Microsoft Defender Antivirus: A Simple Guide to Protecting Your PC

What Is Microsoft Defender Antivirus?
Microsoft Defender is the built-in antivirus for Windows 10 and 11. It’s a free and powerful tool that protects your PC from malware, viruses and other security threats. You don’t need to pay for a subscription or deal with annoying ads – it’s ready to use out of the box.

Real-Time Protection
This feature constantly checks your system for suspicious activity. It works automatically, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to run scans. Defender also updates itself regularly to catch new threats.

Types of Scans
There are several types of scans you can run to keep your PC safe:
–Quick Scan – This checks common places on your PC where malware likes to hide. It’s fast and usually enough for daily protection.
–Full Scan – If you think something has slipped past Defender, a Full Scan looks at every file on your PC. It can take a while, but it’s thorough.
-Offline Scan – For tougher malware that hides deep in your system, an Offline Scan runs outside of Windows to catch it before it can do damage.
–Custom Scan – This lets you scan specific files or folders you think might be infected. You can also right-click any folder and choose “Scan with Microsoft Defender”

Stay Protected from More Than Just Malware
While Defender is great at detecting malware, there are other security features in Windows Security to help protect you:
–Phishing Protection helps you avoid fake websites and email scams.
–Ransomware Protection blocks programs from accessing your files and encrypting them.
–Exploit Protection defends against software vulnerabilities.

How to Configure Windows Defender
By default, Defender and the Windows Firewall are turned on. You can also adjust other security features to suit your needs.

To Run Scans:
-Press Win + I to open Settings.
–For Windows 11: Go to Privacy & Security > Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection > Scan Options
–For Windows 10: Go to Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection > Scan Options

Important Scans:
Quick Scan: Fast and checks key areas.
Full Scan: Thorough and checks everything.
Offline Scan: Best for tough malware that hides deep in the system.
Custom Scan: Scan specific folders or drives.

What to Do When Threats Are Found
If Defender finds something suspicious, it will show a notification. Click the notification or go to Protection History to see what was found. Defender will usually
quarantine the threat, keeping it from harming your PC. You can also manually remove it or restore files if they were mistakenly flagged as threats.

Excluding Files from Scans:
Sometimes Defender might mistake safe files as threats. If this happens, you can tell it to ignore certain files:
–Go to Manage Virus and Threat Protection Settings > Add or Remove Exclusions.
–Click + Add an Exclusion and choose the file or folder to exclude.

Temporarily Disable Defender
If you need to turn off real-time protection (for example, to test another antivirus), you can do so from the Virus and Threat Protection Settings. It will automatically
turn back on after a while, or you can manually turn it on again.

Set Up Ransomware Protection
Ransomware can encrypt your files and make them inaccessible. To protect your files:
–Go to Virus & Threat Protection
–Click Manage Ransomware Protection
–Turn on Controlled Folder Access and choose which folders to protect.
-If this feature causes issues, you can use OneDrive to back up files instead, which allows you to recover older versions of files if they’re encrypted.

App & Browser Protection
Microsoft Defender also protects you from dangerous websites and downloaded files:
–Reputation-based Protection: Helps block phishing sites and harmful ads.
–Isolated Browsing: If you open suspicious websites, they will open in a special container that prevents harm to your PC.

How to Encrypt Your Data with BitLocker
To protect your data from theft, you can use BitLocker encryption. This makes it impossible for unauthorized users to access your files, even if your PC is stolen.
You can manage encryption settings from the Device Security page.

Parental Controls
Windows includes tools for parents to manage kids’ online activity. You can set up:
–Website restrictions
–Content age limits
–Screen time controls

Extra Features
Other features like the Firewall, Tamper Protection and Smart App Control are useful by default. Depending on your PC, you may also have advanced features available, such as:
–Device Guard: Helps block dangerous low-level software.
–Credential Guard: Protects your passwords and other sensitive data.

What About Using Defender with Another Antivirus?
It’s not recommended to run two anti-viruses at the same time, as they can interfere with each other and slow down your PC. If you want to use another antivirus,
Defender will automatically turn off its real-time protection. However, you can enable Periodic Scanning to let Defender check your system alongside the other antivirus.

Summary
Microsoft Defender has everything you need to keep your PC safe, and it’s free. By following these steps and using smart online habits, you can significantly reduce the risk of
threats.

For the best protection:
-Be careful when browsing the web and don’t click on suspicious links.
-Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
-Regularly back up important files.

These simple actions, combined with Microsoft Defender, will help keep your PC safe and secure.