Advice Regarding a Registry Entry and a Spybot "Threat"

[JD]

For the first time in over a year, Spybot found a "security threat." It is
identified as a "registry change" and points to this key:
HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Security Center/Anti-virus.
Does this mean that a registry change was (somehow) made that Spybot wants
to undo?
The (current) relevant registry entry (right pane) says:
AntivirusDisableNotify and the value is (1).
The (numerous) other entries in that pane have a value of (0).
Is this "suspicious"? Since MSAV was uninstalled a very long time ago,
should there be ANY entries in that pane?
I closed Spybot without taking any action because I'm not clear what I would
be doing if I clicked on "Fix." Can anyone tell me?
Should I allow Spybot to remove the "threat"? Manually delete that key or
value from the registry? Ignore the Spybot recommendation?

 

[Robin Walker [MVP]]

For the first time in over a year, Spybot found a "security threat."
It is identified as a "registry change" and points to this key:
HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Security Center/Anti-virus.
Does this mean that a registry change was (somehow) made that Spybot
wants to undo?

Yes, but SpyBot is possibly wrong in wanting to do so.

The (current) relevant registry entry (right pane) says:
AntivirusDisableNotify and the value is (1).
The (numerous) other entries in that pane have a value of (0).
Is this "suspicious"?

No. Either you made this selection in the Security Center, or you have a
McAfee or Symantec suite which made this registry change.

Since MSAV was uninstalled a very long time ago,
should there be ANY entries in that pane?

This has nothing to do with any Microsoft product.

I closed Spybot without taking any action because I'm not clear what
I would be doing if I clicked on "Fix." Can anyone tell me?
Should I allow Spybot to remove the "threat"? Manually delete that
key or value from the registry? Ignore the Spybot recommendation?

If you do what SpyBot asks, it is possible that your anti-virus suite will
object, or that youi will get two warnings rather than one if you turn off
your anti-virus on-access protection.