Anti-Malware Processes Multiple Anti-Malware Processes

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1909 - Windows 10

There aren't any Norton error messages or log indications.

Any comments on running numerous anti-malware applications at the same time would be appreciated. I'm asking since I've been using Malwarebytes for a few years and help with beta testing of their software.

I realise you wouldn't use NAV and Kasperski, or any other real-time "AV" protection, at the same time. Any comments on any issues between Norton and MWB would be much appreciated. I use MWB because it detects problems that Norton misses. There are a number of concerns. I haven't run into any issues like excessive memory use or disc writing / caching. On the same computer, Norton and MWB appear to get along swimmingly. Is there a single-point answer to the pragmatic approach? Or, as my own experience has proven, are both beneficial?

In a related topic, I experienced a frightening occurrence one day when I turned on my computer. For much longer than I was comfortable, Norton did not display on the task bar. I realised something wasn't right when I tried to run task management. I was certain that something terrible had infiltrated the heart of my computer. It turned out that, for whatever reason, an application had been sitting at the top of task manager for some minutes, consuming a large amount of CPU cycles. Norton was greyed out on the task bar, and the data protection component of Norton was inaccessible.

I'd never encountered MsMpEng.exe before, but it turned out to be the Microsoft "AntiMalware Service Executable." In Process Explorer, I looked at the programme. I have to confess, that irritated me much. When I checked the status of Windows Defender in the settings, I saw that it was likewise disabled. So I turned off all references to Windows Defender in the registry and the local GP. That took care of the issue. At least for the time being.

Windows didn't seem to mind that antimalware processes were already active and protected.

My query is as follows: I had assumed that the existence of a third-party AV/AM in Windows 10 would override Windows Defender processes (albeit not all of them, of course). My PC would have been hardly functional if I hadn't turned off M$ Antimalware. Was my notion regarding third-party antivirus software incorrect?

I don't want to air my grievances with Microsoft in this forum, but Windows 10 is becoming increasingly invasive and uncontrollable. It's crazy that Windows has access to my Norton custom firewall settings. There is no conversation or warning.

Thank you for any input you may have on these two concerns. I appreciate it and respect your time. If necessary, please do not hesitate to put me in my place. Not a possibility.

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One issue I see is that you are running Windows 10 version 1909, which has been beyond its service period since May.  You are not getting any security or feature updates, which is a problem.  You need to update to version 21H1.
 

Current status as of May 11, 2021:

As of May 11, 2021, the Home and Pro editions of Windows 10, version 1909 and all editions of Windows Server, version 1909 have reached end of servicing. Devices running these editions will no longer receive monthly security and quality updates containing protections from the latest security threats.

 https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-10-1909

 

As for running multiple security programs, the standard advice is still to not do that.  There is always a possibility of conflicts, especially if both programs detect and try to remove the same threat at the same time.  It is also a waste of resources.  While I am sure some people will post that they run MBAM and Norton together with no issues, it is still probably better to use MBAM as an on-demand scanner rather than a resident antimalware program alongside Norton.