Yes, you can use Windows Defender to scan removable media on Windows 10. Removable media like external hard drives, USB drives, and SD cards can be scanned with the help of Windows Defender. To scan these devices, you need to enable the setting for scanning removable drives.
To enable this setting go to Windows Defender settings. Select the “Windows Security” tab, choose “Virus & threat protection” and then select “Manage Settings”. Scroll to the bottom of the “Virus & threat protection settings” window and find the “Scan removable drives” section. Enable the setting to allow Windows Defender to scan removable drives and click “Ok” to save your changes.
Once the setting is enabled, Windows Defender will automatically scan any removable media that is connected to your computer. If a threat is found, Windows Defender will display a notification to alert you of the potential danger and provide a link to more information about the malware it detected.
Windows Defender also provides an additional layer of protection through cloud-based protection. When you plug in a USB drive, Windows Defender will check the file against its cloud database to make sure it is free of malicious software.
Although Windows Defender is a powerful security tool, it is important to remember that it cannot detect all forms of malware. Even if the program detects a virus, it may not always be able to remove it. For this reason, it is important to remain vigilant when using removable media and to be careful about what you open and download from these devices.
In conclusion, yes you can use Windows Defender to scan removable media on Windows 10. It is important to remember, however, that Windows Defender cannot detect every form of malware so it is important to remain vigilant about what you open or download from removable media.