{"id":191747,"date":"2022-05-25T03:57:53","date_gmt":"2022-05-25T01:57:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/en\/?p=191747"},"modified":"2025-07-01T20:43:41","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T03:43:41","slug":"ways-to-manage-security-windows-defender","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/ways-to-manage-security-windows-defender\/","title":{"rendered":"5 ways to manage your security with Windows Defender"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Windows Defender is Windows\u2019 built-in protection<\/strong> against viruses<\/strong>, malware<\/strong>, and other cyber attacks <\/strong>on your PC or laptop. In 2020, it was renamed Microsoft Defender<\/strong> in updates to most Windows versions.<\/p>\n\n\n

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By default, Defender starts whenever you run Windows and silently checks for suspicious activity in real-time, taking action when necessary. The app comes with plenty of customization options<\/strong> that you can use in case of specific attacks, conflicts, crashes, or other situations. Here are five of the most useful settings you can customize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enable or disable Windows Defender<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can turn Windows Defender on or off<\/strong> whenever you need to. This can come in handy if you want to disable its antivirus to install a program, play a game without an automatic scan slowing down your system, or troubleshoot a false positive for an app you know is safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find Windows Defender\u2019s main menu by clicking on your Start menu and going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security<\/em>. In the Windows Security window, click on Virus & threat protection<\/em> in the sidebar on the left. Scroll down until you see the heading labeled Virus & threat protection settings<\/em>, and click on Manage settings<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toggle the On\/Off<\/em> button under the Real-time protection<\/em> heading to activate your protection if Windows Defender is turned off<\/strong> or deactivate it if its already running. Unless you have a separate antivirus program installed, this button will automatically reset<\/strong> to the On<\/em> position the next time you reboot your device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Exclude specific files, folders, or extensions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Windows Defender also lets you exclude individual files, folders, or file types from being scanned so you can troubleshoot without turning off all your protection<\/strong>. Here\u2019s how to whitelist a file, folder, extension, or process if you\u2019re sure it comes from a trusted source with no harmful embedded scripts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the same Manage settings<\/em> section of the Virus & threat protection<\/em> window mentioned above, scroll down until you see the Exclusions<\/em> section. Click Add an exclusion<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click on the type of item you want to exclude and Defender will open a file explorer so you can select the individual item:<\/p>\n\n\n\n