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Disable and resume computer protection

By default, the Kaspersky application starts after the operating system starts up and protects your computer until it is turned off. All protection components (File Anti-Virus, Safe Browsing, Safe Money, and Network Attack Blocker) are enabled and running.

You can disable protection completely or disable specific protection components.

Important: Kaspersky strongly advises against disabling protection or protection components, because disabling them may lead to infection of your computer and data loss.

When computer protection is disabled:

  • The application icon in the menu bar is inactive.
  • The protection status indicator in the main application window is red.

When one or more protection components are disabled, the protection status indicator is red or yellow.

Note: Disabling or pausing protection components does not affect virus scan tasks or the update task.

You can disable/resume computer protection in one of the following ways:

  • From the application icon
  • From the application settings window

You can also resume computer protection from the main application window or your My Kaspersky account.

Disable/resume computer protection from the application icon

  1. In the menu bar, click the application icon and choose Turn Protection Off/Turn Protection On.

    When you turn off protection, a prompt for administrator credentials appears.

  2. In the prompt for administrator credentials, enter an administrator name and password and confirm that you want to turn off protection.

    Note: You can also use Touch ID, if your device supports it.

Disable/resume computer protection from the application settings window

  1. In the menu bar, click the application icon and choose Settings.

    The application settings window opens.

  2. On the Protection tab, in the General section, deselect/select the Enable protection checkbox.

Disable a protection component

  1. In the menu bar, click the application icon and choose Settings.

    The application settings window opens.

  2. On the Protection tab, in the <component name> section, deselect the Enable <component name> checkbox.

Enable a protection component

  1. In the menu bar, click the application icon and choose Settings.

    The application settings window opens.

  2. On the Protection tab, in the <component name> section, select the Enable <component name> checkbox.

Important: If you have disabled computer protection or a protection component, it will not be re-enabled automatically when the application starts again. You have to re-enable computer protection or the protection component manually.

To enable computer protection or protection components, you can also use Protection Status. Disabling computer protection or disabling protection components puts your computer at much higher risk of infection. This is why Protection Status informs you when protection is disabled.

See also

Computer protection scope

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[Topic 58285]