How to Remove Threats Found by Windows Defender?

To remove threats found by Windows Defender, follow these steps:

1. Review the Threat Detection: After a scan, Windows Defender will display a list of detected threats. Carefully review this list to understand the nature and severity of each threat.

2. Choose an Action: For each threat, Windows Defender will suggest a recommended action (e.g., Remove, Quarantine, Allow). Here's what each action means:

   • Remove: This completely deletes the threat from your system. This is the recommended action for most malware.
   • Quarantine: This isolates the threat, preventing it from running or harming your system. Quarantined files can be restored later if needed, but this is generally not recommended unless you are certain the file is safe.
   • Allow: This excludes the threat from future scans. Use this option with extreme caution, only if you are absolutely sure the detected file is a false positive (i.e., incorrectly identified as a threat). Improper use can leave your system vulnerable.

3. Take Action: Select the desired action for each threat and click "Start actions" or a similar button to initiate the removal/quarantine process.

4. Run an Offline Scan (Recommended): For stubborn threats, a Microsoft Defender Antivirus Offline Scan can be more effective. Here's how to perform one:

   a. Open Windows Security. You can find it by searching for "Windows Security" in the Start menu.

   b. Click on Virus & threat protection.

   c. Under "Current threats," click Scan options. If you don't see "Scan options", click "Scan" first.

   d. Select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan), and then click Scan now.

   e. Your computer will restart and perform a scan outside of the normal Windows environment. This allows it to remove deeply embedded malware that might be difficult to eliminate while Windows is running.

5. Review Scan Results: After the offline scan completes and your computer restarts, review the scan results within Windows Security to ensure all detected threats have been successfully removed.

6. Keep Windows Defender Updated: Regularly update Windows Defender's virus and threat definitions to ensure it can detect the latest threats. Windows usually handles this automatically, but you can manually check for updates in the Virus & threat protection section of Windows Security.

7. Consider a Second Opinion (If Necessary): If you're still concerned about malware, consider running a scan with another reputable antivirus program as a second opinion. Many free and paid options are available.

Removing threats promptly and keeping your antivirus software up-to-date are crucial for maintaining the security of your computer.