svchost.exe and MsMpEng.exe Hogging Resources

Hello, I hope you are doing well.

Whenever I check my Windows Task Manager's Processes tab, it looks like svchost.exe and MsMpEng.exe are hogging my system's resources. On average, each of those programs are using approximately 50k to 60k of memory.

I know that they are both Windows-related programs (MsMpEng is Windows Defender, right?), but they seem to take up more resources than needed.

Any thoughts on this? Thanks,
Vic

Svchost.exe can run many multiple instances.

I would suggest you get a personal firewall and good anti virus program, disable windows defender and get a free personal firewall and free anti-viruss software here:

PC Tools - Free Download Anti Spyware, Antivirus, Firewall, Internet Security, Registry, Disk Repair software

To turn off Windows Defender, go to Start > Run, and type services.msc. Scrool down to Windows Defenderand set it to disabled.

Yeah, my thought was to get rid of Windows Defender as well. There's no way to actually uninstall it, right?

I already have NOD32, so I think that's good enough. Thanks.

The only way to to it is through services as far as I know.

A registry hack may work, but it's dangerous working in the services section of the registry to completely remove it.

Thanks again, reghakr. I'd rather not touch the registry for something small this like (though I've tweaked the registry for other purposes).

I was able to disable Defender by searching for "defender" in the Start Menu, starting up the program, then going to Tools and Administration Options to turn it off completely. That, along with disabling it in Services, should be more than enough.

Originally Posted by VicVicVic

Yeah, my thought was to get rid of Windows Defender as well. There's no way to actually uninstall it, right?

I already have NOD32, so I think that's good enough. Thanks.

Just go to the options and uncheck the auto scan box.

..but when you get updates for Windows they will include new Defender defintions... may as well use it and run it manually when you want... easier than keeping a third party scanner up to date.

Originally Posted by VicVicVic

Hello, I hope you are doing well.

Whenever I check my Windows Task Manager's Processes tab, it looks like svchost.exe and MsMpEng.exe are hogging my system's resources. On average, each of those programs are using approximately 50k to 60k of memory.

I know that they are both Windows-related programs (MsMpEng is Windows Defender, right?), but they seem to take up more resources than needed.

Any thoughts on this? Thanks,
Vic

MSASCui.exe in Program files/windows defender

If you want to be sure it doesn't run, just delete the folder... but sfc may bring it back.

Originally Posted by tblount

Just go to the options and uncheck the auto scan box.

..but when you get updates for Windows they will include new Defender defintions... may as well use it and run it manually when you want... easier than keeping a third party scanner up to date.

Actually, once I turn off Windows Defender (not only disable it through Services), then Windows doesn't scan for Defender updates anymore =)

IMHO, it's a useless app.

When was the last time you were notified when a rogue program tried to install itself.

Back to basics, a good anti-virus program, spyware detector (whichis what Windows Defender is), and personal firewall do much better than Windows Defender.

Originally Posted by reghakr

IMHO, it's a useless app.

When was the last time you were notified when a rogue program tried to install itself.

Back to basics, a good anti-virus program, spyware detector (whichis what Windows Defender is), and personal firewall do much better than Windows Defender.

All "DETECTOR" type programs look for nasties that are ALREADY installed.... so, NONE will notify you when a rogue program tries to install.

Microsoft SHOULD have a detection mechanism to PREVENT anything from running at bootup UNLESS it is authorized.


I run StartupMonitor and I get alerts every time something tries to load to run at startup.

Here is a short list...

Live Messenger -- every time I run it, Google search bar -- every time IE loaded after bootup (till I figured out how to manually stop that part of it) , uTorrent ... anytime I change options, Ad-Aware --- even sneaks into the Task Manager to load, EVERY new program I install wants to set up itself or part of itself to run when my computer boots. Adobe reader tried to slip McAfee in when I installed it. Many driver programs set themselves up to load some kind of customization menu to run at EVERY startup.

I'll bet that if you asked the average person who reads this board to post a count of the programs they have checked when they run Msconfig and look under startup.... you would find that even the more advanced readers who find this message board have 25 or more programs automatically loading... NONE of them need to run all the time.. they are ALL available on demand. If you see the list on the average person's computer they will be over 50 progams loading automatically at bootup. With all the junk running all the time I'm sure it's easier for Microsoft to convince people they need to buy a new version of Windows.