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Help with Security
Steps for Removing Spyware, Trojans, and other Malware

Step 2: Run Windows Defender

Windows Defender is a good free utility that you can open anytime you want and use to scan for malware on your computer and to remove any malware found.

Windows Defender also offers optional real-time protection.

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Where to Download
How to Run Windows Defender
How to Turn Real-time Protection On or Off
Support


Where to Download

Windows Defender
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx
(Windows 2003 Server SP 1 or later, XP SP 2 or later, Vista)    Back to menu


How to Run Windows Defender

To run Windows Defender do the following:

  1. Open Windows Defender;

  2. At least once after installing Windows Defender, manually update the definitions by doing the following (this may also be advisable to do before each scan with Windows Defender):

    1. Click on Tools;

    2. Click on the Windows Defender website link;

    3. Scroll down a little to where you see, in the right column of the page, Latest updates;

    4. Click on Latest updates;

    5. Click on 32 bit Definitions (unless you know with certainty that your computer is running a 64-bit version of Windows, in which case follow the 64-bit instructions [how to determine whether a computer is running a 32-bit version or 64-bit version of the Windows operating system]);

    6. If you're asked whether you want to run or save the file, click on the Run button and then, when you're asked if you want to run the software, click on the Run button; if you have only the option to save the file, click on the Save button to save the definitions file on your computer, and then click on that saved file to install the definitions.

    7. Close any Windows Defender web site pages that may be open;

  3. After manually updating the definitions, to receive occasional automatic prompts to use a simple Check for Updates Now button, do the following:

    1. Click on Tools;

    2. Click on Options;

    3. Under Real-time protection options, under Choose when the Windows Defender icon appears in the notification area, select Always;

    4. Now the Windows Defender icon will appear in the notification area (system tray, next to the clock on your monitor screen), and occasionally, the Windows Defender icon in the system tray will change in appearance. When it does, click on it and then click on the Check for Updates Now button (note: this Check for Updates Now button will be present only when the system tray icon changes).

  4. Click on the little down arrow to the right of Scan (at the top of the Windows Defender Window);

  5. Click on Custom Scan;

  6. Select Scan selected drives and folders;

  7. Click on the Select button;

  8. Put a checkmark in the box next to the C drive;

  9. Put a checkmark in the box next to the D drive;

  10. Click on the OK button;

  11. Click on the Scan Now button;

  12. Be patient while the scan completes;

  13. When the Time elapsed area (under Scan statistics) stops showing seconds ticking up, the scan is completed;

  14. Open Windows Defender;

  15. Click on Tools;

  16. Click on Quarantined items;

  17. If you're not sure whether you should permanently remove certain quarantined items, just leave them in quarantine until you can find out about them.

  18. Select an item on which you want to take action, and click on Remove or Restore. If you want to remove all quarantined items from your computer, click on Remove All.    Back to menu


How to Turn Real-time Protection On or Off

To Turn Windows Defender Real-time Protection on or off, do the following:

  1. Open Windows Defender;

  2. Click on Tools;

  3. Click on the Options link;

  4. In the Options dialogue box, in the Real-time protection options area, checkmark or uncheck the box next to Use real-time protection (recommended);

  5. You can leave all of the other default selections in the Real-time protection options area;

  6. In the Automatic scanning area, make any selections that you want to make regarding automatic scanning;

  7. Click on the Save button;

  8. Close Windows Defender by clicking on the X in the upper-right corner.    Back to menu


Support

Windows Defender Guide
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/aa905112.aspx    Back to menu


Related Pages
Help with Security
Steps for Removing Spyware, Trojans, and other Malware

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