In order to check whether Windows Defender is installed and running, you can follow the steps outlined below.
1) On your computer, open the ‘Search’ bar and type in ‘Windows Security’.
2) Select ‘Windows Security’ on the list of search results that appear.
3) Once inside the Windows Security window, click on the ‘Virus & threat protection’ icon. This will open up a page detailing all of your virus protection options.
4) In the ‘Virus & threat protection’ page, locate the ‘Virus & threat protection settings’ section and select ‘Manage settings’.
5) In the ‘Virus & threat protection settings’ page, scroll down until you see the ‘Real-time protection’ option. Here you will be able to see whether or not Windows Defender is enabled.
6) If the ‘Real-time protection’ switch is turned on and green, then Windows Defender is enabled and running. If the switch is greyed out, or if it is off, then Windows Defender is not installed or is not running.
7) If you would like to enable Windows Defender, click on the switch to turn it on. You will be asked to confirm the action before the changes take effect.
8) Once Windows Defender is enabled, you will be able to customize the real-time protection settings by clicking on the ‘Edit Settings’ link underneath the ‘Real-time protection’ switch. Here you will be able to specify which types of files should be scanned, as well as configure other security settings.
By following these steps, you can easily check whether Windows Defender is installed and running.