Lance Whitney / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
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There are times when you may want to turn off Windows Security.
I'll show you how to (temporarily or permanently) disable it on Windows 11 Home and Pro.
I recommend creating a restore point, and will show you how.
Windows Security is a highly capable system guardian. In my "Best Antivirus for Windows 11" guide, I made the case that it isn't just a basic antivirus designed to be a stopgap; it's a full-blown first-party security suite that monitors downloads, blocks incoming threats, and instantly quarantines malware if it manages to bypass all defenses.
As a Windows user, all you really need to be protected against online threats is the app, an ad blocker, and a secure browser like Brave.
Also: How to upgrade your 'incompatible' Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 for free - today
However, there are times when you may want to disable Windows Security. In this guide, I will show you how to turn off Windows 11's security suite both temporarily and permanently. I'll also go over what to keep in mind before messing with these settings, and how to create a System Restore point so you have a safety net in case anything goes wrong.
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