← Back to Microsoft Defender Antivirus Security Technical Implementation Guide

V-278659

CAT II (Medium)

Microsoft Defender AV must randomize scheduled task times.

Rule ID

SV-278659r1190748_rule

STIG

Microsoft Defender Antivirus Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V2R8

CCIs

CCI-002624

Discussion

In Microsoft Defender Antivirus, randomize the start time of the scan to any interval from 0 to 23 hours. By default, scheduled tasks begin at a random time within four hours of the time specified in Task Scheduler.

Check Content

Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Randomize scheduled task times is set to "Enabled"; otherwise, this is a finding.

Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: 
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender

Criteria: If the value "RandomizeScheduleTaskTimes" is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

If the value is 0, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Randomize scheduled task times to "Enabled".