False positives, or false alerts, are a common occurrence in security scanning tools such as Windows Defender. A false positive is when a security scan incorrectly identifies a clean file as malicious, resulting in an alert. False positives can be caused by a variety of factors, including the detection of a legitimate program which is similar to a malicious program, or the detection of a false signature in the file.
It is important to take false positives seriously, as ignoring them can have dire consequences. If a false positive alert is ignored, the computer may become exposed to malware and other security threats. Therefore, it is important to take the necessary steps to investigate and resolve false positives. In this article, we will explore what you can do if you have a false positive result when running a scan with Windows Defender.
1. Verify the file and its source.
The first step towards resolving a false positive is to verify the file in question and its source. This will help you determine whether the alert is valid or not. You can do this by searching the web for more information about the file, or by checking the file’s digital signature. If the file is signed by a trusted publisher and comes from a legitimate source, then it is unlikely to be malicious.
2. Submit the file to Microsoft’s Safety Scanner and VirusTotal.
If the file appears to be legitimate, then you can submit the file to Microsoft’s Safety Scanner and VirusTotal for further analysis. Microsoft’s Safety Scanner is Microsoft’s own free online scan tool and it is capable of detecting malicious files. On the other hand, VirusTotal is a free, online service where you can submit suspicious files and get a report on their findings.
3. Exclude the file from Windows Defender’s scans.
If the file is found to be legitimate after submitting it to Microsoft’s Safety Scanner and VirusTotal, then you can exclude the file from Windows Defender’s scans. This can be done by opening Windows Defender Security Center, selecting the “Virus & threat protection” tab, selecting “Virus & threat protection settings”, and then selecting “Exclusions”. Here, you can add the suspect file or folder to the exclusions list, so that Windows Defender will no longer scan or detect it.
4. Report the false positive to Microsoft.
Finally, if you are certain that the detected file is legitimate and not malicious, you can report the false positive to Microsoft. To do this, open Windows Defender Security Center, select “Virus & threat protection”, select “Virus & threat protection settings”, select “Advanced settings” and then select “Submit a sample”. This will open a form where you can provide a description of the false alert, attach the suspect file and submit it for further analysis by the Microsoft security team.
These are the steps you can take if you have a false positive result when running a scan with Windows Defender. Following these steps will help ensure that your computer remains secure and that you do not miss any real malicious threats. It is important to note that while false positives are annoying, they are a necessary part of keeping computers safe from cyber-attacks.