How to Change Startup Type of a “Protected” Service: A Detailed Guide

In the rapidly evolving world of technology, users often encounter services and applications that are somewhat overzealous in offering features or products. Such is the case with Malwarebytes, a popular antivirus tool known for its robust protection against a multitude of online threats. However, its marketing strategy, which includes frequent product offers, can sometimes become intrusive. This blog post explores how to change the startup type of a “protected” service like Malwarebytes, including actionable steps, potential pitfalls, and more.

Understanding Protected Services

What is a Protected Service?

Protected services are Windows services that have certain restrictions, preventing users from modifying their properties such as changing the startup type, stopping the service, or setting other configurations without proper permissions. These services often require elevated privileges because they’re integral to system stability or security.

Common Examples

1. Antivirus Software: Tools like Malwarebytes, Norton, or McAfee often protect their services to ensure consistent protection.
2. System Services: Windows Update or Windows Defender services are generally protected to maintain critical system functionalities.

Why Change the Startup Type?

Reducing System Start Load

Changing the startup type from automatic to manual or delayed can decrease the boot time of your computer. This is especially relevant for security programs like Malwarebytes which can be resource-intensive during startup.

Avoiding Intrusive Offers

Software often checks for updates or pushes marketing offers during startup. Disabling or setting startup to manual could help in reducing unwanted distractions.

Enhanced Control

Changing the startup type provides you with more control over when and how a service runs, thereby improving your ability to troubleshoot issues.

Prerequisites Before Getting Started

Before you attempt to modify any protected service, consider the following:

• Administrator Privileges: Make sure you have administrator access to your system.
• Backup: It’s good practice to create a system restore point or back up important data.
• Understand the Risks: Altering the startup type of security services might reduce your computer’s protection temporarily.

Steps to Change the Startup Type

Accessing Services

1. Open Services Management Console:
2. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.

3. Type services.msc and hit Enter.

4. Finding the Service:

5. Scroll down to locate the service you want to modify, in this context, Malwarebytes.

Modifying the Service

Because Malwarebytes is a protected service, the usual route through the Services Management Console may result in an “Access is denied” message, even with administrator rights. Here are alternative ways to change its settings.

Method 1: Change Startup Type via System Configuration

1. Open System Configuration:
2. Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.

3. Navigate to the Services tab.

4. Disable Service:

5. Find Malwarebytes in the list and uncheck it to prevent it from starting automatically.

6. Apply Changes:

7. Click Apply, then OK.
8. You’ll likely need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Method 2: Using Task Manager

1. Open Task Manager:
2. Right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.

3. Navigate to the Startup tab.

4. Disable Malwarebytes:

5. Find Malwarebytes in the list.

6. Right-click and select Disable.

7. Confirm Changes:

8. A system restart will finalize any changes made.

Method 3: Using Command Prompt

For this method, precision is crucial. Misusing command prompt commands can disrupt system functionality.

1. Open Command Prompt as Admin:

2. Go to Start, type “cmd”, right-click, and select Run as administrator.

3. Change Directory:

4. Navigate to where Malwarebytes is installed (usually in Program Files).

5. Execute Command:

6. Use the following command to change the startup type:
   shell
sc config "ServiceName" start= demand

7. Replace “ServiceName” with the actual service name of Malwarebytes. Optionally, you can set it to start= disabled to fully disable automatic startup.

8. Verify:

9. Restart the computer and confirm if changes have taken effect by checking the Services Management Console.

Caveats and Considerations

It’s important to note that by changing the startup type, especially for security services, you may expose your system to vulnerabilities until the service is manually started. Also, any updates pushed by Malwarebytes when the program is inactive won’t be applied, potentially leaving the program outdated.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Access Denied Errors

1. Recheck User Privileges:

2. Verify you’re logged in with an account that has administrative rights.

3. Safe Mode Intervention:

4. Booting in Safe Mode can sometimes allow access to modify settings that are otherwise blocked.

Service Not Responding

• Ensure Dependencies Are Active: If the modified service isn’t working, ensure any services it depends on are active.
• Reinstallation: Sometimes the easiest fix is to uninstall Malwarebytes, then reinstall it with customized settings, ensuring you adjust startup preferences during setup.

Conclusion

Modifying the startup type of a protected service like Malwarebytes requires carefully considered steps to safeguard the integrity of your system. By following this guide, you can reduce unnecessary startup load and minimize intrusive offers effectively while maintaining control over your system’s security posture. As with any system modification, be cautious, and ensure your system’s data is adequately backed up.