Windows Defender scans for all kinds of malicious software and other online threats that can harm your computer, including viruses, malware, spyware, ransomware, rootkits, Trojans, adware, worms, browser hijackers, malicious URLs, phishing attempts, keyloggers, and more. It uses advanced machine learning algorithms to detect malicious behavior and protect you against newly-emerging threats in real-time. It also utilizes the Microsoft cloud infrastructure to provide continual updates and protection against the latest threats.
Windows Defender scans all active processes, files and locations on your device, including anything that’s downloaded or saved from the internet. It also checks system settings and network connections to detect any malicious activity. Windows Defender also monitors your system for potentially unwanted programs that try to access and/or modify your system without your permission. It will block these programs and alert you about them so you can take appropriate action to remove them.
One of the advantages of Windows Defender is that it scans your entire device. This ensures that all active processes, files, and locations are scanned. It can detect even the most subtle malicious activities that may have been overlooked by manual scanning.
The scans performed by Windows Defender can be tailored to suit your own personal needs. You can choose when and how often scans are performed, as well as what types of threats are scanned for. If a threat is found, Windows Defender can provide detailed information about it and offer options to help resolve it.
In addition to providing protection against viruses and malware, Windows Defender is also equipped with a firewall and anti-phishing capabilities. This makes it easier to keep malicious content from entering your device and also helps protect against identity theft and financial fraud.