Windows Defender is Microsoft’s in-built anti-virus and malware protection program. It is designed to protect your computer from viruses, malware, spyware, and other malicious programs.
To turn Windows Defender on, follow these steps:
1. Open the Control Panel.
On Windows 8 and 10, you can open the Control Panel by typing “Control” into the Start menu or search bar. On Windows 7, press the Windows key + R on your keyboard, type “Control” into the Run box, and press Enter.
2. Select System and Security.
3. Select Windows Defender.
4. On the left side of the Windows Defender window, select Turn On or Off.
5. Select the radio button next to Virus and Spyware Protection.
6. Click Save Changes.
7. Select the radio button next to Real-Time Protection.
8. Click Save Changes.
9. Select the radio button next to Cloud-Based Protection.
10. Click Save Changes.
Windows Defender will now be enabled and will automatically scan your computer for malicious software on a regular basis. To manually run a scan, go to the Home tab in Windows Defender, click Scan Now, and then choose one of the available options.
If you want to further customize your settings, you can access the Settings tab of Windows Defender to view and change more in-depth options, such as adding exclusions for specific files or directories, scheduling scans, and more.