Windows Defender is the integrated antivirus software included with the Windows 10 operating system. It offers a robust set of features designed to protect your device from various forms of malware, including viruses, worms, Trojans, rootkits, and spyware. In addition, Windows Defender also provides other security features, such as protecting against phishing attempts, malicious scripts, and other online threats.
Although Windows Defender provides good protection out-of-the-box, you can further enhance its security capabilities by properly configuring its settings. Here are some tips on how to configure Windows Defender for maximum protection:
1) Enable Real-time Protection: Windows Defender’s real-time protection feature is responsible for continuously scanning your system for any malicious files or programs. This means that it will scan all of your system’s running processes and applications, as well as any new files that you download or introduce into your system. To enable this feature, open Windows Defender Security Center > Virus & threat protection > Virus & threat protection settings > Turn on real-time protection.
2) Enable Cloud Protection: Windows Defender’s cloud protection feature sends information about suspicious files, applications, and other online threats to Microsoft’s cloud-based services for further analysis. This helps to ensure that Windows Defender is up-to-date with the latest malware definitions, which can provide better protection against the newest threats. To enable this feature, open Windows Defender Security Center > Virus & threat protection > Advanced Settings > Cloud protection and click to enable the toggle switch.
3) Enable Behavior Detection: Windows Defender’s behavior detection feature constantly monitors the behavior of processes and applications running on your system, and immediately takes action if any suspicious activity is detected. For example, if an application or process attempts to modify system files without permission, Windows Defender will block it and alert you of the threat. To enable this feature, open Windows Defender Security Center > Virus & threat protection > Advanced Settings > Behavior monitoring and click to enable the toggle switch.
4) Enable Network Inspection System: Windows Defender’s Network Inspection System is designed to protect your system from network-based attacks. It examines network storage locations, data packets, and other information sent over the network for suspicious behavior, and alerts you of any potential threat. To enable this feature, open Windows Defender Security Center > Virus & threat protection > Advanced Settings > Network inspection and click to enable the toggle switch.
5) Enable Automatic Sample Submission: Windows Defender’s automatic sample submission feature allows the program to send samples of unknown files and applications to Microsoft for further analysis. If Microsoft identifies the file or app as malicious, it will update Windows Defender so that it can protect your system from the threat. To enable this feature, open Windows Defender Security Center > Virus & threat protection > Advanced Settings > Automatic sample submission and click to enable the toggle switch.
By properly configuring Windows Defender’s settings, you can ensure that your Windows 10 device remains secure and protected from the latest cyber threats. Keep in mind that these settings should be regularly updated and monitored to ensure that they are still providing the best possible protection.