Windows Defender is Microsoft’s built-in antivirus and anti-malware software, designed to detect and remove a wide range of malicious software from your Windows computer. It constantly monitors your system for suspicious activities and is always active, detecting any changes or modifications made to your system files. It can also scan both incoming and outgoing emails, as well as the other applications on your system.
To scan for malicious software using Windows Defender, follow these steps:
1. Open Windows Defender by searching for it in the Windows search bar.
2. Once the program opens, click on “Protection Updates” in the left-hand side of the window.
3. Ensure that the most recent virus definitions have been installed.
4. Click on “Virus & threat protection” in the left-hand side of the window.
5. You will now be able to see the different scanning options available.
6. Click on “Scan Now”, which will begin an automated scan for viruses and malicious software.
7. You can also choose to customize your scan if you want to focus on specific areas of your computer, such as a certain drive or folder. To do this, click “Custom Scan” from the menu.
8. Finally, you can also run a full system scan by clicking “Full Scan”. This option will check all the files and folders on your computer for malicious software.
9. Once the scan has finished, you will be shown any malicious software that has been detected. You can then choose whether to quarantine or delete the files.
By following these steps, you should be able to easily and quickly scan your system for malicious software using Windows Defender.