Privacy and Security Open Windows Security in Windows 11


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Windows_Security_banner.png

This tutorial will show you different ways to open the Windows Security app in Windows 11.

Windows Security is built-in to Windows 11 and includes an antivirus program called Microsoft Defender Antivirus. Your device will be actively protected from the moment you start Windows 11. Windows Security continually scans for malware (malicious software), viruses, and security threats. In addition to this real-time protection, updates are downloaded automatically to help keep your device safe and protect it from threats.

Windows Security is your home to view and manage the security and health of your device.
  • Virus & threat protection - Monitor threats to your device, run scans, and get updates to help detect the latest threats. (Some of these options are unavailable if you're running Windows 10 in S mode.)
  • Account protection - Access sign-in options and account settings, including Windows Hello and dynamic lock.
  • Firewall & network protection - Manage firewall settings and monitor what’s happening with your networks and internet connections.
  • App & browser control - Update settings for Microsoft Defender SmartScreen to help protect your device against potentially dangerous apps, files, sites, and downloads. You'll have exploit protection and you can customize protection settings for your devices.
  • Device security - Review built-in security options to help protect your device from attacks by malicious software.
  • Device performance & health - View status info about your device’s performance health, and keep your device clean and up to date with the latest version of Windows 10.
  • Family options - Keep track of your kids’ online activity and the devices in your household.
  • Protection history - Where you can go to view actions that Microsoft Defender Antivirus has taken on your behalf, Potentially Unwanted Apps that have been removed, or key services that are turned off.
Reference:

If you have another antivirus app installed and turned on, Microsoft Defender Antivirus may turn off automatically. If you uninstall the other app, Microsoft Defender Antivirus will turn back on automatically.



Contents



EXAMPLE: Windows Security

Windows_Security.png





Option One

Open Windows Security from notification icon on taskbar


1 Click/tap on the Windows Security notification icon on the taskbar corner. (see screenshot below)

Windows_Security_notification_icon.png





Option Two

Open Windows Security from Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Privacy & security on the left side, and click/tap on Windows Security on the right side. (see screenshot below)


Windows_Security_Settings-1.png

3 Either click/tap on the Open Windows Security button at the top to open the Windows Security home page, or click/tap on one of the Protection areas to directly open to it in Windows Security. (see screenshot below)

Windows_Security_Settings-2.png

4 You can now close Settings if you like.




Option Three

Open Windows Security from Start menu


1 Open the Start menu, and click/tap on All apps. (see screenshot below)

Windows_Security_Start_menu-1.jpg

2 Either click/tap on Windows Security to open the Windows Security home page, or right click on Windows Security and click/tap on one of the Protection areas to directly open to it in Windows Security. (see screenshot below)

Windows_Security_Start_menu-2.jpg




Option Four

Open Windows Security from Search


1 Open Windows Search (Win+S). (see screenshot below)

2 Type Windows Security into the search box.

3 Either click/tap on Open to open the Windows Security home page, or click/tap on one of the Protection areas to directly open to it in Windows Security. (see screenshot below)

Windows_Security_search.jpg





Option Five

Open Windows Security from Command


1 Open Windows Terminal, and select Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell.

2 Copy and paste the command below for the Windows Security page you want to open into the terminal, and press Enter
Windows Security Page
Command
Homestart windowsdefender:
Virus & threat protectionstart windowsdefender://threat
Account protectionstart windowsdefender://account
Firewall & network protectionstart windowsdefender://network
App & browser controlstart windowsdefender://appbrowser
Device securitystart windowsdefender://devicesecurity
Device performance & healthstart windowsdefender://perfhealth
Family optionsstart windowsdefender://family
Protection historystart windowsdefender://history
Security providersstart windowsdefender://providers
Notificationsstart windowsdefender://settings

3 You can now close Windows Terminal if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

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Last edited:
Shawn,

I thought we had established fully on TenForums in several threads that Malwarebytes Premium and Defender cooperate fully, both running happily in real time, so long as the "Always register MWB in the Windows Security Center" switch is turned OFF.

My Windows 11 installations indicate that this is the case on 11 as well. There seem to be no conflicts, and there is lots of evidence that Defender is running in real time along with MWB Premium (in real time).

I know that Defender will not run with most other real-time AV programs, but it's my understanding that MWB has beaten that conflict, and I believe that MWB claims this on their site, though I don't have a citation right now.

Dan
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkCentre M920S SFF
    CPU
    i7-9700 @ 3.00GHz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo 3132
    Memory
    32GBDDR4 @ 2666MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 630 Graphics onboard
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG E2442
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 x Samsung 970 EVO PLUS 500GB NVMe SSD, 1 x WD_BLACK SN770
    250GB NVMe SSD (OS and programs), 1 x WD_BLACK SN770
    500GB NVMe SSD (Data)
    Case
    Lenovo SFF
    Keyboard
    Cherry Stream TKL JK-8600US-2 Wired
    Mouse
    LogiTech M510 wireless
    Internet Speed
    Fast (for fixed wireless!)
    Browser
    Chrome, sometimes Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes Premium & Defender (working together beautifully!)
  • Operating System
    11 Pro 23H2 22631.3374
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkCentre M920S SFF
    CPU
    i5-8400 @ 2.80GHz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo 3132
    Memory
    32GB DDR4 @ 2600MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel HD 630 Graphics onboard
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG FULL HD (1920x1080@59Hz)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 x Samsung 970 EVO PLUS NVMe; 1 x Samsung 980 NVMe SSD
    Case
    Lenovo Think Centre SFF
    Mouse
    LogiTech M510 wireless
    Keyboard
    Cherry Stream TKL JK-8600US-2 Wired
    Internet Speed
    Fast (for fixed wireless!)
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes Premium and MS Defender, beautiful together
Shawn,

I thought we had established fully on TenForums in several threads that Malwarebytes Premium and Defender cooperate fully, both running happily in real time, so long as the "Always register MWB in the Windows Security Center" switch is turned OFF.

My Windows 11 installations indicate that this is the case on 11 as well. There seem to be no conflicts, and there is lots of evidence that Defender is running in real time along with MWB Premium (in real time).

I know that Defender will not run with most other real-time AV programs, but it's my understanding that MWB has beaten that conflict, and I believe that MWB claims this on their site, though I don't have a citation right now.

Dan

Hello Dan, :)

Correct. As long as the 3rd party AV program is not set to register with the Windows Security Center, you will be able to also use Windows Defender. Otherwise, Windows Defender gets disabled and only the 3rd party AV program is used.

Malwarebytes doesn't register by default to allow both it and Windows Defender to be used.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium

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