Protecting our devices from viruses is very important and fortunately there are many antivirus programs that can take care of security . If you are using a Windows, however, you can also use Microsoft Defender, the antivirus program offered by Microsoft. The company has done a pretty good job with this program and it is very effective. If you are interested, see below how you can use Microsoft Defender to scan a computer running Windows 11.
Microsoft Defender Antivirus and all scanning options are located in the Windows Security. There are two ways to open Windows Security and continue with Microsoft Defender.
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From the taskbar
There is a Windows Security icon on the taskbar of every Windows 11 PC. The icon is a small blue shield. If there are security, a yellow triangle with an exclamation point may appear along with the blue shield.
Click this icon to open Windows Security, then click “Virus & Threat Protection.”
From the Start menu
You can also access Microsoft Defender Antivirus from theStart. Click the Start button, type Windows Security in the search bar, and then press Enter or clickOpen.
Click on “Virus & Threat Protection” to open the Windows Defender Antivirus window.
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How to run a scan using Microsoft Defender on Windows 11?
There are several options for scanning your computer with Microsoft antivirus.
Click “Quick Scan” if you don’t have much time to run a scan. The quick scan will simply check the startup folders and registry to make sure there is nothing malicious in these two places.
More Advanced Options
Click on “Scan Options” to reveal more scanning options on a computer with Windows 11:
- Quick Scan: A quick scan checks startup folders and the registry for viruses.
- Full Scan: A full scan will scan every file and folder on computer your, the registry, all startup items, and can also be configured to scan network-attached drives. Keep in mind that this process can take hours depending on how much storage space you have and how fast your computer is. So, you should allow yourself plenty of time to complete the full scan.
- Custom Scan: A custom scan can be set up to target whatever folders the user wants.
- Microsoft Defender Offline Scan: Offline scanning is used when it is difficult to remove malware while the operating system, Windows 11, is active. Essentially, this scans the computer for malware before the operating system loads, giving the antivirus a chance to remove the virus. It is a very useful option in some cases.
After reviewing the scan types, select the one you want, then click “Scan Now“.
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As we said, it will take some time for the scan to complete (depending on the type you selected). If malware, Microsoft Defender will suggest ways to fix the problem and you should follow the recommendations to protect Windows 11. You can also run an offline scan for extra protection.
Source: www.howtogeek.com
