Antivirus & Windows Security

See which protection is active

1. Open Start and search for Windows Security. Open it directly rather than following a pop-up’s link.
2. Review Virus & threat protection. Check the listed provider and any action needed.
3. Use the protection updates and scan controls appropriate to that provider. Save work before a restart or an offline scan.

Built-in and paid protection

Microsoft Defender Antivirus is included with Windows. Third-party products may supply their own active protection. Whether a paid package is worth it depends on its features, your needs, and how it behaves on your system—not a blanket percentage claim.

Malwarebytes is included in our Downloads Library as an additional option. Check the publisher’s current free/trial/paid features before installing. No security product guarantees that a risky download or stolen login cannot hurt you.

Avoid creating a protection gap

• Do not stack multiple real-time antivirus products without checking compatibility.
• If removing an old suite, follow its official removal instructions, restart when requested, and confirm your chosen protection is active afterward.
• Keep the operating system, browser, and apps updated. Keep separate backups and use strong, unique account credentials.
• A slow PC may be busy, short on resources, infected, or failing. Slowness alone does not identify a virus or a particular antivirus brand as the cause.

Treat fake alerts as untrusted

Do not call a number, pay, install a “cleaner,” or grant remote access because a web page says your PC is infected. Close the page and check protection independently. If someone already had remote access or you entered credentials, that requires a separate account and security response.