How to Set Up and Use Windows Defender Antivirus

Windows Defender Antivirus is a built-in security solution provided by Microsoft to protect your Windows computer from various types of malware threats, including viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. In this tutorial, you will learn how to set up and use Windows Defender Antivirus to keep your system secure.

Setting Up Windows Defender Antivirus

1. Check if Windows Defender Antivirus is already enabled: By default, Windows Defender Antivirus is enabled on Windows computers. To verify if it's enabled on your system, follow these steps:

   • Click on the Start menu and type "Windows Security" in the search bar.
   • Open the "Windows Security" app from the search results.
   • In the app, click on the "Virus & threat protection" option in the left sidebar.
   • If you see "Your device is being protected by Windows Defender Antivirus," it means the antivirus is already enabled. If not, proceed to the next step.

2. Enable Windows Defender Antivirus: If you found that Windows Defender Antivirus is not enabled, follow the steps below to enable it:

   • Open the "Windows Security" app as described in the previous step.
   • Click on the "Virus & threat protection" option.
   • Click on the "Manage settings" link under the "Virus & threat protection settings" section.
   • Toggle the switch to turn on "Real-time protection." This enables Windows Defender to actively scan and protect your system in real-time.

3. Update Windows Defender Antivirus: It is crucial to keep Windows Defender Antivirus up to date to ensure it recognizes and protects against the latest threats. Follow these steps to update it:

   • Open the "Windows Security" app.
   • Click on the "Virus & threat protection" option.
   • Click on the "Check for updates" link under the "Virus & threat protection updates" section.
   • Windows will now check for any available updates and automatically install them if found.

Using Windows Defender Antivirus

1. Perform a Quick Scan: Windows Defender Antivirus allows you to perform quick scans to check for common malware infections. Here's how to do it:

   • Open the "Windows Security" app.
   • Click on the "Virus & threat protection" option.
   • Under the "Quick scan" section, click on the "Quick scan" button.
   • Windows Defender will initiate a scan and display the results upon completion.

2. Perform a Full Scan: If you suspect a deep-rooted malware infection or want to perform a thorough system scan, you can run a full scan:

   • Open the "Windows Security" app.
   • Click on the "Virus & threat protection" option.
   • Under the "Current threats" section, click on the "Scan options" link.
   • Select the "Full scan" option and click on the "Scan now" button.
   • Windows Defender will now perform an extensive scan of your entire system.

3. Configure Scanning Options: Windows Defender Antivirus provides various scanning options that you can customize according to your preferences. To configure scanning options:

   • Open the "Windows Security" app.
   • Click on the "Virus & threat protection" option.
   • Under the "Current threats" section, click on the "Scan options" link.
   • Here, you can choose different scan types (quick, full, custom), exclude specific files or folders from scans, and schedule automatic scans.

4. Manage Quarantined Items: If Windows Defender Antivirus detects a potential threat, it moves it to a designated quarantine folder to prevent it from causing harm. You can manage these quarantined items easily:

   • Open the "Windows Security" app.
   • Click on the "Virus & threat protection" option.
   • Under the "Current threats" section, click on the "Protection history" link.
   • Here, you can view all the detected threats and choose the appropriate action, such as restoring a false positive or permanently deleting a threat.

5. Set Up Controlled Folder Access: Windows Defender Antivirus includes a feature called "Controlled Folder Access," which safeguards important folders from unauthorized changes. To enable this feature:

   • Open the "Windows Security" app.
   • Click on the "Virus & threat protection" option.
   • Scroll down to the "Ransomware protection" section and click on "Manage ransomware protection."
   • Toggle the switch to turn on the "Controlled folder access" feature.
   • You can then add specific folders you want to protect or allow applications that require access to those folders.

Conclusion

By following the steps above, you can easily set up and use Windows Defender Antivirus to protect your Windows computer against potential malware threats. Regularly update the antivirus and perform scans to ensure the highest level of security for your system. Stay safe online!