How to Use Windows Defender Antivirus for a Full System Scan?

Microsoft Defender Antivirus is built into Windows Operating System and provides comprehensive protection against malware and other threats. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to perform a full system scan using Windows Defender:

1. Open Windows Security

• Step 1: Click on the Start button and type Windows Security in the search bar, then select it from the list.

• Step 2: In the Windows Security window, go to Virus & threat protection.

2. Initiate a Full Scan

• Step 1: Under Current threats, click on Scan options (you may also see this as “Quick scan” if you haven’t scanned recently).

• Step 2: In the Scan options window, select Full scan. This will thoroughly scan all files, folders, and programs on your hard drive, which may take some time depending on the size of your disk.

• Step 3: Click Scan now to begin the full scan.

3. Wait for the Scan to Complete

• The full scan might take several hours, so it’s a good idea to run it when you don’t need to use your computer.

• You can monitor progress as Windows Defender will display the number of files scanned and any threats detected in real-time.

4. Review Scan Results

• Once the scan completes, Windows Defender will display the results. If any threats are detected, they will be listed here.

• Step 1: For each threat, you will have options such as Quarantine, Remove, or Allow.

• Step 2: Select Quarantine or Remove to deal with the threats (quarantine isolates the threat, while remove deletes it).

5. Set Up Regular Scans (Optional)

• To ensure regular protection, you can set up periodic scans.

• Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage settings and toggle on Periodic scanning for additional security.

6. Enable Real-Time Protection

• Ensure Real-time protection is on under Virus & threat protection settings. This helps Defender automatically scan any file or program you open, download, or install.

By running a full scan regularly, you help maintain a safe system and ensure any threats are detected and removed.