Does Defender run in unprivileged user account

[Robert S]

I have four unprivileged user accounts ("users" group) and one administrator
account. I get the impression that Defender does not run when I'm not
logged in as an administrator - when I look at the process list. Is this
true?

Over the last few years of running this setup I've never received any
spyware - with or without Defender.

 

[Guest]

Hello Robert,

I don't know if this will work but it probably is worth a try.

This is what I'd do to try to resolve the question:

1) log in as administrator and change (control panel, user accounts) the
limited user to an administrator.

2) log in as the (previously) limited user and see what happens--run a full
deep scan and cleaning run if need be.

3) Once you are satisfied that the machine appears to be clean, change the
(previously) limited user back to a limited user again.

Now lets see what messages you get as you log in as that limited user?

There are bugs with regards to limited users--you may well still get a
message of some sort each time that user logs in but perhaps some combination
of factors on your machine causes that.

Just for the record. What version are you now showing? Mine indicates

Windows Defender Version: 1.1.1593.0
Engine Version: 1.1.1904.0
Definition Version: 1.14.1941.7
Product ID: 81664-845-8098136-04934

Does that check out with you?


For the benefit of the community reading this post, please rate the pºst.

I hope this post is helpful.

Let us know how it works ºut.

Еиçεl

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

Windows Defender needs to be installed by an administrator, but it should
run while limited users are logged in, and provide protection. The
administrator has some control about what choices limited users can
make--see the very tail end of the tools, options list--scroll down.