Identify Threats With Windows Security

Windows Security is an application integrated with the Windows operating system on PC devices. This application, among various things, provides users of Windows PC devices with a plethora of security controls that can increase a PC's resiliency against malicious threats (i.e. malware, ransomware, viruses, etc.) by conducting scans that identify viruses and malware along with establishing network and Firewall rules to control external user access to a network. 


The following steps will walk you through how to use this application to conduct system scans in order to determine if your device has been compromised:


Step #1: Open Windows Security 

To locate the application, click on the Window's icon in the bottom left corner and type into the search bar "Windows Security." 

Step #2: Access the Virus & Threat Protection Setting

1. Once the application has been opened scroll to the left side of the home screen and click on the "Virus & threat protection" setting.

2.  After clicking on the "Virus & threat protection" setting, you will then be taken to the setting's homepage where you will see in the center of the page the "Quick Scan" button that will allow you to run a scan of your computer to identify any harmful files or programs (i.e. malware and viruses).

Step #3: Initiate Quick Scan

1. Clicking on the "Quick Scan" button will initiate the scan of your computer.  

2. The length of the scan itself is contingent upon the number of files you have stored locally on your system.

3. Once the scan is complete, you will be informed by the application how many files on your system were scanned and whether any threats had been identified.

Modifying Scan Settings:

The steps above walked you through the process of conducting a quick scan of your device which only looks for potential threats within the folders of your system where viruses and malware are commonly stored in.  However, if you wish to conduct an alternative type of scan (i.e. full system scan, offline scan, or a custom scan), clicking on "Scan options" will show a list of alternative scans you can conduct instead of a quick scan.