In most cases the Windows Defender shield on desktop shortcuts is due to old applications or applications with questionable compatibility. I experience a lot of that because I code in older programming suits. There's no need to compromise Windows Defender in order to eliminate the shield that is displayed on the effected shortcuts. Below is my solution and the vbScript that will eliminate the shield.
1) Paste the following vbScript into a text editor, change the file path and exe file names and then save the file in the application folder as Whatever.wsf
2) Right click on Whatever.wsf and choose send to desktop.
3) Go to desktop and right click on the resulting shortcut and choose properties and then choose change icon. Browse back to the application folder and click on the exe file. Apply and save.
4) Go back to desktop and enjoy the new shortcut icon without the DAMN SHIELD.
<job>
<script language="VBScript">
Set oShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell" )
oShell.Run("""c:\users\ron_b\my apps\dividing head setup\dividing head setup.exe"""), 0, true
Set oShell = Nothing
</script>
</job>
Thanks, this worked perfectly. Also, I didn't need to restart the computer.. just run explorer.exe again. :) – LGT – 2016-08-13T14:36:31.693