Can I modify the scan options in Windows Defender?

Yes, you can modify the scan options in Windows Defender.

Windows Defender is a built-in security feature that comes with Windows 10 and is designed to protect your system from viruses, malware, and other malicious software that can harm your machine. By default, Windows Defender performs automatic scans, but you can customize the scan options to better protect your computer.

To start, open Windows Defender by searching for “Windows Security” in the Start menu and clicking the link. Once you’re in Windows Defender, click the “Virus & Threat Protection” tab at the top and then click “Scan Options.” This will bring up a list of available scan types.

You can choose between “Quick Scan” and “Full Scan.” The quick scan will quickly scan the most critical areas of your system to check for threats, while a full scan will scan your entire hard drive and take longer to complete. Additionally, you can create custom scans and specify exactly which files or folders should be included in the scan.

Once you’ve chosen the type of scan, you can also change the scheduling settings to make sure Windows Defender is running the type of scan you want it to on a regular basis. To do this, click the “Schedule Scan” option on the left side of the window and set the type, frequency, and time of day for your scan. You can choose to have Windows Defender run a quick scan every day or a full scan once a week.

Finally, you can also adjust the settings for how Windows Defender should respond to threats it finds. Click on “Excluded Files and Locations” and add any folders or files that you don’t want to be scanned by Windows Defender. If you find malicious software on your machine, you also have the option of “Automatic Sample Submission” which will send the detected threat to Microsoft so they can investigate it further and add it to their virus definition database.

In conclusion, Windows Defender allows you to modify the scan options and customize them to best suit your needs. Quick scans are great for when you need to quickly check for threats, while full scans are better for routine checkups. You can also adjust the scheduling settings and customize how Windows Defender responds when it finds a threat. Adjusting the scan options in Windows Defender is an important step to keeping your computer safe and secure.