Windows Defender taking a lot of resources

Antimalware Service Executable taking a lot of resources

Python and conda based development environment handling and isolation create a lot of small files when creating new environments. This happens during the initial start and when you open robots with a new environment setup (unique conda.yaml file). The environments consist of a lot of small files. Windows is actively trying to protect the user from malicious files, meaning there is a lot of work for Windows Defender.

It is quite common for development environments to guide to make exclusion rules for these kinds of high-traffic folders to speed-up the developer experience.

Disclaimer: Do this if you know what you are doing. In a company setting, the company IT policies control these, so you may not be able to create exclusions.

Here's how to create exclusion rules:

1. Open Virus & thread protection: Start -> type Virus and press Enter.
2. Select Manage settings under Virus & threat protection settings
3. Find and select Add or remove exclusions
4. Select Add an exclusion -> Folder
5. Browse to folder %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\robocorp and Select Folder
6. Exclusion is now done and should be visible on the list. You can close the settings. This setting should ease up the Antimalware Service Executable process from using up too many resources.