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Stephen Harrison, M.Sc., CITP 🗓️ Updated ⏱️ — 📝 —

Microsoft Security Essentials Scanning Options

Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) is the 2nd of a 3-part tutorial series on Microsoft's Free Virus Removal Tool. Here we look at:

• What real-time protection is doing in the background


• The Quick, Full and Custom scan options available


• What to do if a virus is detected on your computer

If you do not use Microsoft's protection program, but are considering using it, take a look at part 1, the Microsoft Free Anti Virus tutorial.

Part 1 tells you about:

• The hardware requirements to run the program smoothly


• Things to consider before install MSE


• How to download and install Microsoft's Free Virus Protection program

If you already use MSE, take a look at part 3, the Microsoft Virus Protection tutorial.

Part 3 tells you about:

• How to configure Microsoft Free Virus Program (in my humble opinion) by looking at the setup options


• How you can quickly determine whether the definition files are updating and protecting your home computer

Scanning Options And Virus Detection Actions

Real-time protection should be switched ON at all times! If this isn't the case, turn it on, NOW!. Real-time protection monitors your computer all the time for potential threats.

Part 3 Microsoft Virus Protection shows you the real-time protection options available to you. I set up for maximum protection, including:

• Scan All Downloads. Although you may think the files and attachments you knowingly download over the web are safe, you can never be too careful


• Monitor All Files. Monitors files and programs that start running on your computer. It also aims to capture any malicious programs that start running on your computer without your knowledge


• Enable Behaviour Monitoring. New infections may not be immediately recognized by MSE, but their behaviour may be indicative of malicious activity. The virus protection program alerts you of this suspicious activity when this option is enabled


• Enable Network Inspection System. Protects against Zero-Day exploits by ensuring the virus definition files that protects against such vulnerabilities is applied to your computer ASAP

The Microsoft Virus Protection program offers 3 Scan options:

• Quick
• Full
• Manual

• Quick Scan: Scans key operating system and application files for any suspected files or file changes.
  
  The areas scanned are the most common areas targeted by malware. When you first install MSE, a quick scan is performed.

• As with all Scan Options, an alert is given if suspicious software is detected on your computer.

Security Essentials Virus Detection

• When any scan is in progress, the System tray icon depicts a CD spinning inside the blue castle.
  

• When the Scan is completed, click the red Clean Computer Button to remove the threat. You can also click the Show Details link to find out more about the threat.

Microsoft Security Essentials
Computer Status At Risk

• Details include the Virus Name, a Description of what the virus does and a Recommended Action to deal with the threat. Recommended actions include.
  
  Remove: Instruction to remove the offending program immediately
  
  Quarantine: Stops the suspect program from running until you decide whether to Allow or Remove. In Windows 7 the quarantined program file are located in.
  
  C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Microsoft Antimalware\Quarantine
  
  Allow: Allow a known program wrongly identified as a threat to continue running normally
  
  
• In the example below I choose Remove from the Recommended Action drop-down menu then click the Apply Actions Button.

Microsoft Security Essentials
Virus Removal Options

• After you click the Apply Actions Button, MSE begins the process of removing the infection.
  

• Once the threat is removed, you see a green message saying Your Actions Were Applied Successfully. Click the Close button.

Microsoft Security Essentials
Virus Removed Successfully

• To initiate another Quick Scan, click the Quick radio button then click the Scan Now button. If your computer is clear of any threats, you will see the following screen.
  

Microsoft Security Essentials
Quick Scan Complete

• Full Scan: Scans every single file, folder and program you have running on your computer. This is a thorough scan that can take some time to complete. 
  
  The time it takes depends on several factors including the capability of your computer hardware components and the number of hard drives, files and folders you have. 
  
  A Full Scan is selected in the same way as a Quick Scan.


• Custom Scan: Enables you to select specific Drives or Folders to scan. A full scan is then performed on your choices.

• When your choice of scan is completed and real-time protection is On, and the virus definitions are up-to-date, the system tray icon is green with a white tick in it.

• This is a convenient way for you to know that everything is OK. A red icon with a white cross tells you there is a problem, e.g. definition's file is out of date, or you have an infection.

• It is also worth noting that you can scan individual files and folders by Right-Clicking and selecting Scan With Microsoft Security Essentials... From the resulting menu.

Microsoft Security Essentials
Right Click Menu Option

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Microsoft Security Essentials Final Thoughts

The Microsoft Virus Protection tutorial is the final part of the Microsoft Security Essentials series. Take a look and review your setup!

It is important you keep the virus protection program up to date with the latest virus definition files.

If you prefer to update MSE manually rather than through Windows Updates take a look at this Lifehacker tutorial.

Finally, take a look at the Types of Malware page for further details and articles about this important subject.