DefenderUI

DefenderUI provides a graphical interface that unlocks hidden Microsoft Defender security features including real-time protection, behavior monitoring, script scanning, Attack Surface Reduction (ASR) rules, Audit and Warn modes. The tool offers four security profiles (Recommended, Interactive, Aggressive, Default), on-demand scans, ransomware protection with controlled folder access, and direct access to Windows Security settings not available through the standard interface.

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• ASR Rules (Attack Surface Reduction). This feature enables access to all Attack Surface Reduction rules provided by Microsoft Defender Exploit Guard. These rules block common malware behaviors such as malicious script execution, Office application abuse, and code injection. DefenderUI allows enabling, disabling, or configuring each rule individually, exposing functionality that Windows Security hides by default.
• Audit Mode. Evaluation mode that applies ASR rules without blocking any actions, only logging events to the Windows event log. This mode permits administrators and users to analyze which legitimate applications would be affected if rules were enabled in blocking mode, facilitating exclusion creation before full deployment.
• Warn Mode. When an ASR rule blocks content, the user receives a dialog box indicating the blocked action and an option to temporarily unblock said content. The unblock lasts 24 hours, after which blocking resumes automatically, allowing workflows without permanent interruptions.
• Security Profiles (Recommended, Interactive, Aggressive, Default). Recommended profile activates features not available by default in Defender. Interactive adds user confirmation requests for certain security events. Aggressive unlocks all hidden security features, suitable for high-criticality environments. Default restores Microsoft Defender factory settings.
• Ransomware Protection and Controlled Folder Access. Dedicated module activating Microsoft Defender Controlled Folder Access. Specifies which folders are protected against unauthorized modifications by suspicious applications, blocking encryption attempts or mass file deletion.
• PUA Protection (Potentially Unwanted Applications). Detection and blocking of potentially unwanted applications including adware, browser setting changers without consent, and deceptive optimization tools. This protection can be enabled or disabled independently from standard antivirus protection.
• Behavior Monitoring. Defender feature analyzing process execution patterns in real time to identify anomalous or malware-like behaviors (e.g., modifying critical registry keys or injecting code into legitimate processes). DefenderUI provides a direct toggle switch for this configuration.
• Scheduled and On-Demand Scans (Quick, Full, Custom, Offline). DefenderUI offers buttons to execute quick scans (critical system sectors), full scans (entire disk), custom scans (specific folders), and offline scans requiring system restart to remove persistent malware.
• Direct Access to Quarantine, Action History, and Security Logs. From DefenderUI, users can open Microsoft Defender quarantine to restore or delete isolated files, view the action history performed by the antivirus, and access security log files for forensic auditing.
• Windows Sandbox Integration for Untrusted Files. Exclusive DefenderUI Pro feature allowing email links or suspicious files to execute within an isolated Windows Sandbox environment, preventing any risk to the main operating system.
• WhitelistCloud and Custom WDAC Policy Building (Windows Defender Application Control). DefenderUI Pro includes cloud-based whitelisting (WhitelistCloud) and tools for creating WDAC application control policies, featuring Training Mode that analyzes audit events and automatically generates policies adapted to actual user behavior.
• Blocking of 139 Dangerous File Types. DefenderUI Pro blocks by default 139 high-risk file extensions (such as .js, .vbs, .ps1, .jar, .scr, .cpl) using predefined rules, preventing accidental execution of malicious scripts or executables downloaded from untrusted sources.

DefenderUI development history began after Microsoft significantly improved Microsoft Defender (formerly Windows Defender) transforming it into a robust antivirus, while maintaining a limited and difficult-to-configure user interface. The primary developer, known under the pseudonym AndyFul (recognized in security forums such as Wilders Security Forums and also creator of the Hard_Configurator tool), initiated the DefenderUI project to unlock hidden Windows security options. The first public version of DefenderUI was released in the year 2020. The application is written primarily in C++ and C# programming languages, utilizing the .NET framework for the graphical interface and interaction with internal Microsoft Defender and Windows Security Center APIs.

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