Malwarebytes and Windows Defender are two popular anti-malware programs that users rely on to protect their devices from malware and other security threats. However, sometimes Malwarebytes may interfere with Windows Defender, causing it to malfunction or even block it completely. This can be frustrating for users who want to use both programs simultaneously. In this article, we'll discuss why Malwarebytes may be blocking Defender and how to fix the issue.

Why is Malwarebytes Blocking Defender?

Malwarebytes and Windows Defender both offer real-time protection against malware, but they use different methods to achieve this. Malwarebytes uses signature-based detection to identify and eliminate malware, while Defender uses behavior-based detection to detect suspicious activity and prevent it from causing harm. When both programs are running simultaneously, Malwarebytes may identify Defender's behavior-based detection as malicious and block it.

Another reason why Malwarebytes may be blocking Defender is due to conflicts between the two programs. For example, Malwarebytes may be using the same system resources as Defender, causing it to slow down or even crash. This can lead to Malwarebytes blocking Defender to prevent it from interfering with its operations.

How to Fix Malwarebytes Blocking Defender

If you're experiencing issues with Malwarebytes blocking Defender, there are several solutions that you can try:

Exclude Windows Defender from Malwarebytes

The easiest way to resolve the issue is to exclude Windows Defender from Malwarebytes' scans and real-time protection. This will allow Defender to run without interference from Malwarebytes. Here's how to do it:

1. Open Malwarebytes and go to the "Settings" menu.
2. Select "Exclusions" from the left-hand menu.
3. Click on the "Add Exclusion" button and select "Exclude a Website or IP Address."
4. Enter "C:\Program Files\Windows Defender" in the "Website or IP Address" field.
5. Click "OK" to save the exclusion.

Disable Malwarebytes' Real-Time Protection

If excluding Windows Defender from Malwarebytes doesn't work, you can try disabling Malwarebytes' real-time protection temporarily. This will allow Defender to run without interference from Malwarebytes. Here's how to do it:

1. Open Malwarebytes and go to the "Settings" menu.
2. Select "Protection" from the left-hand menu.
3. Toggle off the "Real-Time Protection" switch.

Remember to turn real-time protection back on when you're done using Windows Defender.

Uninstall Malwarebytes

If the above solutions don't work, you may need to uninstall Malwarebytes from your device. This will ensure that there are no conflicts between Malwarebytes and Windows Defender. Here's how to do it:

1. Open the Control Panel and select "Programs and Features."
2. Select Malwarebytes from the list of installed programs.
3. Click on the "Uninstall" button and follow the prompts to uninstall Malwarebytes.

Remember to reinstall Malwarebytes if you want to use it again in the future.

Conclusion

Malwarebytes and Windows Defender are both important anti-malware programs that can help protect your device from security threats. However, sometimes Malwarebytes may interfere with Windows Defender, causing it to malfunction or block it completely. If you're experiencing issues with Malwarebytes blocking Defender, try excluding Windows Defender from Malwarebytes' scans and real-time protection, disabling Malwarebytes' real-time protection temporarily, or uninstalling Malwarebytes from your device. With these solutions, you can ensure that both programs can run smoothly and effectively.

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