Windows Defender Permanently Deletes Files???
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Thread: Windows Defender Permanently Deletes Files???

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
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    22

    Windows Defender Permanently Deletes Files???

    Please say this isn't so!

    When Windows Defender finds a file it thinks is no good, it quarantines it.

    But then, after a certain period of time does it permanently delete the file???

    I sure hope it doesn't!

    I've already seen it get plenty of false positives. Do you mean to tell me if I don't catch it in a certain period of time it that file is gone?!!!!

    If this is true, and Windows automatically deletes files, how can I stop it from doing this without turning off Defender completely? If it's a choice between one and another, I am shutting Defender off... this would be insane! My OS is deleting my data???!!!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 1999
    Location
    Largo, Fl.
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    22,322
    Have you considered looking through its "SETTINGS?"

    And in theory, you are also backing up your important files so I'm not sure why you are concerned about this.... Can you imagine how many millions of calls Microsoft would get every day if people were missing files?
    If you're happy and you know it......it's your meds.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 1998
    Location
    Toronto
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    25,426
    By default they should be kept until you manually delete them.

    Have a look at this guide to see if that's been changed on your computer.


    https://www.windowscentral.com/how-c...nder-antivirus

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  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Posts
    22
    Quote Originally Posted by fink View Post
    By default they should be kept until you manually delete them.

    Have a look at this guide to see if that's been changed on your computer.


    https://www.windowscentral.com/how-c...nder-antivirus
    Thank you both for the responses. I checked and fortunately it appears my setting is default which is "not configured," so my quarantined items should be kept permanently.

    I do check them from time to time and if anything is there, I either delete it if can confirm it is actually infected or restore it and set it to be ignored if it isn't.

    But there is a notice on the quarantined list that says that items on the list are periodically removed. I've seen that before and meant to ask about it but forgot. This morning I looked at the quarantine list and saw that notice again and decided I better find out what is going on so I don't have files deleted automatically.

    Looks like I'm okay.

    Thank you!

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