New Windows Defender Alert Is Worrying Windows 10 Users

On the 29th of July 2015, Windows unrolled its most advanced mainstream operating system that has been used ever since on most advanced modern laptops and some tablets. Windows 10 is the most secure operating system this tech giant has ever developed because it automatically updates itself, ensuring that the computer has the latest protection. 

Although this operating system seems to have a foolproof security system, some users have identified the need to use a reliable third-party antivirus for Windows. Why do some Windows 10 users feel this way? It is because of the new Windows Defender alert that raises much concern. What is causing this alert and how can users protect themselves:

What is causing this alert?

The alert that is concerning Windows 10 users can be considered to be the “Achilles heel” of this operating system. That is because this system is very advanced and strong but this weakness can make it very vulnerable. You may be wondering why the operating system has suddenly developed such a critical weakness. 

The reason why Windows 10 is facing these security concerns and scrutiny from users originates from a bug in the code of the Defender feature. The bug is suspected to have affected the 4.18.2003 version of Windows Defender but more recent updates may also have this issue. 

Joe Cohen works as a technical writer for a college paper writing service and works on custom papers in the science and technology niche. According to him, when scanning, this security feature skips a file without indicating which one was not scanned. There is a silver lining to this story because Windows acknowledged that they have recognized the problem and working towards fixing it.

Therefore, soon enough, there should be a permanent solution to this problem but in the meantime, do what you can do to protect your device.

Being secure online can prevent scaled cyberattacks

The majority of cyberattacks originate online because that is where devices are most vulnerable, especially amongst unsuspecting users. There are a variety of attacks that can be launched by hackers online, threatening the security of your laptop. For example, you can download a file with keylogging Trojan or other malicious software that can threaten the Windows 10 device you're using.

Downloading a file with that malware can be disastrous when the software responsible for scanning suspicious files for you is unreliable. That stresses the importance of implementing strong online security protocols to be the first line of defense.

Using an online security software can help prevent entering untrustworthy sites or downloading files that are not from trusted sources. 

Before downloading any file, the software will try to vet it and determine whether it is safe to download and open. Implementing such software will help you not rely solely on Windows Defender that may be compromised, leaving room for cyber attackers to gain access to privileged information.

Scan the computer yourself manually

Windows 10 has advanced security protocols that include scanning files automatically in the background without any human intervention. That is a great feature because it is designed to ensure that malware does not affect the computer. Although that is true, you might rightfully take issue with trusting their Windows Defender feature. 

Therefore, just like other users of this operating system, you should periodically run a manual scan. Doing so turns over full operational control to you, which means the responsibility of overseeing the scan will be upon yourself. If there is a file that was skipped, you will be notified and the best that anyone can do in that situation is running a secondary scan. 

Another IT essay paper writer says that a secondary scan can be conducted with trusted third-party security software. If Windows Defender did not skip any file, that means everything is good and a secondary scan is not necessary. You can periodically set aside time to do this, maybe every two weeks.

Do not take shortcuts when scanning 

There are different types of scans that you can choose from with Windows defender and they are:

• Quick Scan
• Full Scan 
• Custom Scan
• Offline Scan

Each type of scan has its own advantages and disadvantages involving the time it takes to complete or its integrity. You have to choose what is more important, the time the scan takes to complete, or its comprehensiveness. The most recommended scan is the Full Scan because it has more benefits that are worthwhile.  

The Full Scan is very comprehensive and scans every file and leaves no stone unturned. You should expect one downside to this scan as it takes a lot of time. Depending on the number of your files, it can take from 1 hour to several hours.

The quick scan is not that comprehensive and can leave a lot of vulnerabilities unaddressed. So does the custom scan that only checks where it has been specifically pointed at and nowhere else.

Personalize the security settings

A great feature of Windows 10 is that you can also personalize the security settings to a certain level. Although the operating system has its own default settings, there are some that you should change to suit your needs better. That gives a sense of control over your security settings that are protecting the device you use on a daily basis. 

There are a variety of settings you can choose from but focus on the Virus & Threat Protection section. You will receive a lot of options to choose from that can be altered and adjusted to suit the needs of each individual user. 

You can navigate to the Update & Security subsection and check on the firewall settings as well as how network security has been configured. Another setting you should check is the App & Browser control and Device Security configurations. Audit these sections to see if they suit your needs and if they need to be changed or reconfigured.

Keeping a close eye on Windows Security real-time protection

Windows 10 offers another great security feature called Windows Security real-time protection. The feature protects your device in real-time from malicious software by continually conducting scans and identifying suspicious files. Windows Security real-time protection should always be enabled because when disabled, the computer has no defense against malware. 

The feature should always be enabled by default but sometimes strange things happen and it might be disabled. To avoid using your computer without any level of security, constantly check up on whether this feature is enabled or not. 

When you see that the real-time protection feature is disabled, immediately enable it again. It only takes a few seconds for cyberattackers to launch a scaled attack against you. 

Checking up on Windows Security real-time protection status is very important if you have ever disabled it temporarily for whatever reason. Doing so will help you improve the security of the devices you’re using and might offer some defense against cyberattacks that might result from the concerning Windows Defender alert.

Final thoughts

Although Windows 10 users are very concerned about the Defender alert that comes after scanning files that say one file was skipped, there are precautionary measures to take. You can implement various security protocols that will keep your device secure, for instance, conducting periodical manual scans. Also, customizing security to meet the personal needs you encounter can help improve your cybersecurity.

Author Bio:

Michael Gorman ranks among the best dissertation writers and editors and is currently working with the best dissertation writing service in the UK. He works part-time for Write my research paper as well and his work mainly revolves around thesis and dissertation writing. Students around the globe love his work and that makes him a very popular writer.