Windows Defender is the built-in security system for Windows computers that help protect against malware and other threats. Activating Windows Defender is simple, and can be done by following these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “control” and press ENTER.
3. The Control Panel will open. Click “System and Security”.
4. Under the “Security” section, click on “Windows Defender”.
5. Click on the “Settings” tab at the top of the window.
6. Click “Turn on now” under the “Real-time protection” section.
7. Once this is complete, Windows Defender will be activated and will start running in the background to protect your computer.
Additionally, you can configure Windows Defender to scan for potential threats more regularly. To do so:
1. Open Windows Defender as outlined above.
2. Click on the “Settings” tab at the top of the window.
3. Under the “Real-time protection” section, click “Advanced settings”.
4. Under the “Scan frequency” section, select how often you’d like to run an active scan (daily, weekly, or monthly).
5. Click “OK”.
If you want Windows Defender to also scan for potentially unwanted applications, you can also enable this setting by following these steps:
1. Open Windows Defender as outlined above.
2. Click on the “Settings” tab at the top of the window.
3. Under the “Exclusions” section, make sure the checkbox next to “Allow potentially unwanted applications to be detected” is checked.
4. Click “OK”.
Once you’ve completed the steps above, Windows Defender will be fully activated and running on your system, helping to protect it from potential threats.