1. Introduction
Windows Defender is Microsoft’s free antivirus program that comes with Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016. It is designed to protect users from malware and other malicious software. To keep Windows Defender as effective as possible, its virus definitions need to be updated regularly. This tutorial will guide you through the process of updating Windows Defender definitions.
2. Why Should You Update Windows Defender Definitions?
The main reason to update Windows Defender definitions is to make sure your system is protected against the latest threats. By regularly updating its definitions, Windows Defender can detect and remove new types of viruses and other malicious programs that have been released since the last definition update.
3. How to Update Windows Defender Definitions on Windows 10 or 8.1?
On Windows 10 and 8.1, updating Windows Defender’s definitions is a fairly simple process. All you have to do is follow these steps:
Step 1 – Navigate to the “Start Menu” and select the “Windows Defender” program.
Step 2 – Once the program opens, click on “Update” located at the bottom left of the program window.
Step 3 – A new window will open up with the options for updating the virus definitions. Choose the option for “automatically update virus and spyware definitions” and then click on the “OK” button.
Step 4 – Windows Defender will now check and download any new definitions available online.
Once the definitions have been successfully updated, you can now start using Windows Defender to protect your system.
4. How to Update Windows Defender Definitions on Windows Server 2016?
On Windows Server 2016, the process for updating Windows Defender’s definitions is slightly different. The steps are as follows:
Step 1 – Open the “Server Manager” and click on the “Tools” menu.
Step 2 – Select the “Windows Defender” program.
Step 3 – In the new window, click on the “Update” tab located at the top of the window.
Step 4 – Select the “Automatically update virus and spyware definitions” option and then click “OK”.
Step 5 – Windows Defender will now check and download any new definitions available online.
After the virus definitions have been successfully updated, your server will now be protected with the latest definitions.
5. Conclusion
In this tutorial, we have outlined the steps required to update Windows Defender definitions. We have also provided instructions for both Windows 10/8.1 and Windows Server 2016. By regularly updating its virus definitions, you can keep Windows Defender as effective as possible and protect your system from the latest threats.