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The virus and threat protection page of the Windows Security app is designed to help you safeguard your device against various threats such as viruses, malware, and ransomware. The page provides access to several features and settings to ensure comprehensive protection, and it's divided in the following sections:
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Current threats: This section displays any threats currently found on your device, the last time a scan was run, how long it took, and how many files were scanned. You can also start a new quick scan or choose from other scan options for a more extensive or custom scan
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Virus & threat protection settings: In this section you can manage settings for Microsoft Defender Antivirus and third-party antivirus products
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Virus & threat protection updates: This section is dedicated to ensuring that your device is protected with the latest security intelligence updates
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Ransomware protection: In this section you can configure Controlled folder access, which prevents unknown apps from changing files in protected folders. It also offers options to configure OneDrive to help you recover from a ransomware attack
In the Windows Security app on your PC,​​​​​​​ select Virus & threat protection, or use the following shortcut:
Current threats
Under Current threats you can:
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See any threats currently found on your device
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See the last time a scan was run on your device, how long it took, and how many files were scanned
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Start a new quick scan or go open Scan options to run a more extensive or custom scan
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See threats that have been quarantined before they can affect you and anything identified as a threat that you have allowed to run on your device
Virus & threat protection settings
Use Virus & threat protection settings when you want to customize your level of protection, send sample files to Microsoft, exclude trusted files and folders from repeated scanning, or temporarily turn off your protection.
In the Windows Security app on your PC, select Virus & threat protection > Manage settings or use the following shortcut:
Virus & threat protection updates
Security intelligence (sometimes referred to as definitions) are files that contain information about the latest threats that could infect your device. Windows Security uses security intelligence every time a scan is run.
Windows automatically downloads the latest security intelligence as part of Windows Update, but you can also manually check for it.
In the Windows Security app on your PC,​​​​​​​ select Virus & threat protection> Protection updates > Check for updates or use the following shortcut:
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Ransomware protection
The Ransomware protection page in Windows Security has settings for both protecting against ransomware, and recovering if you happen to get attacked.
In the Windows Security app on your PC,​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ select Virus & threat protection> Manage ransomware protection or use the following shortcut:
