Windows Defender is an antimalware program included with Windows 10, 8 and 7 that helps protect your computer against viruses, spyware and other type of malware. Running a scan using Windows Defender is a simple process that can be done in a few steps.
1. Open the Start Menu and type in “Windows Defender” into the Search field.
2. Click on the entry for “Windows Defender Security Center”.
3. Click on the “Virus and threat protection” icon.
4. Click on the “Scan Options” drop-down menu and select the type of scan you would like to run.
5. Quick Scan will check for any current threats on your PC.
6. Full Scan will check for anything that may have been missed by the previous scans.
7. Custom Scan will only scan the areas of your PC that you specify.
8. Finally, click on “Scan Now” and Windows Defender will begin the scan.
9. Depending on the type of scan you chose, you will be able to view the progress of the scan along with any items found.
10. Once the scan is complete, Windows Defender will show you the results and you can decide what actions to take based on the results.
11. If you still need help, you can always contact Microsoft customer support.
Using Windows Defender to run a scan is a simple process that can be completed quickly. Following the steps outlined above, you should have no problem protecting your PC from any potential threats. Be sure to keep your Windows security software up to date to maximize the protection against malware.