You're working on your Windows PC and suddenly you receive an alert from your antivirus informing you that a virus has been detected 😱. What should you do next? We'll tell you.

Viruses target Windows

Ever since computers came into existence, viruses have been created to exploit vulnerabilities in operating systems and make our lives more complicated. There are many “ethical hackers” who work with network and security teams to identify and reinforce their respective environments, but in this article we will talk about those annoying — and sometimes very dangerous — viruses that can infect your PC and put your personal information at risk or even cause your computer to crash.

Windows viruses have been around almost since the very launch of Windows. Whether these viruses targeted Outlook, Word, or the entire operating system, they have been a nuisance from the very beginning.

An Integrated Security Solution

Microsoft created Windows Security for ordinary users with the goal of offering an antivirus solution that consumes less system resources, provides a ton of features only found in some third-party antiviruses, and all for free! 🎉

Since the launch of Windows 8, Microsoft Security has been available for both consumers and businesses, and comes pre-installed on all modern Windows devices.

Windows Security Detected a Virus

Now that we've covered the basics, let's get down to business: what should you do if you receive a notification that a virus has been found on your PC? 💻⚠️

Option 1: Follow the Windows Security Default Recommendation.

Open Windows Security by pressing the Windows key or by clicking the Start menu and typing Windows Security, then select the “Windows Security” app from the Top Results. Once the app opens, you will find the type of virus that Windows Security has detected in the Virus & Threat Protection section. Click the “Start Actions” button to begin the repair process.

When threats are detected, first click the “Virus & Threat Protection” section, then click “Start Actions.” After Windows Security finishes scanning, you’ll get a message telling you if a threat was found. If Windows Security doesn’t find anything, you’re probably safe. However, if it finds malware, it will guide you through the steps to remove it.

Option 2: Manually Run an Advanced Scan.

Run an advanced scan by clicking “Scan Options” under the Start Actions button. A menu will open asking you to select what type of scan you would like to perform. Scan depth is listed in ascending order from least invasive to most, so if the problem you are experiencing is affecting your PC, running a “Microsoft Defender Offline Scan” is probably your best option. To perform this scan, select the “Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan)” radio button, then click the “Scan now” button to begin the process.

If a virus or other form of malware is detected, Windows Security will do its best to remove it automatically 🔍.

However, there are a few more things you should do whenever Windows Security detects malware, regardless of whether it was successfully removed or not.

Additional Steps You Can Try

In case Windows Security doesn't resolve the issue, or if you want to be more cautious, other available options include:

• Always Check Task Manager for resource-intensive processes.
• Consider using third-party scanning tools to determine if the files in question are viruses or malware, and to ensure that none are left on your system. Malwarebytes is a great option for this.

If those two steps fail and you can't remove the malware, or you want to be completely sure your system is clean, you can reset your PC to remove everything. You can also choose to keep your files, but you'll need to make sure you remove whatever installed the malware originally, otherwise you'll be opening yourself up to reinfection. 🔒

I hope you never face the dreaded “virus found” message and I encourage you to always check what you are downloading and the source it comes from. Now that Windows has the Microsoft Store In Windows 10 and Windows 11, it is much easier for ordinary users to avoid those terrible viruses than in previous years.

Others Security articles.

More about computer viruses.