Windows 10 users MUST check their antivirus after Microsoft DISABLES software

Microsoft bigwig Rob Lefferts said Windows 10 disabled “some parts” of a “small number of applications that still needed updating”.

In a revealing blog post, he said these parts of antivirus software were disabled if it was seen as incompatible with the Windows 10 Creators Update. 

Mr Lefferts revealed that five per cent of all Windows 10 PCs had antivirus protection that was NOT compatible with the Windows 10 Creators Update.

The revelations come after Microsoft’s flagship OS received its last big update in April, with another one pencilled in for September.

The blog post did not mention any specific antivirus, just referred to it as third party software. 

The director of security in the Windows and Devices group said: “Microsoft’s application compatibility teams found that roughly 95 per cent of Windows 10 PCs had an antivirus application installed that was already compatible with Windows 10 Creators Update.

“For the small number of applications that still needed updating, we built a feature just for AV apps that would prompt the customer to install a new version of their AV app right after the update completed. 

“To do this, we first temporarily disabled some parts of the AV software when the update began.”

Mr Lefferts said its own security software will only kick in when “an AV subscription expires, and the AV application decides to stop providing protection to the customer.”

He said: “If AV software is protecting our customers, Windows Defender Antivirus will stay off. 

“If a customer does allow an antivirus application to expire, Windows Defender Antivirus is automatically turned on so that they are not left unprotected.”

He added: “Only when an AV subscription expires, and the AV application decides to stop providing protection to the customer, will Windows Defender Antivirus begin providing protection.”

The Microsoft blog post does not mention leading antivirus provider Kaspersky, but it comes two weeks after the security firm filed antitrust complaints against Microsoft.

The complaint, filed in Europe, centre on allegations Microsoft disabled third party anti-virus software in Windows 10 to favour Windows Defender. 

In a statement Microsoft hit back at the claims, and said it had not violated any laws.

The Redmond-based firm said: “Microsoft’s primary objective is to keep customers protected,” the company said.

“We are confident that the security features of Windows 10 comply with competition laws. And we will answer any questions regulators may have.”