Microsoft Defender AV must randomize scheduled task times.
Severity | Group ID | Group Title | Version | Rule ID | Date | STIG Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium | V-278659 | SRG-APP-000278 | WNDF-AV-000055 | SV-278659r1190748_rule | 2026-02-17 | 2 |
Description
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.
ℹ️ Check
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
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Randomize scheduled task times to "Enabled".