How to Stop Antimalware Service Executable from High CPU Disk Usage
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June 1, 2022
It's happening again: Your computer has suspiciously high CPU usage.
You've closed background programs, done a restart to clear the RAM, and run system's diagnostics to figure out what's going on.
No dice.
For anyone who isn't familiar with IT support services, this might be a hair-pulling moment. But don't stress, there may be an unexpected culprit: Window Defender. Specifically, the antimalware service executable.
In this article, you'll learn whether your computer is affected by this executable, and how to fix it.
Msmpeng.exe, which stands for Microsoft Malware Protection Engine, is the core of Microsoft's Windows Defender antivirus service. This is the program that detects malicious code of all kinds and then decides whether to delete or quarantine it.
While this is an essential program that keeps your computer safe, it has been known to misbehave. Some users may find that disabling it will provide a needed boost in system performance.
Keep in mind that without additional antivirus, Windows Defender is the only thing standing between your computer and malware. Disabling msmpeng.exe puts your computer at risk of contracting digital viruses that would otherwise have been dealt with quietly in the background.
That said, many people already have a third-party antivirus running on top of Windows Defender. Before deciding whether to disable it, IT consulting services may help determine if your third-party antivirus is performing at better efficiency than Windows Defender.
Antivirus companies have done such an excellent job marketing their products that many are led to believe that extra antivirus is essential. However, in recent years Windows Defender (particularly with Windows 10) has improved by leaps and bounds.
There are many great options for antivirus out there, such as Avast, which has a free version that may hog fewer system resources than the Windows default.
If you want to disable Windows Defender to prioritize your third-party antivirus, then read ahead. If not, then skip down to see methods that lessen its system impact.
There are several methods for disabling msmpeng.exe. Don't stress if one method doesn't work. There is always help if you need it.
Real-time protection allows Windows Defender to scan files continuously in the background, keeping you safe in the event malicious code enters your system.
Keep in mind that this is a temporary option. Windows will automatically restart the real-time protection service.
For a permanent option, you can disable Defender completely in the Windows registry.
For users that prefer less hassle, Windows Defender may be a perfectly fine option to keep your system safe. Luckily, there are methods to reduce the impact it has on your system resources.
Windows Defender is often running scans in the background. One cause of high CPU usage may be a full scan running while you're using other programs. This option will reschedule Windows scans to when you are not using your computer.
If you're the type of person who leaves their computer on overnight, it may be ideal to have scans running at that time. Repeat these steps if you ever need to change your schedule.
Windows doesn't skip any files when it scans your computer. Meaning that Defender will scan itself, causing lag.
You've done it. You've fixed the high CPU usage from the antimalware service executable!
However, one problem may be the compounded result of several computer issues. If your computer(s) continue to suffer from heavy resource usage, consider managed IT support to achieve maximum performance.
Contact us to learn more about the services we offer.
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Next Level Technologies was founded to provide a better alternative to traditional computer repair and ‘break/fix’ services. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since 2009, the company has been helping it’s clients transform their organizations through smart, efficient, and surprisingly cost-effective IT solutions.