Question How to lock down Windows Task Manager ?

[accesscpu_]

So I'm still dealing with (more aggravated by) an issue that I've found has been around since my Windows XP days. Programs constantly adding/re-adding themselves to my Task Manager.

I either delete the tasks or disable them, and then over time (sometimes immediately at reboot), they take it upon themselves to reinsert or reenable themselves. This is supremely annoying, and I'm wondering if there has ever been a way devised to have more control or "lock" the Windows task manager. To where they at least require my permission to do so. Is this a thing, or is there a work-around anyone has devised to do that?

 

[SkyNetRising]

Programs constantly adding/readding themselves to my Task Manager.
I either delete the tasks or disable them, and then over time (sometimes immediately at reboot), they take it upon themselves to reinsert or reenable themselves.

What programs?
Can you show any screenshots?
(upload to imgur.com and post link)

How do you delete or disable tasks in Task Manager? Did you mean startup apps?

 

[Ralston18]

Seconding @SkyNetRising - "What programs?"

And I will add the suggestion to also look Task Scheduler for triggers.

 

[USAFRet]

Task Manager just reports what may be running.

It doesn't start things by itself. Those applications are starting from elsewhere.

 

[accesscpu_]

Thanks! Here is a screenshot of my task manager (for reference). Many of these options have been disabled inside their native app settings (like running update services), for example. Any ideas on how to nuke these so they stop enabling/returning?

 

[SkyNetRising]

Here is a screenshot of my task manager (for reference).

That is Task Scheduler (not Task Manager).

 

[accesscpu_]

Ah, my bad. Typo (meant to say task scheduler, not manager). Just noticed that. But same questions still apply.

 

[gardenman]

Bitdefender Agent WatchDog - If you are using BitDefender and it runs when your system starts, it's unlikely you can disable this. It will probably be re-created each time. You can look around in any options it has and maybe it will allow you disable it. I think "watchdogs" usually watch for an app to crash and if it does they reopen it for you.

CCleanerCrashReporting - Right click on the task and delete this one. CCleaner will run fine without it. Also look in CCleaner settings and disable any auto-updates or crash reporting, etc. Go into Options / Privacy and disable everything.

CCleanerSkipUAC - It's only run when CCleaner starts up. It allows CCleaner to skip the "User Account Control" dialog. Leave this one alone. Or to disable, uncheck CCleaner / Options / Advanced / Skip User Account Control warning ... and enjoy the annoying prompt each time you run it.

 

[accesscpu_]

UPDATE:

I've updated to Windows 11, and I noticed a new setting (and was wondering if it might be related to this old question).

In Apps > Privacy & Security > Tasks there are toggles for "Task Access" and "Allow Apps to Access Tasks"

Does that relate to what is allowed to be added to the Task Scheduler? Or is that something else unrelated?

 

[Colif]

the description on here says its:

Tasks: Access your task list in Outlook and other task-tracking apps.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/windows/app-permissions-aea98a7c-b61a-1930-6ed0-47f0ed2ee15c
What Outlook sees as a task is different to what Task scheduler tracks though.
Tasks in Outlook are things related to communications with external world or things the user has to do
Tasks tracked by Task scheduler are things windows has to do.
its nice and muddy

the setting being in privacy makes me think it relates to your user tasks, not system ones.

task trackers like this is what I think that setting is for:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/microsoft-365/microsoft-to-do-list-app

Track and Manage Tasks | Microsoft 365

Manage tasks between all Microsoft 365 apps and devices to increase productivity and stay focused—transform the way you work with task management software.

www.microsoft.com

I don't know if the thing that manages Tasks is seen as a task app itself.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/taskschd/about-the-task-scheduler
as its described as a service above.

 

[hotaru.hino]

If things keep getting added back to Task Scheduler, it's because something related to the app is running in the background on startup. This could either literally be a startup app, or the app installed a service on Windows that's running.