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Table of Contents for Windows Defender
Windows Defender
Windows Defender is a built-in antivirus and security software that comes with Windows 10 and 11. It is a comprehensive security solution that helps protect your computer from viruses, malware, spyware and other online threats.
You can find Windows Update in the Update & Security tab of the Settings menu (Start > Settings > Update & Security), along with the Windows Defender, Backup, Recovery, Activation, and Developer Options sections. If you want to become a Windows 10 Insider, there is also a section for that.
Windows Defender is a built-in antivirus and security software that comes with Windows 10 and 11. It is a comprehensive security solution that helps protect your computer from viruses, malware, spyware, and other online threats.
(Start > Settings > Update & Security)
Windows Defender includes a number of features to help protect your computer, such as:
- Real-time protection: Windows Defender scans your computer for threats in real time, and removes any threats it finds.
- Cloud-based protection: Windows Defender uses cloud-based intelligence to identify and remove new threats as they are discovered.
- Tamper protection: Windows Defender protects itself from being disabled or tampered with by malware.
- SmartScreen Filter: Windows Defender SmartScreen helps protect you from phishing attacks and malicious websites.
Windows Defender is a powerful and effective security solution that can help protect your computer from a wide range of online threats. It is recommended that you keep Windows Defender enabled and up-to-date to ensure that your computer is fully protected.
Windows update
The Windows Update section is where you'll find (almost) everything you need to manage your Windows 10 updates. You don't need to visit this section to manually download or install updates -- Windows 10 does it all automatically -- but you can check your update history here. , can change active hours, choose to schedule your restart for a specific time, and choose how your updates are installed.
In this section, you can also turn off Windows 10's peer-to-peer update system, which allows your PC to download updates from an online network of strangers' Windows 10 PCs. For more information on how to do this, check out our guide.
Windows Defender also has a section in the Update and Security tab, although it is not excluded from the Control Panel like Windows Update. In this section, you can toggle various Windows Defender options, including real-time protection, cloud-based protection, and automatic sample submission. You can add exclusions, or even add files and programs that will be excluded from any security scan, by clicking Add an Exclusion.
Backup
In the Backup section you can set your backup settings: Add an external drive for backup, or click More options to see Advanced settings (this will take you to the File History window in the Control Panel). If you created a backup using Windows 7's Backup and Restore tool, you can recover your backup by clicking Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7), which will also take you to the Control Panel.
The Recovery section offers three options to help you fix your computer if something goes awry.
Resetting this PC allows you to reinstall Windows without losing any of your files (though we still strongly suggest you backup your files before performing this fix).
Go back to an earlier build and uninstall the most recent Windows 10 update to your PC. There's a time limit on this option: You can only go back to an earlier build within 10 days of updating. If you've recently upgraded from an older version of Windows to Windows 10, you have 30 days to roll back to your previous operating system.
Advanced startup restarts your PC so you can restore Windows from a system image, USB drive, or disc.
You can now activate Windows 10 using a Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 product key, which means you can do a clean installation of Windows 10 and still receive the free upgrade promised to older Windows users. To activate your copy of Windows 10, go to the Activation section and click the Change product key, or click Go to Store if you'd like to purchase a different edition of Windows.
The For Developers section is designed for developers -- people making apps and programs for Windows 10. That doesn't mean you won't use it, however. If you want to sideload apps, for example, you'll need to go into this section to turn that feature on.
The Windows Insider Program now has its own section in the Update & security tab. If you'd like to become a Windows Insider -- someone who receives new builds of Windows 10 before they're ready for the public -- you can opt in here. You can also choose how you want to receive insider builds -- in the fast ring or the slow ring.
Note: Being an Insider, especially an Insider on the fast ring, is more of a headache than a sweet sneak peek at new features. Microsoft makes no promises that your computer will work as advertised or even at all if you install Insider builds.
