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Here’s what the new Windows Defender bug could do to your PC
2 min. read
Published onMay 7, 2021
published onMay 7, 2021
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Key notes
Users are now dealing with a problem which puts so much pressure on they’re PCs that it could even lead to the operating system having a slow response time.
The bad news is that the actual issue we are talking about is caused by one of Windows’ built-in security features.
Windows Defender bug fills up Hard Disk Drive
Even thoughMicrosoft Defenderwasn’t the public’s number one choice when it came to protection software, in recent years it started to slowly make a comeback into users’ preferences.
According to user reports onReddit, this new bug affects PC performance by creating hundreds of thousands of duplicate files, taking up most of the disk space available.
To be more specific, when the real-time protection feature is turned on, in a short time span, the Windows Defender scan folder will fill up with thousands of files no larger than 1kb or 2kb.
To make you understand the scale of this system clog, a folder that usually takes up almost 1Gb, is now as big as 30Gb. This can, in some cases, cause the UI or even the entire system to freeze.
This cluster of files appear under:
How can I fix this?
In order to restore your system to its former glory and get rid of all these unwanted and, let’s face it, useless files, all you have to do is update Windows Defender.
From theSettingsmenu, visit theWindows Updateoptions and simply check if there is an update for Defender. Once the software has finished patching to version1.1.18100.6, this issue will be taken care of.
However, you are now left with the tens of gigabytes of surplus files. To delete them simply go to the location we mentioned above, enable the view of hidden items, and delete all of them.
There are alternatives to using Windows Defender as the main antivirus software on your PCs. However, if you still trust it and want to continue using it, you can do so knowing that this issue has been fixed.
Tell us if this article was helpful towards solving this issue for you in the comments section below.
More about the topics:Windows Defender issues
Vlad Turiceanu
Windows Editor
Passionate about technology,Windows, and everything that has a power button, he spent most of his time developing new skills and learning more about the tech world.
Coming from a solid background in PC building and software development, with a complete expertise in touch-based devices, he is constantly keeping an eye out for the latest and greatest!
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Vlad Turiceanu
Windows Editor
Coming from a solid background in PC building and software development, he’s a Windows 11 Privacy & Security expert.
