{"id":206,"date":"2026-02-22T03:30:22","date_gmt":"2026-02-22T03:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/learnyourpc.com\/?p=206"},"modified":"2026-02-22T03:30:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T03:30:22","slug":"checking-for-viruses-in-windows-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/learnyourpc.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/22\/checking-for-viruses-in-windows-11\/","title":{"rendered":"Checking for Viruses in Windows 11"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>(Step-by-Step Instructions for Seniors)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udee1 What Is a Virus?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A virus is harmful software that can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Slow down your computer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Steal personal information<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Display unwanted pop-ups<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Damage files<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The good news:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Windows 11 includes built-in protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You usually do not need to buy extra antivirus software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udfe6 Windows Security (Built-In Protection)<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Windows 11 comes with <strong>Windows Security<\/strong> (also called Microsoft Defender).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It runs quietly in the background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It protects your computer automatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udfe6 How to Check Your Virus Protection<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Click <strong>Start<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Type <strong>Windows Security<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Click it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Click <strong>Virus &amp; threat protection<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You will see:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Protection status<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Last scan time<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Any current threats<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If it says \u201cNo current threats,\u201d you are protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udfe6 How to Run a Quick Scan<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want to check manually:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Open <strong>Windows Security<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Click <strong>Virus &amp; threat protection<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Click <strong>Quick scan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wait for it to finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This may take a few minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udfe6 When Should You Run a Scan?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Run a scan if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You clicked something suspicious<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You see unusual pop-ups<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your computer feels unusually slow<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Otherwise, automatic scans usually handle things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u26a0 Important Safety Tips<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Never:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Download antivirus from pop-up warnings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Call phone numbers from virus alerts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pay for \u201cemergency virus removal\u201d from strangers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If a pop-up says your computer is infected and gives a phone number \u2014 it is a scam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Close the browser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Restart your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udd04 Keep Windows Updated<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Updates improve virus protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Make sure Windows Updates are turned on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udca1 Confidence Tip for Seniors<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your computer already has protection built in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You do not need multiple antivirus programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Too many can slow your computer down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep it simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trust Windows Security.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Step-by-Step Instructions for Seniors) \ud83d\udee1 What Is a Virus? A virus is harmful software that can: The good news: Windows 11 includes built-in protection. You usually do not need to buy extra antivirus software. \ud83d\udfe6 Windows Security (Built-In Protection) Windows 11 comes with Windows Security (also called Microsoft Defender). It runs quietly in the background. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lessons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/learnyourpc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/206","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/learnyourpc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/learnyourpc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/learnyourpc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/learnyourpc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=206"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/learnyourpc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/206\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":207,"href":"https:\/\/learnyourpc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/206\/revisions\/207"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/learnyourpc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=206"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/learnyourpc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=206"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/learnyourpc.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}