I have been using Window Defender since I bought this computer, but now I get a message that says-This app is turned off by group policy. Does anyone know what could have happened and how I can fix this? I do not use any other software to protect my computer.

Someone here had the same problem
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/prote...7d1ebb71?auth=1

If you installed another antivirus, that would have disabled Defender.

If that's not the problem, you might want to use System Restore (unless your last restore point is too long ago).

Jenny100, should my firewall be on or off? I have had Malwarebytes Anti-Malware installed on this computer for months. Is it possible that Defender discovered this and turned itself off?

Draclvr uses MalwareBytes along with Defender so that wouldn't be the problem.

What version of Windows do you have?
Is it Windows 8.1 like the person in the Microsoft forum was using?

I have Windows 10. Should my firewall be on or off?

Firewall on... I found a TON of hits on this error message. Unfortunately, most of them suggested a registry tweak. It's nearly midnight here and I have an early morning, so I don't have time to dig any further tonight. However, did you try Jenny's suggestion of a System Restore?

When I get home from shoveling horse poo at the Rescue Ranch tomorrow, I'll check back in.

Dracvlr, When I opened System Restore, I was told no restore points had been created, which I know is not true. I create restore points often. I have received this message before. My restore points just vanish.

You might want to run chkdsk on your hard drive to see if it's starting to fail.
***How-To Geek Guide to Using Chkdsk in Windows 7,8, or 10***

In the future, if you ever get your computer sorted out, consider doing a backup of the entire hard drive.

Windows system restore can work if the problem is recent -- and if you have good restore points to go back to. For a long term backup, use something else.

Windows Defender has been turned off because you probably have another device doing the same job. Look upon it as a safety feature that prevents the risk of creating conflicts on your PC with both running at the same time.

The difference with malware cleaners and firewalls is that most cleaners run on demand i.e. when you click on to scan and clean. They are not running in the background.
Firewalls are running on your PC whenever the computer is switched on.

Some malware cleaners do also contain a firewall i.e. Malwarebytes and others. If you get a warning popup on the bottom right on your PC, you can assume your cleaner has a firewall working.

Personally I favour the Malwarebytes firewall over Windows Defender but if you want to run Windows Defender then use a cleaner that only works on demand.

Hope this helps,

An afterthought, If you want too check you could enter msconfig.exe on run and disable your malware in the start up and try to recover WD. Just a thought.

Cari

In this particular case, kazzmo's Defender has been turned off by group policy. She does not have another anti-virus running on the computer. There are ways to get around this to turn Defender back on, but most of the methods I found involved a registry hack. You also cannot disable malware in Startup. It must be removed by a program. She has decided to just get a different anti-virus solution. One of the cool features of Windows 8 through Windows 10, you no longer need to go into msconfig to get to startup. Now it's a tab in your Task Manager. One of the things I like about Windows 10!

And keep in mind that it's only Malwarebytes Pro that runs in real time. The free version of Malwarebytes does not. Malwarebytes can block malware from coming in, but does not have a firewall. Make sure you keep your Windows Firewall turned on.

Malwarebytes also is not an anti-virus program and has never claimed to be. Malwarebytes is basically a program designed to detect and remove infections that most antivirus programs tend to miss or are unable to remove. I would not use Malwarebytes alone; nor would I use Windows Defender alone. It's very easy to get confused by all this because the word "malware" means so many things. This is probably the best statement about what Malwarebytes can and can't do from the Malwarebytes website.

I don’t think the point is whether malware acts as a firewall or not, the point I was making is whether your malware is running on your PC all the time. The paid option of Malware Bytes I have certainly does run full time. I also have a paid version of Avast acting as a firewall with both Defender and Microsoft Essentials disabled.

MalwareBytes and Avast run comfortable with each other and so far with no conflicts.

I like Avast as it gives you options of what to pay for and what you don’t need to pay for, unlike so many others where you have to pay for the full package and its not as nearly as invasive as Norton’s is for example.

On loosing restore points. I did some rooting around and found an unlikely course. Can the Disc Defragmenter erase your saved restore points? Yes, is seems it can. When you look at the pop up page on windows from 7 upwards it defrags automatically and the default is set at weekly, the only option is monthly. You can turn the option off to test i.e. put in some restore points and see if they are still there. Yes, its trial and error but then most fixes are.

Cari.

For some strange reason, it appears that System Restore is not enabled by Default in Windows 10. I didn't realize it until I ran into three different computers I was working on that didn't have it enabled. When looking it up on Microsoft, I found that was the case. Now, what "brainiac" made that stupid decision! Once you enable it, it seems to work just fine.

Malwarebytes Pro does indeed run in real time and it has saved my bacon for a couple of people who live hundreds of miles from me. The danger in referring to it as having a Firewall is that someone will then assume they can turn off their Windows Firewall. My experience in working with a myriad of different people is that I must be accurate in what I say or I will have to go back and fix something else on their computers!

I used Avast for a long time. Does it still require you to register the free version every year? When I used it, it would start to nag you about buying the paid version about a month before the year was up. I just got aggravated one day and got rid of it! It's definitely supposed to be one of the better free ones out there.

Cari,
I appreciate your trying to help people, but please be more careful with your terminology.

MalwareBytes is NOT malware.

Malware is the bad stuff that you want to get rid of -- the stuff that MalwareBytes gets rid of.

If you have actual "malware running as a firewall," you are in deep, deep doody.
It's not at all the same thing as having an anti-malware program like MalwareBytes running in real time.

People like Draclvr may understand what you meant to say, but non-technical GB members could be confused. Please take the time to type out the extra five letters or at least abbreviate as something like MB so as not to confuse MalwareBytes with the malware it removes.

Yes, it would be scary to think, Yikes!

I still have to register the free version once a year - but don't recall seeing any nag screens about buying the paid version, save for it giving me the option to upgrade to the paid version when I re-register. Getting nag screens a lot would indeed be irritating.

They may have gotten rid of the nags... it's been quite a few years since I've used Avast.

I loaded Panda last week... so far no so good.

Sorry for the mistake but I can’t see how anyone could use malware itself for anything, I mean how could you do that?
As for adds for updating yes it’s a bit of a pain but free downloads nearly all do it, even the CC cleaner has started to nag. Yes I’m with you, how can windows install a programme and not activate it, weird.

I understand that Malwarebytes isn’t a firewall as such, that’s why I run Avast but I’m told that the paid version of Malwarebytes can recognize some virus signatures. If I get any results I’ll let you know.

I've been using CCleaner for years and never been nagged

With about 6 exceptions, all the people whose computers I work on are completely non-technical and this is exactly the kind of thing that would absolutely confuse them. Believe me when I say, they would take it verbatim. This is why I have long ago learned to be 100% accurate in what I tell people.

Me too, Mad.

Malware is short for malicious software, i.e. adware, bots, bugs, rootkits, spyware, Trojan horses, viruses, and worms. The idea that anyone could set up a firewall with any of those mentioned above is totally ridiculous.
If, as you say some haven’t a clue on the technical aspects, then would they attempt to set up their own firewall without taking advice? I really don’t think so.
I have apologised for the mistake but let’s not get silly about it.

I didn't realize anyone was getting silly. You just didn't seem to accept that any non-technical person would do such a thing. I would happily invite you to accompany me on my visits to any of my numerous 80+ year old clients and a couple of my younger ones.

I'm glad to hear you guys - Mad and Marian - say that CCleaner has never nagged you either!

Easily. Here's one way...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogue_security_software

All it takes is clicking a link or visiting a website with an infected Java ad. There certainly is malware that will act as a firewall, and you don't have to "set up" anything. The author of the malware has done that part for you.

Everyone is a newbie at some point.
Please try to be more considerate.

People not of the "computer generation", or even people who are just new to computers, can find it difficult to get to grips with computer terminology.

I know I did. And sometimes still do. Even though I've owned computers now for many, many years.

And for that reason alone such people are highly likely to click on something "dangerous".

Here at Gameboomers knowledgable folk have always been very aware that they need to offer precise step by step help, without appearing to be pompous, and DO so.

And I am one of the many members who appreciate and have benefitted from such assistance