Unintentionally, Microsoft caused the malfunction of its in-house anti-virus solution, Windows Defender, which broke down following a version update that was deployed with the September 2019 Patch Tuesday. Quickly though, the issue has been resolved with the release of a definition update.
The Windows maker said users experiencing the issue, which is Windows Defender stopping its Full and Quick scan after only a few seconds, need to manually check for system updates and download the latest Security Intelligence Update. That would be KB2267602 or Version 1.301.1684.0.
With the definition update installed, Windows Defender will be its usual self, according to Bleeping Computer, which first reported on the issue.
Microsoft likewise advised that if the issue persists even after the update, users can simply opt for a workaround. Instead of doing a manual Full or Quick scan, they go for the Custom Scan that was not affected by the Windows Defender bug.
But how the bug came about? Per the statement from Microsoft, an update for Windows Defender was bundled with the September 2019 Patch Tuesday and it was designed to correct a coding flaw in the Windows System File Checker (SFC).
Apparently, users have been reporting that the SFC was causing an error and to fix the problem Version 4.18.1908.7 of Windows Defender was issued. As it turned out, the version jump resulted in the anti-virus tool misbehaving.
Reports have indicated that the issue was not exclusive to Windows 10. It emerged that all systems with the latest Windows Defender version have experienced scanning that abruptly halted. In some cases, after checking only 44 files or mere seconds the AV tool automatically terminates the scanning.
Picking up on the report, Forbes said the problem is potentially huge since security solutions need to be trusted by users. If it breaks and stops its normal function, then that trust is breached. It's a good thing, however, that Microsoft dealt with the issue without delay and understandably so. Only recently, Windows Defender was listed as among the top security solutions with a perfect rating.
It can be said that as far as Windows Defender is concerned, Microsoft has a solid reputation to protect and with the latest episode and the company's quick response, the company's good name will remain unblemished.
On the part of users, the same report from Forbes advised that the best protection for them is to keep their systems updated at all times. True, some updates could lead to glitches and headaches but there will be more risks involved in ignoring regular updates provided by Microsoft.
