How to use Windows Security to protect against viruses and threats?

Windows Security (Windows Defender)

When it comes to computer security, there are many options available. You can spend extra money on the best antivirus software, or you can use free programs like Windows Security. Overall, compared to many other free antivirus programs on the market, Windows Security is much better. Therefore, for home users who aren’t considering paid software, it’s a good choice.

It can protect your computer from pop-up messages, slow performance, and security threats caused by viruses and spyware. Malicious software can infect your computer without your knowledge, potentially when you connect to the internet or use a USB flash drive or other removable media to install certain applications.

However, if you’re looking for more comprehensive protection with faster scanning speeds, advanced malware scanners, and technical support, then Windows Security may not be sufficient in this regard.

What features are available?

Use Windows Security to check your device’s performance and health

To help you keep your device secure, Windows Security monitors your device for security issues and provides health reports, which are displayed on the Device performance & health page. The health report alerts you to common problems in four key areas and offers recommendations to address these issues:

• Storage Capacity: Is there enough space on your system drive?
• Battery Life: Is your computer’s power status normal?
• Apps and Software: Does any of your software need updating?
• Windows Time Service: Keeps the system set to the correct time, which is crucial for many system processes. The Windows Time Service automatically synchronizes the system clock with internet-based time calibration to ensure the system time is always accurate. If this service is stopped or fails, your device’s performance and health status will notify you so that you can address the issue.

Scan and remove viruses and spyware from your computer

Windows Security allows you to scan specific files and folders and remove viruses, spyware, or other malicious software from your computer to ensure their safety. If any threats are detected, the system will notify you immediately.

• Quick Scan: A Quick Scan checks the areas on your hard drive most likely to be infected with malicious software.
• Full Scan: A Full Scan checks all files on your hard drive and all currently running applications. If you suspect your computer is infected with malware, perform a Full Scan. The scan may take longer to complete and the computer may run slowly during the process.
• Custom Scan: A Custom Scan checks specific drives and files that you select.
• Windows Defender Offline Scan: The Windows Defender Offline Scan checks your computer for rootkits or highly persistent malware. Selecting this option scans for malware that may be outside of the normal Windows system. The scan may take up to 15 minutes to complete and will restart your computer during the process.
• View Scan Results: After Windows Security performs a Quick, Full, or Custom Scan, the scan results will be displayed in the “Scan” window. However, after running a Windows Defender Offline Scan, you will need to open the scan results to view them.

Use Windows Security to remove threats.

If Windows Security detects potentially unwanted or harmful software, the best practice is to remove the threats as they automatically appear in the scan window or scan history. Choose an option from the displayed choices, such as “Clear Threats” or “Take Action,” to resolve the threats. You can also use the Windows “Uninstall” option to remove malicious programs. Search for the software you suspect is malicious, right-click on the software name in the results list, and then click “Uninstall.”

Use Windows Security to protect your folders from malicious app attacks.

Use the Controlled Folder Access feature to protect your files and folders from being compromised by malicious apps, such as ransomware.

1. Step 1: Open Windows Security, then click on “Virus & threat protection.”
2. Step 2: Under Virus & threat protection settings, click on “Manage settings.”

   

3. Step 3: In the Controlled Folder Access section, click on “Manage Controlled Folder Access.”
   If the “User Account Control” window appears, click “Yes.”

   

4. Click the plus sign (+) next to “Add an exclusion,” then select File, Folder, File type, or Process from the dropdown menu.

   

5. Based on how you want to protect your files and folders, click one of the following options.
   Click “Protected folders” and select the specific folders you want to protect. Many folders preloaded in Windows are automatically protected.
   Click “Allow an app through Controlled Folder Access” and select the apps that can access your files and folders.

   

Get “Windows Security” updates

If you don’t have a constant broadband connection or if you want to check for updates, you can manually check for and install security updates for “Windows Security.”

Virus, spyware, and other malicious software definitions help identify threats on your computer. Microsoft regularly provides important updates to enhance security, which are crucial for protecting your device. To keep these definitions up-to-date, Windows Security works with Windows Update to automatically install new definitions. If you have a constant broadband connection, it’s recommended to set Windows Update to check for updates daily.

Here are some of the key features of Windows Security:

• Free but Powerful: As a free anti-malware solution, it stands out as the best among all third-party free antivirus software currently available.
• Real-Time Protection: This means that Windows Security continuously scans your computer for malware and blocks it.
• Automatic Updates: Microsoft regularly releases new virus definitions, and Windows Security automatically downloads and installs them.
• Behavior Monitoring: This feature monitors the behavior of programs and can detect malicious activity, even if the program itself is not yet identified as malware.

As Microsoft’s built-in antivirus program, Windows Security has seen significant improvements in recent years. The key enhancements from which we can benefit include:

• Reduced false positives through improved heuristics and machine learning models
• Enhanced detection of attacks using PowerShell and exploitation mitigation measures
• New features for detecting ransomware at the earliest stages of an attack
• Endpoint protection that helps prevent the latest threats

Are there any shortcomings with Windows Security? Let’s identify a few:

• Operates only on Windows: If your company has Mac or Linux computers, you’ll need a different solution for those devices.
• Cannot prevent all types of threats: Especially, it may not be very effective against targeted attacks.
• Can be resource-intensive: which might slow down older computers.
• There have been reports of false positives, with Windows Security, such as Defender warnings.

Directly answering whether Windows Security is sufficient.

Is Windows Security Sufficient for Basic Protection?
Now that we have an overview, let’s address a crucial question: Is it sufficient for basic protection? The short answer is yes. It offers substantial protection against most threats and continually improves with regular updates and new features.

However, there are important considerations to keep in mind. First, Windows Security is not perfect. It may miss some threats, especially new and sophisticated ones. Therefore, it’s important to supplement it with additional security measures. This typically includes installing reliable third-party antivirus software such as Avast, McAfee, Norton, Bitdefender, or Avira.

Second, even though Windows Security performs well, it cannot protect you from all forms of compromise. Understanding the risks and taking extra precautions is crucial, such as using strong passwords and being cautious with email attachments and technical support scam phone numbers.

Finally, remember that no security measure is 100% effective. There is always a possibility that something could slip through the cracks. Therefore, it is important to have a backup plan in case of emergencies. For instance, malicious viruses might encrypt your valuable files or folders, and no one can decrypt them without a ransom payment.

In summary, Windows Security is a good security program that provides a significant level of protection. However, it is not perfect, so it is important to complement it with additional measures. Also, remember that no security measure is 100% effective, so always be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

Kaushal Malkan

You can always find me playing the piano or playing FIFA when I’m not binge-watching TV Series with pizzas. Fountainhead of TechWhoop.