Security Intelligence Update for Microsoft Defender Antivirus; delivered via Windows Update. Why?

[kiddingguy]

I guess since the last couple of weeks I get "Security Intelligence Update for Microsoft Defender Antivirus" almost by the day on my Windows 11 24H2 machines.

What's up with that? Why is this now 'all of a sudden'?

Do I need these if I already have ESET Internet Security installed?
Do these Security Intelligence Updates do harm? Can I just let them be? Or maybe uninstall them? (and is it wise to uninstall?)

[goretsky Supervisor]

Hello,

Microsoft Windows downloads updates for Microsoft Windows Defender even if a third-party antivirus program is installed.

The reason for this is that if the other antivirus program is uninstalled, Microsoft Windows Defender will immediately enable itself and be current without having to spend minutes (or hours) downloading and installing updates before it can begin protecting the system.

Microsoft Windows Defender's updates do not interfere with the other software, so I would suggest just letting them install in the background.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
 

[kiddingguy]

On 12/01/2025 at 05:22, goretsky said:

Hello,

Microsoft Windows downloads updates for Microsoft Windows Defender even if a third-party antivirus program is installed.

The reason for this is that if the other antivirus program is uninstalled, Microsoft Windows Defender will immediately enable itself and be current without having to spend minutes (or hours) downloading and installing updates before it can begin protecting the system.

Microsoft Windows Defender's updates do not interfere with the other software, so I would suggest just letting them install in the background.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
 

Thanks for this update & explanation! Will let the updates just come through than...