HP PCs - Using Windows Security to Prevent Virus and Spyware Problems (Windows 10)

note:

On some HP computers, Windows Security is already installed, enabled, and running automatically.

1. In Windows, search for and open Windows Security.

   note:

   If you get an error message that Windows Security is not protecting your computer and you are not able to open Windows Security, go to Unable to activate Windows Security in this document.

   
2. Check the message in the Virus & threat protection area.
   • If the shield icon displays a green circle with a checkmark and the message No actions needed, Windows Security is enabled.
   • If the shield icon displays a red circle with an x and the message Actions needed, click the shield icon, and then click Turn on.

• Quick scan: A quick scan checks the places on the hard disk drive that malware is most likely to infect.
• Full scan: A full scan checks all files on your hard disk drive and all currently running applications. If you suspect that malware has infected your computer, run a full scan. The scan might take over an hour to complete, and the computer might run slowly during the scan.
• Custom scan: A custom scan checks specific computer drives and files that you select.
• Windows Defender Offline scan: A Windows Defender Offline scan checks for rootkits or highly persistent malware on your computer. The scan might take 15 minutes to complete, and the computer restarts as part of the scan.

1. In Windows, search for and open Windows Security.
   
2. Click Virus & threat protection, and then select Quick scan or Scan options, depending on the kind of scan you want to run.
   • If you choose Quick scan, the scan begins.
   • If you choose Scan options, continue with these steps to run a full system scan, a custom scan, or a Windows Defender Offline scan.
   
3. Select Full scan, Custom scan, or Windows Defender Offline scan, and then click Scan now.
   • If you choose Full scan, the scan begins.
   • If you choose Custom scan, select the specific drives or folders to scan, and then click Select Folder.
     
   • If you choose Windows Defender Offline scan, save any open files, and then click Scan. If a User Account Control window opens, click Yes.
     

     note:

     The computer restarts when an offline scan completes.

     

1. In Windows, search for and open Windows Security, and then click Virus & threat protection .
2. Click Threat history.
   A list of current, quarantined, and allowed threats displays.

   note:

   To see a list of all threats Windows Security has ever identified for the device, click See full history.

  caution:

Excluding items from a scan might leave your computer vulnerable to the latest malware.

1. In Windows, search for and open Windows Security, and then click Virus & threat protection .
2. Under Virus & threat protection settings, click Manage settings.
3. In the Exclusions area, click Add or remove exclusions.
   
4. Click the plus sign + next to Add an exclusion, and then select File, Folder, File type, or Process from the drop-down menu.
   
5. Choose the files, folders, file type, or process to be excluded from the next scan.
   • If you selected File, select the files to be excluded, and then click Open. If a User Account Control window displays, click Yes.
   • If you selected Folder, select the folders to be excluded, and then click Select Folder. If a User Account Control window displays, click Yes.
   • If you selected File type, type the file type extension, such as .docx, to be excluded, and then click Add. If a User Account Control window displays, click Yes.
   • If you selected Process, type the process name, such as search, to be excluded, and then click Add. If a User Account Control window displays, click Yes.
6. If you want to remove an item from the exclusions list, select the item you want to remove, and then click Remove.
   

1. In Windows, search for and open Windows Security, and then click Virus & threat protection .
2. Under Virus & threat protection settings, click Manage settings.
3. In the Controlled folder access area, click Manage Controlled folder access.
   If the User Account Control window displays, click Yes.
   
4. In the Controlled folder access area, click the toggle button.
   
5. Click Protected folders or Allow an app through Controlled folder access, depending on how you want to protect your files and folders.
   • Protected folders: Choose the specific folders you want to protect. Many folders that come pre-loaded on Windows 10 are automatically protected.
     
   • Allow an app through Controlled folder access: Choose the applications that can access your files and folders.
     

note:

You can also remove malware using the Windows Uninstall option. Search for the software you suspect as malware, right-click the software name in the list of results, and then click Uninstall.

1. In Windows, search for and open Windows Security, and then click Virus & threat protection .
2. Under Virus & threat protection updates, click Check for updates.
   
3. Under Threat definitions, click Check for updates.
   Windows Security searches for updates and automatically installs any available updates.