Windows Defender is an effective anti-malware program that is included in all Windows 10 operating systems. It provides a variety of security measures to protect your computer from malicious software like viruses, spyware, ransomware, and worms.
One of the primary features of Windows Defender is the ability to scan for malware. This can be done in a few different ways.
The first way to scan for malware with Windows Defender is to use a full system scan. To do this, open Windows Defender from the Start Menu or search bar. Once open, you can choose to perform a full system scan. This will scan your entire computer, including any hard drives, files, and programs, for any potential threats. The scan may take some time to complete, depending on how many files are on your system.
The second way is to use a custom scan. With this option, you can choose what areas of your computer are scanned. The advantage of a custom scan is that you can limit the scan to certain areas, such as the system drive, program files, documents, and more. This can be a useful tool if you believe there is malware present in one particular area of your system.
The third option is to use Windows Defender’s real-time protection mode. This feature will automatically scan downloads and other activities within your computer. It also monitors programs that open on your system, alerting you to any potential threats.
Finally, you can manually scan for any potential threats using Windows Defender. To do this, click ‘Update & Security’ in the settings menu, then select ‘Windows Defender’. Click ‘Scan Now’ to start a manual scan. This will only scan your system when you initiate the scan, so you need to check back regularly to ensure any threats are identified and removed.
Windows Defender is a powerful tool for scanning and protecting your system from malicious software. With its wide range of features, it can provide you with comprehensive protection against any type of malware. If you have any concerns about your system’s security, it is important to regularly scan for malware using Windows Defender to ensure your data is secure.