Windows Defender’s security dashboard incl udes
antivirus, malware protection and more
Use Defender’s offl ine scan
for stubborn infections
Disabling real-time
protection canleave you
exposed to malware
48 2 - 15 October 2019
Access the tools
Launch Defender, either by
opening the Start menu, typing
defenderand clicking ‘Windows
Security’ or by expanding the taskbar’s
hiddenicons (click the upward-pointing
arrow to the right) and clicking the
shieldicon. Windows overlays this ic on
with a yellow warnin g triangle if
Defender detects anythingthat needs
your attention.
Opening Defenderwill display a
dashboard for controlling applications’
rights and restrictions, Windows’ built-in
firewa ll, antivirus protection and more.
To make it easier to navigate, maximise
the window so the sidebar menuis
permanently extended(with names
beside the icons) or click the thre e-line
button in the top-left corner to reveal
the menu’s contents.
Scanfor viruses
Click ‘Virus & thre at protection’
and look under ‘Virus and thre at
protection settings’ for a button labelled
‘Turn on’. If it’s there, click it, so you’re
protected. Now click either the ‘Quick
scan’ button orthe ‘Scan options’ link
below ‘Current thre ats’. The former
speaks for itself, but ‘Scan options’ lets
you choose from full, customand offline
scans. ‘Full scan’ checksall the files and
folders on your hard drive, which could
take more than an hour, whil e ‘Cus tom
scan’ lets you limit the folders it
examines. ‘Windows Defender Offline
scan’ is designed to deal with malware
that’s so deeply embedded in Windows
it can’t be removed whil e the operating
system is running. Selecting this reboots
your PC in a stripped-down securi ty
environment. Because Windows isn’t
active, your system files will be unlocked
and visi ble to the scanner.
Make anexception
Antivirus softwaresometimes
alerts you to a ‘false positive’
- something that it th inks could be
a thre at,
but which
is actually
benign.
In such
instances,
simply mark
the ‘threat’
as safe and
Defender
will ig nore it
in future.
If you
accidentally
clicked this
and meant
to quarantine
the thre at
instea d, you
can undo your action by clicking the
‘Allowed thre ats’ link nearthe top of th e
‘Virus & thre at protection’ page. Now
select the thre at you mistakenly
permitted and click ‘Don’t allow’.
Windows Defender has matured into a surprisingly powerful and
comprehensive security suite. Nik Rawlinson explores its
essential features and best hidden options
O
ver the course ofWindows 10 ’s recentupdates,
Microsofthaspaid alot ofattention toimproving
and expanding the operatingsystem’s built-in
security tools. However, it can’t seemtomake upits mind
whattocall them. Originally referred toasWindows
Defender, the namefor the Windows 10 ’s securitytools
changedtoWindowsDefender SecuritySuite following
the CreatorsUpdate, and theynowappear togo underthe
genericbanner ofWindowsSecurity. You’ll stillfindthe
name Defender usedinvarious officialquarters, however,
sothat’s whatwe’re sticking withhere.
Despite stiff competition frombig-namefreeand
paid-for rivals,Defenderfrequentlyranks highlyin
antivirus labstests and isusedbymorethanhalf ofall
Windowsusers –and it’s easytosee why.It’s free, simple
touse and –because it’s a nativeWindowscomponent –
the softwareisunobtrusiveand lightweightcomparedto
othersecuritytools.