How do you enable Windows Defender? Windows Defender is Microsoft’s anti-malware component for Window. Originally released with Windows Vista and Window 7, Windows Defender is now an integral security component of Microsoft’s latest operating system.
Windows Defender is surprisingly well-featured for free anti-viruses, and for some it may be all the cyber security they might need.
ADVANTAGES AND BENEFITS OF WINDOWS DEFENDER
With cloud-powered protection, real-time analytics, and the ability to remove detected malware threats, Windows Defender is not a cybersecurity flaw.
Secondly, there is no need to install anything, or download anything other than regular and important updates that can be handled through Windows Update. Windows Defender is built into the Windows operating system and just turning on Windows 10 will give you full access to the antivirus platform.
While it’s free and effective, Windows Defender may not be the most advanced for the highest security needs – for example launching an antivirus across the organization, or if you store very sensitive data on your computer, but it’s more than enough for the average. user.
It offers a set of anti-malware tools that are enabled by default when Windows 10 is installed and booted. However, people with third-party antiviruses and cybersecurity packages may want to use it instead of Windows Defender.
The Windows Defender icon will appear in this tray with a cross (X) if it is turned off, and there should be no cross if it is running. There are no more steps you need to take if you want to keep it turned on, even if read on if you want to turn it off.
HOW TO ENABLE WINDOWS DEFENDER
To get started, click on the Start menu (or on the start screen in Windows 8) and type “Defender” into the search bar (you can also press the Windows key + Q to display the necessary search bar). This shortcut will launch the search function on your system. Windows Defender will appear in the list of results. Click to launch the program. If it’s up and running, and takes you directly to the program dashboard, go to step five.
A message may appear now, saying: “this application has been turned off and does not monitor your computer”. If so, find the “Action Center” in the Start menu (or start screen in Windows 8), and click to open it.
Once in the Action Center, click on the Security tab to see which programs manage Spyware and unwanted software protection’.
In Windows 10, everything is a little different. You need to open the Control Panel (but not the Settings app), and head to System and Security> Security and Maintenance. Here, under the same heading (Spyware and unwanted software protection’), you will be able to choose Windows Defender. But again, make sure you remove the existing software first.
Now that you have removed all existing anti-spyware or anti-virus programs, type “Defender” into the Start menu again, and click on the program. If it is disabled, you will be greeted with a message informing you, and there will be a text link that reads: “Click here to enable it”. Go ahead and click on the link to activate Windows Defender.
If your computer is not already protected, you should be taken to the Windows Defender dashboard. Defender may be outdated, so it’s recommended to start by updating its protection software. Click on the Updates button, and follow the steps to install the latest Defender updates.
If you see a convenient green bar, Defender has been fully updated, and it is ready to protect your computer.
If you click on the Tools link, then on The real-time protection in the left panel, there are also a number of additional options for scanning downloads, attachments, and programs that are also worth activating.