Windows Defender is a built-in security program that comes pre-installed on many Windows devices. It helps protect your computer from any potential threats and malicious software. Many users find it effective in protecting their devices and it is recommended to keep it enabled.
The main way to check Windows Defender’s security status is by visiting the program itself. To open Windows Defender, press the Windows key and type “Windows Defender”. Click on the result that appears to open the program.
Once the Windows Defender window has opened, you will see the dashboard with an overview of your PC’s security status. On the left-hand side of the window there is a menu with several options. Click on the “Virus & Threat Protection” option.
On this page, you will be able to view the current security status of your PC. At the top, there will be a shield icon which shows a green or yellow color depending on whether Windows Defender is currently active or not. If the shield is green, it means Windows Defender is running and is protecting your device, while if the shield is yellow, it means that Windows Defender is not active and needs to be enabled.
Below the shield icon, there will be several sections containing information about the current security status of your device. These sections are “Protection History”, “Threats Detected”, “Quarantined Items”, and “Real-Time Protection Status”.
The “Protection History” section will show all the recent activities performed by Windows Defender such as scans, updates, etc. The “Threats Detected” section will show any malicious programs that have been detected and removed from your system. The “Quarantined Items” section will show any items that have been quarantined due to suspicion of being a threat. Lastly, the “Real-Time Protection Status” section will show the current status of Windows Defender’s real-time protection.
If you would like to see more detailed information about the current status of Windows Defender, you can click on the “Advanced Scan” section which is located at the bottom of the “Virus & Threat Protection” page. This will open a new window where you can select a type of scan (Quick, Full, or Custom) and then perform the scan.
The results page will show the overall security status of your computer and will list any issues that were found. It is recommended to periodically perform a scan to ensure your computer remains secure from any potential threats.
Overall, Windows Defender is an effective way to protect your computer from malicious software. You can easily check your PC’s security status within Windows Defender to ensure your device is protected from any potential threats.