Windows Defender is a powerful security tool that helps protect your Windows computer from malicious software and other threats. With Windows Defender in place, you can rest assured that your computer is secure and protected from any malicious activity. This article will provide information on configuring Windows Defender settings to keep your computer safe.
Step 1: Choose What You Want to Protect
When configuring Windows Defender, the first step is to decide what you want to protect on your computer. Windows Defender has four main settings that you can adjust: Real-Time Protection, Cloud Protection, Scan Settings, and Exclusions.
Real-Time Protection: The real-time protection setting will ensure that Windows Defender is constantly scanning for and protecting against threats. If an unfamiliar file or program tries to run on your computer, Windows Defender will block it until you decide if it is safe or not.
Cloud Protection: Cloud Protection allows Windows Defender to take advantage of Windows’ cloud-based service. By enabling this setting, Windows Defender can use the cloud to check the reputation of downloaded files and programs to see if they are safe to use.
Scan Settings: Scan Settings allow you to customize the type of scans Windows Defender will perform. You can choose to have it scan for all types of threats, or just spyware, viruses, trojans, rootkits, and other malicious programs.
Exclusions: Exclusions let you specify certain files and folders that Windows Defender will not scan. This is useful if you have certain files that you know are safe, but Windows Defender may wrongly detect them as threats. This will help save you time by avoiding unnecessary scans, while still providing maximum protection.
Step 2: Adjust Your Settings
Once you have decided which settings to use, you can go ahead and adjust them to suit your needs. To access the Windows Defender settings, click the Start button, then click Settings. In the Settings window, click Update & Security and then click Windows Defender in the left pane.
Real-Time Protection: On the Real-Time Protection tab, you can turn the real-time protection on or off. You can also choose to have it scan USB drives when they are plugged in, or turn that feature off.
Cloud Protection: On the Cloud Protection tab, you can turn on Cloud Protection, which will allow Windows Defender to check the reputation of downloaded files and programs. You can also choose whether to send malicious files to Microsoft for analysis, which will help improve Windows Defender’s ability to detect threats in the future.
Scan Settings: On the Scan Settings tab, you can choose which types of files to scan, how often to scan, and whether to scan files after they are downloaded. You can also choose whether to scan removable drives, such as USBs and CD/DVDs.
Exclusions: On the Exclusions tab, you can add files and folders that you don’t want Windows Defender to scan. You can also specify the types of files that you don’t want Windows Defender to scan, such as specific extensions, or files larger than a certain size.
Step 3: Schedule Scans
Finally, you can schedule scans to occur at a time that suits you. You can schedule both quick scans, which check only common locations for threats, or full scans, which check all your files. To schedule a scan, click the Schedule Scan button, then choose the scan type and time.
By following these steps, you should be able to configure Windows Defender to provide maximum protection for your computer. It’s important to note, however, that no security software can guarantee complete protection, so be sure to practice safe computing habits, such as avoiding suspicious websites and only downloading files from trusted sources.