How to Clean Windows With Windows Defender
Windows Defender is a powerful, free tool that you can use to remove adware and spyware from your computer. It can find unwanted programs that have been installed without your knowledge or consent, and help you to remove the threats from your hard drive. This software is sometimes installed along with other software programs you installed from disk. Other unwanted software can get on your computer when you visit a website or download a file. Windows Defender identifies the severity of the threats that are installed on your computer and provides advice about what actions to take.
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Instructions
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Run a full scan with Windows Defender. To do this, select "Full Scan" from the drop-down Scan menu in the toolbar. Then find something else to do, as the full scan can take a long time to complete.
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Click "Review items detected by scanning" when the scan is finished. Examine the alert level, category, description, advice and resources provided in the scan results.
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Check the path of the offending files to see what program it is related to. Some programs that Windows Defender identifies as a serious risk are installed as parts of programs that you may wish to continue running. Examples include adware that is include with WildTangent Game Channel and Backweb, which runs underneath WeatherBug. If you wish to continue using the program that uses the file which Defender identifies as a risk, select "Ignore" or "Always Allow" from the drop-down list. Click "Apply Actions."
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Select "Remove" or "Quarantine" if the identified file is not something you installed yourself. Select "Apply Actions." Alternatively, you can click "Remove All" at the bottom of the screen.
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Ensure that Windows Defender remains up to date by keeping Windows Update enabled. Click "Start," "Control Panel," "Performance and Maintenance" and "System." Select the "Automatic Updates" tab. Click the radio button beside "Automatic." Select the date and time to download and install updates.
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Set up Windows Defender to automatically scan your hard drive for threats. Click "Tools" and "Options." Click the check box next to "Automatically scan my computer. Set the frequency, time and type of scan. Select the check box beside "Check for updated definitions before scanning." Also click the check box beside "Use real time protection."
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Tips & Warnings
You must have a valid copy of Windows to use Windows Defender. For Windows Defender to function optimally, your definitions must be up to date. You can also use Software Explorer in the Tools menu to see what software you have installed on your computer. Check the "Classification" details to see if the program has been analyzed for potential risks. If the software doesn't function as expected, visit Windows Defender Support.
