Avast and Windows Defender

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hi guys!
I just installed Avast after a year of using Windows Defender on Win10 because I noticed it was slowing down my laptop a bit. Now, the Security Center recognizes Avast as the antivirus provider, but the Antimalware Service Executable (which is the Windows antivirus service) still runs at system startup and uses a fair amount of cpu and hard disk like it used to do before installing Avast. It also uses cpu when, for instance, I open any softwares, like it’s still active and running. Is it normal? Should I disable it somehow?
Thank you.

2

Not sure of the versions of Windows 10 / Windows Defender that you are using, or if you have OneDrive installed, but starting around April they began to integrate OneDrive into Windows Defender (shows up on the ransomware section to protect your files via OneDrive). Ever since they did that, Windows Defender runs poorly and slows down everything. There should be nothing you need to do in regards to Windows Defender, but if you are able, uninstall OneDrive until they get it sorted out.

Beyond that, as long as the security center recognizes Avast (and only Avast as in it doesn’t say there are two AVs protecting you), then you should be fine. Assuming you just recently made this change then the CPU usage should settle down eventually.

3

Thanks for the reply.
I’m using the latest 1803 version of Windows 10. I uninstalled OneDrive and used the pc without it for a while, but still the Antimalware Service Executable uses the hard drive and the cpu like it’s a realtime protection module (and uses a lot of disk during boot). I tried deactivating the anti-exploit options in the Security Center but nothing changed.

4

Some things to try/check:

  1. Does the security center recognize only one AV
  2. Make sure Avast is not in passive mode because if it is this means WD is your active AV, not Avast.
  3. Uninstall Avast with Avast clear, see if WD still continues with the high CPU, try to install Avast again, see if it continues.

Im running 1803 with WD and after uninstalling OneDrive I can assure you my computers are smooth. Not sure what else you can try besides the steps mentioned.