings UNKNOWN and many settings including realtime protection can't be turned on.

Anonymous

I've tried absolutely everything, but one difference is that I think I know where the problem originated.

There is another thread on this and the answer was to "Full scan three times and restart after everyone scanned".

I tried this and it did not work.

Plus it was a massive pain waiting 3 hours for each scan

I keep getting this Unknown status under all the settings except ransomware protection.

When I go to manage the virus and threat protection settings I cannot turn the real-time protection setting on, as well as the other ones.

When I click the button to turn it on, it asks for administration and I click yes. After clicking yes, nothing happens. (And I still get notifications that my real-time protection settings are turned off.)

Okay now to the cause.

So at one point, I kept getting notifications that there were potentially unwanted programs on my PC and when I went to the protection history, there were all these old threats I'd already deleted but they were still in the history. I searched on how to remove the history of these threats because they didn't even exist.

The videos told me to go to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Scans\History\Service and delete the DetectionHistory folder by permanently deleting it.

After I did that, I restarted my PC and went to Windows Security.

After opening it I went to do a quick scan (without looking at the "unknown status") and when it was supposedly done it did not look fully completed. I have an image for that near the bottom.

After this, I went to look at the settings and I saw that real-time protection was turned off.

I always had this on and I don't currently have virus protection software.

Honestly, I would just want a fresh restore of windows security but I haven't found that anywhere.

I can't be asked to reset windows and I'd rather go through 10 free trials of other anti-viruses.

This is like 15 minutes after I first clicked scan and its still stuck on this.

If you've found a solution to this please help. I've probably tried everything from every thread and it's done nothing.

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1 answer

Answer 1

Hi Ace -

At any time did you get Administrator errors here or anywhere else?

Due to it's critical importance and a risk Defender was disabled by an attack, we first need to check for infection by the most thorough methods, then for damaged System Files, and finally with known fixes for Defender. Please follow all steps in order. I am standing by to help you.

Download, install and run a full scan with the most powerful on-demand free scanner Malwarebytes:

https://www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download/.

In the Malwarebytes Settings > Security tab set it to include scanning for Rootkits.

If necessary run it in Safe Mode with Networking, or Safe Mode accessed by one of these methods: https://www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-saf...

Clean up anything found, restart PC and then run again until it comes up clean.

Then download, install and run a full scan with AdwCleaner:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcle... Remove whatever it finds.

Check for any remainders in Settings > Apps > Apps & Features, and also in each of your browser's Extensions, Home Page settings, Search service or Add-On's as shown here: https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001411.htm

Then check for damaged System files by running System File Checker from Step 10 in this checklist:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki....

Now type Security in Search box, open Windows Security to see what the Status of Defender and other protections are now.
If Defender is still broken, try these fixes next:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/for...

https://thegeekpage.com/windows-defender-wont-s...

https://www.technewstoday.com/windows-defender-...

https://www.techbout.com/microsoft-defender-not...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwDQ6FYQr9s

Test for account corruption by creating a new Local Admin account in Settings > Accounts > Family & Other People > Other, as shown here:

https://www.isumsoft.com/windows-10/3-ways-to-c...

Sign into the new account, test if the problem persists, if not then move your files over, test that all programs work or else reinstall them, then when ready delete the old account in the same place.

You can then change it to your Microsoft account if desired:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5375-switch...

If nothing else works then do a Repair Install, by installing Media Creation Tool, open tool and choose to Upgrade Now. This reinstalls Windows while keeping files, programs and most settings in place, is the most stable method to advance to the latest version, and solves most problems: https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/fix-windows...

If you want to keep Malwarebytes as an on-demand scanner then you can turn off its Real Time trial version in it's Settings > Account Details tab.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

______________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

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Virus and threat protection settings UNKNOWN and many settings including realtime protection can't be turned on.

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