Windows Security Service

[dfpeddle66]

Hi,

I have a question about services that are included with Avast Free Antivirus.
I have been disabling unnecessary services on my Windows 10 laptop, and would like some opinions on the "Windows Security Service".
Will I have enough security protection on my laptop with that service disabled?

Windows Firewall will still be running, and so will your free antivirus. "Windows Security Service" looks like overkill...it doesn't do much....just gives me a notification if I temporarily shut off your antivirus.

Any thoughts on this issue?

[DavidR]

Hi,

I have a question about services that are included with Avast Free Antivirus.
I have been disabling unnecessary services on my Windows 10 laptop, and would like some opinions on the "Windows Security Service".
Will I have enough security protection on my laptop with that service disabled?

Windows Firewall will still be running, and so will your free antivirus. "Windows Security Service" looks like overkill...it doesn't do much....just gives me a notification if I temporarily shut off your antivirus.

Any thoughts on this issue?

When a third party antivirus such as Avast Antivirus is installed in windows, then windows disables Windows Defender.

The windows Firewall would presumably still be in use if you aren't using the Avast Firewall.  If you are using the Avast Firewall I have no idea if Windows would also disable the Windows Firewall.

I don't use the Avast Firewall and continue to use the Windows Firewall.

[dfpeddle66]

Hi,

The Windows Defender and Windows Security Service are 2 completely separate services that are available on Windows 10.
You are right, in that when you install a third party antivirus service, Windows Defender shuts off.

But, the "Windows Security Service" still remains on. You can't even shut it off via the services panel, you get "Access Denied". The only way to shut it off is with a registry edit. You can find that edit here -  https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/110230-enable-disable-windows-security-windows-10-a.html.

They don't recommend you shut it off, though.
So, I'm a little confused as to how important it is.
Does Avast have enough protection for my computer with that service turned off?

[DavidR]

I'm not familiar with it either, but from memory when I first installed Avast and Windows Defender is disabled, you also get an option to have it do periodic on-demand scans, I just wonder if this is what the Windows Security Service is.

That said Windows Security Service is on my Task Manager screen it is there (under Windows Security Health Service), there is also another process, Windows Security notification icon, but the resource use is negligible.

So I would generally follow the advice given not to disable it.  I have never found there to be any sort of conflict or excess resource use.

[bob3160]

The windows firewall shuts down when you activate a third party firewall
like the one in Avast.  I like David prefer to use the firewall that's part of Windows 11.