Windows Defender is a real-time anti-virus program built into Windows. It helps protect your computer from viruses, malware, spyware, and other security threats. Windows Defender can be used to scan your computer for potential threats and help keep your computer safe.
Running a scan with Windows Defender is easy and straightforward. First, open the start menu, then type “Windows Security” in the search bar. The Windows Security app will appear at the top of the results list. Click on it to open the main Windows Security screen.
Once in the main Windows Security screen, click on the “Virus & threat protection” tab. This will open the Virus & threat protection settings page. From here, click on “Scan options” which is located under the heading “Run a new advanced scan”.
When you click on “Scan options”, you will be presented with three options: Full scan, Quick scan, and Custom scan. A full scan checks your entire computer for possible threats. It takes the longest to complete, but it’s the most thorough scan available. A quick scan looks at only the most commonly targeted areas of a computer for possible threats. A custom scan lets you pick and choose which areas to scan, if you want to focus the scan on certain parts of your computer.
Once you have chosen the scan type, click “Scan now” to begin the scan. Windows Defender will then scan your computer for any potential threats. You can view the progress of the scan as it runs. When the scan is complete, it will show you the results and let you know if there have been any items detected that need to be dealt with.
Windows Defender also allows you to schedule scans, so they can run automatically at a designated time. To do this, go back to the Virus & threat protection settings page, then click on “Schedule a scan”. This will bring up the Schedule scan window, where you can select the type of scan to be run, the frequency of the scan (daily, weekly, or monthly), the time of day, and the date and time the scan should start. Once you have everything set, click “Apply” to save the changes.
You can also use Windows Defender to manually scan removable devices, such as USB drives, for any threats. To do this, plug in the device you want to scan and wait for it to be recognized by your computer. Then return to the main Windows Security screen, click on the “Device security” tab, and click “Scan now” under the heading “Scan removable drives”. Windows Defender will then scan the device for any potential threats.
Windows Defender is a great way to protect your computer from security threats. By using the scan options available in the Windows Security app, you can easily run regular scans to keep your computer safe and secure.