How many times have you been looking for apps to stop hackers? Use software designed to stop cyber attacks It's a great option, but it's not the only one! If you're using Windows 10 or planning to upgrade to Windows 11, there are built-in features that can be very useful.

These operating systems from the Redmond tech giant offer some very useful features that will help you fight any type of virus, and the best part is you don't need to install any additional apps! 🚀

Since these tools are part of the native Microsoft operating system, You won't find them on Linux or macOS, at least not in the same way. So, without further ado, activating this anti-malware feature is very easy if you follow the steps below.

How to enable network protection in Windows

The Network Protection It is one of the main features of the entire operating system, as it allows you to set a barrier on the websites you visit daily and the files you download. 🔒

This function is Available only on Pro or Enterprise versions of Windows 10 and 11; the home versions don't include it. It's also only activated if Microsoft Defender is running. 🛡️

However, in many cases it may be disabled, so you will have to activate it following some steps that include specific commands. These commands are executed from Windows PowerShell as Administrator.

Simply right-click on the Windows icon and select the option mentioned above. When the console opens, use the code “Get-MpPreference | Select-Object EnableNetworkProtection” to check the status of the Network Protection.

If you see a “1”, it means that it is already active, but if a appears “0”, you will have to enable it with the command “Set-MpPreference -EnableNetworkProtection Enabled”. In case you need to disable it again, just use “Set-MpPreference -EnableNetworkProtection Disabled”.

It's that easy to manage the states of the Protection from Red to ensure it works all the time and that you're not affected by the most dangerous malware while browsing the internet. 💻

Generally, This feature is usually disabled, so you've probably wasted a lot of time without being able to enjoy its traffic filtering security benefits. However, you also need to adjust certain parameters to take full advantage of its benefits. 🌐

Learn how to configure network protection to prevent malware.

It doesn't end with just enabling the feature, you can also use the Group Policy Editor Windows to configure different options. To open it, search the menu and execute the command “gpedit”.

Once opened, head to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Microsoft Defender Antivirus > Threat Protection > Network Protection, following the folder structure.

At this point, ignore “This setting controls whether network protection is allowed to be set to lockdown or audit mode on Windows Server.” and double-click on “Prevent users and applications from accessing dangerous websites” to select Enable.

This will increase security, and you can also customize the type of protection you will receive from the dashboard. Options. Here you will see several states and you can choose between Disable, Block either Audit Mode. It is recommended to select Block because it focuses on avoiding malicious websites.

After making all these settings, press the button Apply and then Accept. All changes should be saved, and Now you will have an extra layer of virtual defense to protect you from dangerous malware.

It is important to note that enabling and configuring the Network Protection This could cause some programs to not work properly, as it is a fairly strict modeIf this gives you problems, consider using the Audit Mode to avoid unnecessary blockages.

And so, with all these steps, you'll be able to enable the security that's disabled by default on Microsoft operating systems. It's undoubtedly a great way to prevent cyberattacks, especially if you spend a lot of time browsing. 🌍✨