Usually, we prefer to have an antivirus at the ready, but in some cases it is not required at all. For example, when you want to install a program that is known to be safe or open a trusted site, but the defender does not allow you to do this due to a false positive. In such a situation, the antivirus is more trouble than good. Therefore, sometimes it is better to turn it off. Here’s how to do it.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus

In the main window of the antivirus, click the gear icon. Go to the “Protection” tab and fromturn on all switches.

The antivirus will ask if you are sure. You can check the “Do not ask for confirmation for 30 minutes” checkbox to turn everything off faster.

When you need to re-enable the antivirus, click on the big red “Enable” button.

Dr.Web Security Space

Open the “Security Center” by clicking on the antivirus icon in the tray.

Click Preventive Protection. Click on the padlock icon at the bottom to allow editing the settings and click Yes. Then toggle all toggle switches. That’s all.

To activate protection again, follow the same steps.

Avast Free Antivirus

Press the “Menu” button and select “Settings”. Click “Protection”, then “Definition Essentials”.

Turn off the toggle switch “Main protection components” and select the option “Stop until the next reboot” or “Stop indefinitely”. And click the green “Stop” button.

You can turn everything back on with the same toggle switch.

Avira Free Security

Click the gear icon and go to the “Security” tab. Click Security Features. Turn off the Real-time Protection option.

Specify how long you want to stop the anti-virus screen, and click “Disable”.

When you need to activate protection again, click the “Fix Now” button in the main window of the antivirus.

ESET Internet Security

Click the “Settings” button and go to the “Protect your computer” section. Turn off all the toggle switches there.

Choose how long to keep protection disabled and click Apply.

You can then click the “Enable real-time file system protection” button when required.

Comodo Antivirus

Click “Settings” → “Antivirus” → “Antivirus monitoring”.

Disable the “Produce real-time scanning” option and click OK.

When necessary, turn protection back on by clicking the “Fix” button.

AVG AntiVirus Free

Press the “Menu” button, then “Settings”. Go to the “Basic protection” section and open the “File protection” item. Turn off the “File Protection” toggle switch.

Select the “Stop indefinitely” option and click “OK, stop”.

When protection is needed again, press the red “Enable” button.

Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition

Click on the gear icon and select Protection.

Disable the Protection Shield option in the window that opens.

Pressing again will restore the protection.

360 Total Security

Click the shield icon and click Settings. Click “Disable Protection”.

Select the “Permanently close” option and click OK.

Later, when you need to activate the file monitor, click “Enable”.

Trend Micro Antivirus+

Right-click the antivirus icon in the tray and uncheck “Virus and Spyware Protection”.

When you need to enable protection again, just check the box back.