Like other antivirus tools, Microsoft Defender performs regular background scans of the files on your computer. If you see the Antimalware Service Executable process using a large amount of CPU or disk resources, it’s likely scanning your computer for malware.
RELATED: How to Use the Built-in Windows Defender Antivirus on Windows 10 Why Is It Using So Much CPU? You can also right-click the shield icon in the notification area on your taskbar and select “View Security Dashboard,” or head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Open Windows Security.
To launch it, use the “Windows Security” shortcut in the Start menu. This application was formerly named the “Windows Defender Security Center.” You can configure Microsoft Defender, perform scans, and check its scan history from the Windows Security application included with Windows 10 and Windows 11. While the process is named Antimalware Service Executable on the Processes tab in Task Manager, its file name is MsMpEng.exe, and you’ll see this on the Details tab.
