In this guide, we discuss what Windows Security is, why it is considered best, and how to perform a full scan using this app on Windows 11 or 10 PC.
Gone are the days, when there was a dire need for an antivirus app right after installing Windows OS on a device. Nowadays, when it comes to securing your personal data, applying parental controls, or browsing online, Windows Security is the default choice among users. The best thing about this software is that it receives security patches every second Tuesday of a month.
Why Windows Security is considered the best?
Before understanding its importance, let’s first learn what options you really have with freemium security apps –
- Though they use the word free, they are practically never free.
- 3rd-party security apps use too many system resources thus making your PC run slow.
- Very few to no updates as compared to Windows Security.
Now that you have understood the areas where an external antivirus program lacks, let’s know the features that Windows Security provides –
- An in-built antivirus program on Windows 11/10.
- Less consumption of system resources.
- Monthly updates.
The best thing about Windows Defender is that you can start a rigorous check for viruses on the system. This goes by the name “Full Scan”, read on how to perform such a scan below –
Note: How to enable Windows Defender on your computer
How to initiate a Full Scan using Windows Security
To start a full scan using Windows Defender on Windows 11 or 10 PC, use these steps –
- On the taskbar, click the up-arrow key.
- When this expands, hit over the Shield icon. Doing so will take you to the Windows Security page.
- Select ‘Virus & threat protection’ on the left pane and move to its adjacent right.
- Inside the “Current threats” section, you will find a link named “Scan options“. Well, click over it.
- Tick the ‘Full Scan’ radio button, scroll down a bit, and hit Scan now.
- The system will immediately start looking for viruses and malware available on your computer.
- Moreover, this will also display an estimated time for completion of this job. Since you had started a ‘Full Scan‘, Windows Defender will take hours to complete this process.
- There’s no point in sticking to the same screen. Better minimize the Windows Security app, and start doing your other things.
- When the scanning completes, open Windows Security, and have a look at the Current threats section.
- If this doesn’t report any issue, you will see a message – “No current threats“.
- Well, this means your PC is all safe and secured.
However, if it does any issue, you will receive a message that reads – “Threats found”. Windows Security will also display a list of infected files that it finds during the scan.
To remove these threats, just click on the button – Start actions. That’s it, Windows Security will take care of the rest and remove the threats it discovered automatically.
In case you want to see the issues that it resolves, click protection history. On the succeeding page, you may find all the threats that it blocked, fixed, or quarantined.
Other Scans offered by Windows Security
Apart from Full Scan, it does provide other scans as well which are as follows –
- Quick Scan: This is basically a short version of Full Scan that completes in the shortest time possible.
- Custom Scan: In this, you have to manually select the folders on which you want to start this scan.
- Microsoft Defender Offline Scan: This scan claims to delete malicious software that is difficult to remove. When you use this option, ‘Windows Security’ will connect to Microsoft servers and download the latest threat definitions. Afterward, this will restart your computer and try to delete the malware.
I hope this article helps to start a full scan on your Windows 11/10 PC.
