How to stop Windows 10 from automatically sending virus samples to Microsoft

[The AchieVer]

How to stop Windows 10 from automatically sending virus samples to Microsoft 

 

When Windows 10 detects a new threat on your device, it will automatically send the problematic file to Microsoft. This enables the company to analyse the threat and develop new antivirus definitions that help identify it in the future.

While this sample sharing helps improve the overall security of the Windows ecosystem, it might make you feel uncomfortable. Although Windows will prompt you if a sample is “likely” to contain personal information, you may prefer to disable sample submission altogether.

 

 

The relevant option can be found in the Windows Security app (previously known as Windows Defender Security Centre prior to the Windows 10 October 2018 update). Launch the app and press the “Virus & threat protection” tile on the homepage.

 

 

Next, click the “Manage settings” link under the “Virus & threat protection settings” heading. This screen controls how Windows detects and responds to possible viruses on your PC.

 

 

The relevant option for our purposes is under the “Automatic sample submission” button. If it’s enabled, simply click it to turn off the automatic sample submission. Potentially problematic files will no longer be sent to Microsoft when they’re detected or quarantined on your device.

 

Microsoft warns that disabling sample submission could impact the effectiveness of Windows Defender’s cloud-delivered protection. Consequently, it’s possible you’ll miss out on the very latest antivirus definitions being offered by Microsoft’s cloud servers. You should think twice before turning off this option – it’s a delicate balancing act between protecting your personal privacy and keeping your device secure.

 

 

 

 

Source

[Bilou]

Its pretty obvious I guess, or maybe I'm  just wrong, but replacing Defender by another form of protection, say, Avast or Kaspersky, seems to solves the problem.

 

I've preferred Avast for years, but they've put in a new UI (again!) that makes it a lot of work to turn it off when I'm playing with my (small) malware collection or doing other things where an anti-virus can be a pain. Kaspersky just has a nice big "OFF " button, Defender is turned off anyways with "DefenderControl 1.4" to stop it popping back in if I turn off Kaspersky.

 

In a lovely vintage Dell I'm sanitizing for a technophobe friend, I just put Kaspersky Free 2019 and TURNED OFF "You can keep  using your current provider, and have Windows Defender Antivirus periodically check for threats" in "Virus & Threat Protection"

 

That results in Virus & Threat Protection telling me "No Actions Needed". So it is happy.

 

Windows 10 17134, btw.

 

If my thinking is wrong and this doesn't take care of it as I thought, I'd appreciate a heads up. TIA.