Turning off automatic updates

[Guest]

Is it possible somewhere to turn off Defender automatic updates please,
specifically, without having to turn Windows Automatic Updates in XP Security
Centre to achieve it? I've already looked in the Windows Defender program
itself but can't see a box to tick or untick automatic updates.

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

I don't believe so, although you can turn off the check for updates before
scheduled scans.

Why?

 

[Guest]

Hi Bill, I think it's a matter of choice. Every security program I've ever
had and have now permits user control of updating. However Defender it seems
does not within the program itself.

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

I just wanted to be sure that it wasn't some ill-behavior around updating
that was the issue--the choice issue I can understand. An anti-malware
update with the wrong false-positive in it can clobber a system or an
organization. Setting auto-updates to notify is the mechanism available.



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[Bill Sanderson MVP]

Just for completeness: Where the choice issue REALLY matters, is in an
enterprise (or even small business!) situation. In that situation, the
network administrators should be using WSUS, which allows them choice as to
what (and when) updates are distributed to the LAN.

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