How to Enable Windows Defender

Microsoft has always remained concerned regarding the security of their users’ system. They recognized constant growing threats of spyware. To protect the system against spyware, Microsoft launched Windows Defender, a few years back and it is now available from Windows XP onwards. Microsoft Corporation made some changes in the next versions of the Defender. It made Defender’s more enhanced versions that protect against malware, which are available in the Windows 8 and Windows 10.

People still need an antivirus to protect their system against any sort of unwanted program from infecting. Microsoft Corporation acknowledged the issue and provided an option to turn off the Windows Defender or else the two programs will generate conflict with each other resulting in the slow performance of the system. However, Windows Defender won’t enable itself if it is deactivated; the system remains an easy target to malware.

To check whether Windows defender is running or not you can look at the notification in the Taskbar. There is an icon resembling a Castle wall. In Windows 10, the icon looks like a Shield. Sometimes, the icon is hidden. In that scenario, you can look for the windows defender by clicking on the upward arrow. To check if the defender is running, the icon should not emerge with a cross (X) beside it. If the icon appears with a cross that means your system is at risk and you need to activate your Windows Defender protection.

Steps to turn on your Windows Defender

1.    Open the Start menu. Type “Defender” in the search box and Windows defender will appear.

2.    Click it to launch the program.

3.    If a message appears, “this application has been turned off and isn’t monitoring your computer,” click and open “Action Center” by searching it in Start Menu.

4.    Click on Security tab in the “Action Center,” to see which program is managing the “spyware and unwanted software protection.” If you want to enable Windows Defender, you need to uninstall existing anti-spyware software first.

5.    After you have uninstalled your existing anti-spyware, type “Defender” in the Start menu. Now click on the program to get a link saying “Click here to turn it on” if your defender is disabled.

6.    Click on the link to enable Windows Defender.

7.    If the computer is not protected, the system will take you to the Windows Defender dashboard. If you find your Defender out of date, then it should be updated immediately by clicking on the updates button and following the steps to install latest Defender updates.

8.    When the Defender is updated, a green bar will be shown indicating that the Defender is now ready to protect the computer.

Windows Defender provides a tool link and real-time protection in the left-hand pane. These are some more options through which you can scan your downloads and programs. Windows Defender is a worthy tool to get if the system does not have any anti-spyware.

John Smith is a Microsoft Office expert and has been working in the technical industry since 2002. As a technical expert, Samuel has written technical blogs, manuals, white papers, and reviews for many websites such as office.com/setup. 

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Created on Jul 26th 2018 11:40. Viewed 866 times.

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