Windows Pro: Change Microsoft Defender to “zero tolerance” level

If you are a user of Windows Pro, you may have noticed that Microsoft Defender, the built-in antivirus and anti-malware software, has different levels of protection. By default, it is set to "high," meaning it will block most known threats and warn you about suspicious files or activities. However, if you want to increase your security and prevent any possible infections, you can change Microsoft Defender to the "zero tolerance" level. This means that it will block anything that you or Microsoft don't explicitly trust.

In this blog post, we will show you how to switch Microsoft Defender to the “zero tolerance” level and what the benefits and drawbacks of doing so are. Please note that this option is only available for Windows Pro users, not Windows Home users.

How to change Microsoft Defender to the “zero tolerance” level

To change Microsoft Defender to the “zero tolerance” level, you need to access the Group Policy Editor, a tool that allows you to configure advanced settings for Windows. To do so, follow these steps:

– Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

– Type gpedit.msc and click OK. This will open the Group Policy Editor.

– Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Defender Antivirus > Scan.

– Double-click the policy named “Configure detection of potentially unwanted applications”.

– Select “On” and then choose “Block” from the drop-down menu.

– Click Apply and Accept.

– Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Microsoft Defender has now been moved to the “zero tolerance” level. This means that it will block any app that is not signed by Microsoft or that you have not explicitly allowed. It will also block any files that have a low reputation score or are detected as potentially unwanted.

Benefits and disadvantages of moving Microsoft Defender to the “zero tolerance” level

Switching Microsoft Defender to the “zero tolerance” level may have some benefits and drawbacks for your security and performance. Here are some of them:

Benefits:

– You will have the highest level of protection against malware, viruses, ransomware, spyware, adware and other threats.

– You will reduce the risk of downloading or running malicious or unwanted software from unknown sources.

– It will prevent any unauthorized changes to your system settings or files.

Disadvantages:

– You may experience some false positives, which means that Microsoft Defender may block some legitimate or harmless applications or files.

– You may have some compatibility issues with some software that is not signed by Microsoft or has a low reputation score.

– You may have to manually allow some apps or files that you trust or need to use.

How to allow an app or file blocked by Microsoft Defender

If you change Microsoft Defender to the "zero tolerance" level, you may encounter some situations where Microsoft Defender blocks an app or file that you trust or need. In that case, you can allow it manually by following these steps:

– Open the Windows Security app by clicking the shield icon on the taskbar or searching for it in the Start menu.

– Click Virus and threat protection.

– Click Protection History.

– Find the app or file that Microsoft Defender blocked and click Allow.

– Confirm your choice by clicking Yes.

You have now allowed the application or file blocked by Microsoft Defender. You can repeat this process for any other applications or files that you want to allow.

Conclusion

Switching Microsoft Defender to the “zero tolerance” level may be a good option for Windows Pro users who want to increase their security and prevent any possible infections. However, it also has some drawbacks, such as false positives, compatibility issues, and manual assignments. Therefore, you should weigh the pros and cons before making this decision and be prepared to face some drawbacks.

We hope this blog post was helpful to you. If you have any questions or comments, please leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!

If you are using Windows, you already have powerful antivirus software built into your system: Microsoft Defender. This tool protects your computer from malware attacks by scanning files and programs in real time. It is also automatically updated with the latest virus definitions from the cloud.

However, you may not know that Microsoft Defender has many hidden features that can improve your security and give you more control over its operation. For example, you can adjust the cloud protection level to make Defender more or less sensitive to potential threats. This can help you avoid false positives or detect more suspicious files.

To access this feature, you must open the Windows Security app from the Start menu or notification area. Then, click Virus & Threat Protection and scroll down to Manage Settings under Virus & Threat Protection Settings. Here you will see a section called Cloud Delivered Protection. Click the link that says Select cloud protection level and choose from one of four options:

– Disabled: This disables cloud-based protection and reduces its security. We do not recommend this option unless you have a specific reason to do so.

– Basic: This is the default option and sends basic information about the scanned files to Microsoft to help detect and block malware.

– Improved: This option sends more information about scanned files to Microsoft, such as file names, file paths, and file contents. This can improve your protection and help Microsoft analyze new threats faster.

– High: This option sends the same information as Enhanced, but also blocks any files that Microsoft does not know are safe. This can prevent unknown malware from running on your system, but it can also block some legitimate files that are not yet recognized by Microsoft.

You will be able to choose the option that suits your needs and preferences. If you're not sure, you can stick with the default Basic option or try Enhanced for added security. You can always change the settings later if you encounter any problems.

Note: Best antivirus software for Windows 11

Microsoft Defender is a reliable and convenient antivirus software for Windows users, but it may not be enough for everyone. If you want more features, such as ransomware protection, parental controls, VPN, firewall, or password manager, you can consider third-party antivirus software. There are many options available in the market, but some are better than others. To help you choose the best antivirus software for Windows 11, we have reviewed and compared the best products based on their performance, features, ease of use, and price. You can read our detailed guide here: [link to blog post]