If you’re a Windows user stuck with expired third-party antivirus, or are planning to buy antivirus, you don’t have to. Windows comes with a built-in antivirus called Windows Defender. And like other antivirus software, there are multiple scanning options for malware using Windows Defender scan.
If you didn’t know, Windows Defender comes with all versions of Windows, as reliable and powerful as any other antivirus on the market. In this article, we will look at all the different Windows Defender options.
Note: Windows Defender has been renamed to Windows Security in Windows 10.
4 ways to scan for malware with Windows Defender
Windows Defender scans your device for viruses, spyware, ransomware, rootkits, and other types of malware. But you can do a manual scan whenever you want. It offers four ways to scan your computer.
Well, if you are wondering how to scan with Windows Defender, it is quite simple. Follow the methods mentioned below to remove malware from your computer.
1. Run Windows Defender Quick Scan
The first scan option that Windows Defender offers is Quick Scan. And as the name suggests, this scan option sprints through Windows systems where threats are commonly found. This includes the Windows Start folder, registry keys, downloads folder, etc. Here’s how to quickly scan using Windows Defender. Follow the steps below.
Step 1: Press Windows key, type “Windows Security’, and press Enter.
Step 2: Click ‘Virus and threat protection’.
Step 3: Click Scan Options.
Step 4: Select Quick Scan and click Scan Now.
And there you go. Quick Scan will immediately start scanning your system and will usually take a minute or two to scan your system.
This scan option is useful if you want to scan your computer. However, what if you want Windows Defender to perform a deep scan of your computer and look for malware? There is an option too. Follow up.
2. Full Scan of Windows Defender with PowerShell
You should scan your computer at least once a week. This Full Scan option in Windows Defender drills into your system files and programs looking for malware. Here’s how to find a full scan in Windows Defender.
Step 1: Press the Windows key, type PowerShell, and click “Run as administrator”.
Step 2: Type the following command to start a full malware scan and press Enter.
start-mpscan -scantype fullscan
That’s it! Sit back and relax. Depending on the amount and type of data to be scanned, the full scan will take quite a while to complete.
3. How to Run Windows Defender Custom Scan from File Explorer
As the name implies, this Windows Defender scan option allows you to quickly scan a specific file or folder on your computer. Yes, you can scan USB drives, external hard drives, etc without third-party software.
There are two ways to operate custom scanning: one is through Windows Security settings and the other is through File Explorer. We will use the second option to run a custom scan. Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Press the Windows key, type Data management program and press Enter.
Step 2: Find and select the file/folder you want to scan and right click on it and select ‘Show more options’.
Note: You can select multiple files using the CTRL/Shift key.
Step 3: Now select ‘Scan with Microsoft Defender.’
That’s it! The Windows Defender application will initiate the scan. Since these are just files/folders, scanning through should be fast enough, as long as there isn’t much to scan.
4. Windows Defender Offline Scan
Malware is getting smarter and so is Windows Defender. Some malware is difficult to find let alone remove from your computer. So for malware like this, you have Windows Defender Offline Scan, which uses up-to-date threat definitions to remove complex viruses that can’t be removed.
This scan mode will restart your computer and take about 15 minutes or so to complete the scan.
Step 1: Press the Windows key and type Windows Security and press Enter.
Step 2: Click ‘Virus and threat protection’.
Step 3: Now, click on Scan Options.
Step 4: Select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (Offline Scan) and press the Scan Now button.
With this, your PC will reboot and Windows Defender Offline will load and perform a quick scan of your PC in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). After completing the scan, your computer will automatically restart.
Windows Defender FAQ
1. Is Windows Defender enough today?
Without a doubt, Microsoft Defender is a great choice for any type of user as it is active in finding malware on your computer.
2. How does Microsoft Defender work?
Microsoft Defender checks files and apps you download and install, as well as files already on your system, for malware that can harm your device.
Detect and remove malware from your PC
Microsoft has made installing Windows Security so easy that anyone and everyone can find malware with Windows Defender scanning. Now that you have learned how to use Windows Defender Scan, you should know some Defender tips and tricks to improve your game.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
