Stay protected with Windows Security

Windows 10 includes Windows Security, which provides the latest antivirus protection. Your device will be actively protected from the moment you start Windows 10. Windows Security continually scans for malware (malicious software), viruses, and security threats. In addition to this real-time protection, updates are downloaded automatically to help keep your device safe and protect it from threats.

Windows 10 in S mode

Some features will be a little different if you’re running Windows 10 in S mode. Because this mode is streamlined for tighter security, the Virus & threat protection area has fewer options. But don’t worry—the built-in security of this mode automatically prevents viruses and other threats from running on your device, and you’ll receive security updates automatically. For more info, see Windows 10 in S mode FAQ.

Important security info

Windows Security is built-in to Windows 10 and includes an antirvirus program called Microsoft Defender Antivirus. (In previous versions of Windows 10, Windows Security is called Windows Defender Security Center).

If you have another antivirus app installed and turned on, Microsoft Defender Antivirus will turn off automatically. If you uninstall the other app, Microsoft Defender Antivirus will turn back on automatically.

If you’re having problems receiving Windows Security updates, see Fix Windows Update errors and the Windows Update FAQ.

For info on how to uninstall an app, see Repair or remove an app in Windows 10.

To change your user account to an admin account, see Create a local user or administrator account in Windows 10.

Understand and customize Windows Security features

Windows Security is your home to manage the tools that protect your device and your data:

Virus & threat protection. Monitor threats to your device, run scans, and get updates to help detect the latest threats. (Some of these options are unavailable if you’re running Windows 10 in S mode.)

Account protection. Access sign-in options and account settings, including Windows Hello and dynamic lock.

Firewall & network protection. Manage firewall settings and monitor what’s happening with your networks and internet connections.

App & browser control. Update settings for Microsoft Defender SmartScreen to help protect your device against potentially dangerous apps, files, sites, and downloads. You’ll have exploit protection and you can customize protection settings for your devices.

Device security. Review built-in security options to help protect your device from attacks by malicious software.

Device performance & health. View status info about your device’s performance health, and keep your device clean and up to date with the latest version of Windows 10.

Family options. Keep track of your kids’ online activity and the devices in your household.

You can customize how your device is protected with these Windows Security features. To access them, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security . Then select the feature you want to explore.
Open Windows Security settings

Status icons indicate your level of safety:

Green means your device is sufficiently protected and there aren’t any recommended actions.

Yellow means there is a safety recommendation for you.

Red is a warning that something needs your immediate attention.

Run a malware scan manually

When you’re concerned about risks to a specific file or folder, you can right-click the file or folder in File Explorer, then select Scan with Microsoft Defender.

If you suspect there’s malware or a virus on your device, you should immediately run a quick scan. This is much faster than running a full scan on all your files and folders.

Run a quick scan in Windows Security

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security and then Virus & threat protection.
Open Windows Security settings

Under Current threats, select Quick scan (or in previous versions of Windows 10, under Threat history, select Scan now).

If the scan doesn’t find any issues, but you’re still concerned, you may want to check your device more thoroughly.

Run an advanced scan in Windows Security

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security and then Virus & threat protection.

Under Current threats, select Scan options (or in previous versions of Windows 10, under Threat history, select Run a new advanced scan).

Select one of the scan options:

Full scan (check files and programs currently running on your device)

Custom scan (scan specific files or folders)

Microsoft Defender Offline scan (run this scan if your device has been, or could potentially be, infected by a virus or malware). Learn more about Microsoft Defender Offline

Select Scan now.

Note: Because of streamlined security, this process isn’t available if you’re running Windows 10 in S mode.

Schedule your own scan

Even though Windows Security is regularly scanning your device to keep it safe, you can also set when and how often the scans occur.

Schedule a scan

Select the Start button, type schedule tasks in the Search box, and in the list of results, select Task Scheduler.

In the left pane, select the arrow (>) next to Task Scheduler Library to expand it, do the same with Microsoft > Windows, and then scroll down and select the Windows Defender folder.

In the top-center pane, select Windows Defender Scheduled Scan. (Point to the choices to see the full names.)

In the Actions pane on the right, scroll down and then select Properties.

In the window that opens, select the Triggers tab, and then select New.

Set your preferred time and frequency, and then select OK.

Review the schedule and select OK.

Note: Because of streamlined security, this process isn’t available if you’re running Windows 10 in S mode.

Turn Microsoft Defender Antivirus real-time protection on or off

Sometimes you may need to briefly stop running real-time protection. While real-time protection is off, files you open or download won’t be scanned for threats. However, real-time protection will soon turn on automatically again to protect your device.

Turn real-time protection off temporarily

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security and then Virus & threat protection > Manage settings. (In previous versions of Windows 10, select Virus & threat protection > Virus & threat protection settings.)
Open Windows Security settings

Switch the Real-time protection setting to Off and choose Yes to verify.

Note: Because of streamlined security, this process isn’t available if you’re running Windows 10 in S mode.

Do you need an antivirus for Windows 10? [we answer]

• If you’re wondering if need an antivirus for Windows 10, then join our discussion here.
• Windows Defender is considered by many as the Windows 10 antivirus.
• The evolutions of antiviruses and online threats prove Defender is not enough.
• ESET has created a perfect candidate for the best antivirus for Windows 10, and you should give it a try too.

The term antivirus has become so ingrained in tech culture, that almost everyone is familiar with its meaning. Chances are you have a PC running Windows 10, and you’re wondering if you still need one.

After all, Windows 10 is the most advanced and secure desktop operating system to date. The short and simple answer is yes, and we’re going to explore five reasons why an antivirus is still a necessity.

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Do you need antivirus for Windows 10?

1. Microsoft itself ships Windows 10 with a built-in antivirus

The most obvious reason why antivirus software is still a necessity for most users is Windows Defender.

Yes, even Microsoft – the company behind the Windows operating system that currently runs on over 1.5 billion PC – began integrating a basic antivirus solution with the release of Windows Vista in 2006.

Years later, things haven’t changed all that much, except for the explosion of security threats.

Today we have hundreds of millions of new PCs shipping every year with Windows Defender as an integral part of Windows 10, which comes pre-installed on many of these devices.

It provides a basic layer of security until you install your own choice of antivirus.

For this reason, you should choose a professional antivirus that will keep your operating system virus-free.

Use third-party antiviruses

To be sure your computer’s operating system is free of errors, viruses and that your sensitive data will not be obtained by unauthorized sources, you must take a little bit further. Windows Defender cannot handle all of these issues alone,, which means you have to use a professional software.

If you need a fast and light software to keep your computer healthy, safe and optimized, then ESET NOD32 is just what you need.

This performant antivirus is the perfect tool for gamers as well as average users wishing to have uninterrupted sessions of work or gaming at their computers. It is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.

ESET has created NOD32 to run without requiring a lot from your computer resources. This means you can play, watch movies or work at your computer while this antivirus is active without experiencing any slowdowns.

Once ESET NOD32 has been downloaded and installed, let it scan and he will do what he knows best: to clean your computer of viruses, worms, ransomware, spyware, and all types of malware.

ESET NOD32

2. An antivirus can be used for easy setup of security rules

If you’re running the latest version of Windows 10, you can use the new Windows Defender Security Center to do more than just scanning for viruses.

Additional features include Device performance & health, Firewall and network protection, App and browser control, and Family options.

The Windows Defender Security Center can provide you with additional tools, which is pretty good for a free tool, but still not enough when it comes to traditional, paid third-party solutions.

There are free versions available from third parties, but they’re just as limited, and some will even nag you with pop-up ads.

There’s a good reason why some antivirus vendors have changed the branding of their products to reflect how paid tiers of their products provide you with more than a simple virus scanner tool.

Some even offer mail spam protection, web browsing privacy protection, or use your mobile device as a strengthening tool for your PC’s security.

3. Antiviruses have evolved to match new security threats

Most of you have probably heard or read news about classic types of malware, such as Trojans, worms, keyloggers, and backdoors. These would typically infect users through things like email attachments or downloads from suspicious websites.

After that, they would spread to all devices in a local network, causing even more damage. All of them are different methods used to take advantage of your sensitive information.

Microsoft has been improving the security of Windows with each new release, rendering many of the classic viruses obsolete. In turn, the bad guys have devised new ways to attack and take over control of your PC.

One notable example is ransomware, which steals your data and makes it technically impossible to access unless you pay the thieves in a way that makes it very unlikely to ever identify them.

In the meantime, antivirus software has evolved to deal with such threats. It can now provide special protection for your important folders, prevent malware from starting with Windows, and set up a trusted application whitelist.

Some antiviruses even prevent an attacker from modifying their settings or uninstalling by locking things under a user password.

4. Your web browser is not as secure as you think

Chances are you spend the most time using a web browser, and this is also one of the main targets for the bad guys. As much as Google, Microsoft, and others like to tout how safe their browser is, the reality is that all of them have flaws.

That leaves you vulnerable until you get an update, which can take some time depending on the complexity of fixing the flaw.

On top of these, the classic phishing attacks still work. Attackers can hide malicious code in ads, auto-playing video, or social media campaigns masquerading as legitimate competitions or giveaways.

Once you click on these, you’re infected. And since there’s no visual clue of what has happened, you may not even know it.

Some attacks involve redirects that take you from a legitimate service to an infected or masquerading web page.

As you’re trying to log in, you basically give away your credentials to the bad guys. Good antiviruses typically analyze the web page code and will warn you if it’s malicious.

5. The antivirus as an additional layer of security

But I’m careful what I do with my PC and on the web is what some users may say. But you can never be too careful about security, and good practices are not enough to keep your PC safe. Thinking proactively about security will lower the risk of data and financial theft, or identity fraud.

As medics say: prevention is better than the cure. Here are some of the situations where an antivirus can provide some precious additional security:

• online shopping, banking, and trading;
• using public Wi-Fi;
• sharing links, files, or even your PC with others;
• clicking on ads, giveaway links;
• watching adult content;
• when using social media or exploring the web;
• when downloading files, media, and software from the web

Some of you may even think that antiviruses can catch malware only after the fact. In reality, the best security solutions today analyze the behavior of any app you run.

This increases the chances of discovering a security threat before it even has a chance to do any harm.

What about Windows 10 S?

Microsoft says that Windows 10 S is more secure because it only runs sandboxed apps from the Microsoft Store. That’s true to some extent, but it’s not the whole story.

You’re only less likely to get spyware and adware from the Store – which is curated by Microsoft.

You’ll only be able to use Microsoft’s Edge browser in Windows 10 S, which is still vulnerable to attacks. Your important files still need protection from ransomware.

Even sandboxed apps from the Store are not the holy grail of security. On top of that, the default account on Windows 10 S is still is vulnerable to attacks.

The takeaway is this: an antivirus is still as important as being careful and keeping your software up to date. Also, there’s no need to spend a fortune on an antivirus.

Companies like Bullguard or Bitdefender offer more affordable tiers that fit your specific needs. What do you use as a security solution?

Feel free to share your experience with us via the comments section below.