How To Scan Windows 11 For Virus

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Alright, let's dive deep into how you can thoroughly scan your Windows 11 system for viruses and other malicious software. It's a crucial habit to keep your digital life safe and sound!

Step 1: Initial Quick Scan with Windows Security - Your First Line of Defense

Ready to take the first step in securing your Windows 11 PC? Let's start with the built-in antivirus solution: Windows Security (formerly known as Windows Defender). It's already there, working quietly in the background, but let's make sure it's up to the task with a manual quick scan.

Accessing Windows Security

Open the Start Menu: Click on the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
Search for "Security": Type "security" into the search bar.
Select "Windows Security": Click on the "Windows Security" app in the search results. This will open the main interface of your built-in antivirus.

Performing a Quick Scan

Navigate to "Virus & threat protection": In the Windows Security window, click on the shield icon labeled "Virus & threat protection".
Look for the "Quick scan" button: You'll usually find this button right under the "Current threats" heading.
Click "Quick scan": This will initiate a scan of the most common locations where malware might reside on your system. It's a fast way to check for any immediate threats.
Review the results: Once the scan is complete, Windows Security will display any threats found. Follow the on-screen instructions to take appropriate action, such as quarantining or removing the malicious files.

Step 2: Running a Full Scan for a Deeper Check

While a quick scan is handy for routine checks, a full scan meticulously examines every file and folder on your hard drive. This takes longer but is more thorough in detecting deeply embedded malware.

Initiating a Full Scan

Re-open Windows Security: If you've closed it, go back to the Start Menu, search for "security," and open "Windows Security."
Go to "Virus & threat protection" again: Click on the shield icon.
Select "Scan options": Below the "Quick scan" button, you'll see a link that says "Scan options." Click on it.
Choose "Full scan": In the "Scan options" screen, select the radio button next to "Full scan." This option states that it "checks all files and running programs on your hard disk."
Click "Scan now": This will start the comprehensive scan of your entire system. Be patient, as this process can take a significant amount of time depending on the size of your hard drive and the number of files you have.
Examine the results: Once the full scan is finished, carefully review any detected threats and follow the recommended actions.

Step 3: Using the Microsoft Safety Scanner - An On-Demand Tool

The Microsoft Safety Scanner is a standalone, downloadable tool that provides another layer of security. It's designed to find and remove malware. Importantly, it expires 10 days after you download it, ensuring you're always using the latest definitions.

Downloading and Running the Microsoft Safety Scanner

Visit the official Microsoft website: Open your web browser and search for "Microsoft Safety Scanner download." Make sure you're downloading it from a legitimate Microsoft source.
Download the appropriate version: Choose the 64-bit or 32-bit version depending on your Windows 11 system architecture. If you're unsure, it's usually safe to download the 64-bit version on a modern Windows 11 PC.
Run the downloaded file: Once the download is complete, double-click the downloaded .exe file to run the Microsoft Safety Scanner.
Accept the license agreement: Follow the on-screen prompts and accept the license agreement.
Choose a scan type: You'll be presented with a few scan options:
- Quick scan: Similar to the Windows Security quick scan.
- Full scan: A thorough scan of your entire system.
- Customized scan: Allows you to select specific folders to scan. It's generally recommended to run a Full scan for the most comprehensive check.
Click "Next" to start the scan: The Microsoft Safety Scanner will now begin scanning your system for malware. This process can take a while.
Review the scan results: After the scan is complete, the tool will display any threats it found. Follow the instructions provided to remove or quarantine them.
Close the tool: Once you've dealt with any detected threats, you can close the Microsoft Safety Scanner. Remember that this tool doesn't provide ongoing protection; it's meant for on-demand scanning.

Step 4: Performing an Offline Scan with Windows Security - For Stubborn Threats

Sometimes, malware can be deeply integrated into your system and might be difficult to remove while Windows is running normally. An offline scan restarts your computer into a special environment to perform the scan, potentially catching threats that are active during regular operation.

Initiating an Offline Scan

Open Windows Security: Go to the Start Menu, search for "security," and open "Windows Security."
Navigate to "Virus & threat protection": Click on the shield icon.
Click "Scan options": Below the "Quick scan" button, select "Scan options."
Choose "Microsoft Defender Offline scan": In the "Scan options" screen, select the radio button next to "Microsoft Defender Offline scan" and click "Scan now."
Save your work and allow the restart: You'll be prompted to save any open files as your computer will restart to perform the offline scan. Click "Scan" to proceed.
Wait for the scan to complete: Your computer will restart and boot into the offline scanning environment. Windows Defender will then perform a scan of your system drive. This process may take some time.
Review the results after restart: Once the offline scan is complete, your computer will restart back into Windows. Windows Security will then display the results of the offline scan. Follow the on-screen instructions to address any detected threats.

Step 5: Keeping Your Antivirus Updated - Essential for Ongoing Protection

Regardless of which scan method you use, it's absolutely crucial to ensure that your antivirus software, especially Windows Security, is always up to date with the latest virus definitions. These definitions contain information about the newest threats, allowing your antivirus to effectively detect and remove them.

Ensuring Updated Definitions

Open Windows Security: Go to the Start Menu, search for "security," and open "Windows Security."
Navigate to "Virus & threat protection": Click on the shield icon.
Look for "Virus & threat protection updates": Under the "Virus & threat protection settings" section, you'll find "Virus & threat protection updates." Click on it.
Check for updates: In the "Virus & threat protection updates" screen, you'll see information about when the definitions were last updated. Click the "Check for updates" button. Windows will automatically download and install any available updates.
Keep automatic updates enabled: By default, Windows Security should have automatic updates enabled. It's highly recommended to leave this setting as is to ensure continuous protection without manual intervention.

How to... Frequently Asked Questions

How to schedule regular scans in Windows 11?

Quick Answer: Open Task Scheduler, create a basic task, set the trigger to your desired schedule, and for the action, use the program MpCmdRun.exe with the argument -Scan -ScanType 2 for a full scan or -Scan -ScanType 1 for a quick scan.

How to check which antivirus software is running on Windows 11?

Quick Answer: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), go to the "Startup apps" or "Processes" tab, and look for any antivirus-related processes or applications. You can also check the Windows Security app under "Virus & threat protection."

How to update Windows Security manually?

Quick Answer: Open Windows Security, go to "Virus & threat protection," then click on "Virus & threat protection updates," and finally click "Check for updates."

How to exclude specific files or folders from Windows Security scans?

Quick Answer: Open Windows Security, go to "Virus & threat protection," under "Virus & threat protection settings," click "Manage settings," scroll down to "Exclusions," click "Add or remove exclusions," and then add the desired files or folders. Use this cautiously.

How to interpret the results of a virus scan in Windows 11?

Quick Answer: Windows Security will display the names of any threats found and recommend actions like "Quarantine" or "Remove." Follow the on-screen instructions carefully. If you're unsure, you can search online for information about the specific threat.

How to submit a suspicious file to Microsoft for analysis?

Quick Answer: Visit the Microsoft Security Intelligence website, find the section for submitting samples, and follow the instructions to upload the suspicious file.

How to restore a file that was quarantined by Windows Security?

Quick Answer: Open Windows Security, go to "Virus & threat protection," under "Current threats," look for "Quarantined threats," select the file you want to restore, and click "Restore."

How to use third-party antivirus software with Windows 11?

Quick Answer: Install the third-party antivirus software. Windows Security will usually disable itself automatically to avoid conflicts. Ensure your third-party software is always updated.

How to check the scan history in Windows Security?

Quick Answer: Open Windows Security, go to "Virus & threat protection," and click on "Protection history" to see a log of past scans and detected threats.

How to disable real-time protection in Windows Security temporarily?

Quick Answer: Open Windows Security, go to "Virus & threat protection," under "Virus & threat protection settings," click "Manage settings," and toggle the "Real-time protection" switch to "Off." Remember to turn it back on as soon as you're done.

Staying vigilant and regularly scanning your Windows 11 system using these methods will significantly enhance your protection against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats. Keep your software updated and stay safe!

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