What should you do if Windows Security detects a virus?

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

Since the advent of computers, viruses have been created to exploit vulnerabilities in operating systems and make our lives more complicated. There are many «ethical hackers» who collaborate with network teams and security 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.

Viruses for Windows They have existed almost since the very launch of Windows. Whether these viruses attacked Outlook, Word or the entire operating system, have been a nuisance from the 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 release 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 clicking the Start menu and typing Windows Security, then select the “Windows Security” app from the Top Results. Once the app opens, application, 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 scan. process repair.

When threats are detected, first click on the «Virus & Threat Protection» section, then click «Start Actions." After that, Windows Security finishes the scan, you will receive a message indicating whether a threat was found. If Windows If Security finds nothing, you are likely safe. However, if it detects malware, it will guide you through the steps to remove it.

Option 2: Manually Run an Advanced Scan.

Run a scan advanced by clicking on “Options” »Scan« under the Start Actions button. A menu will open asking you to select which type of scan you would like to perform. The depth of the scan is listed in ascending order, from the least invasive to the most, so if the problem you are experiencing is harming 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 start the process.

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

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

Additional Steps You Can Try

In case that Windows Security does not resolve the problem, 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 whether the files in question are viruses or malware, and to ensure nothing remains on your system. Malwarebytes is a great option for this.

If those two steps fail and you are unable to remove the malware, or you want to be completely sure that 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 have to face the dreaded «virus found» message, and I encourage you to always verify what you are downloading and the source it comes from. Now that Windows includes the Microsoft Store in Windows 10 and Windows 11, it is much easier for average users to avoid those terrible viruses than in previous years.

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