Setting Up Defender on new Win 10 Pro laptop

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Hello,

I am expecting my new Lenovo Thinkpad 13L Win 10 Pro laptop to be delivered today and have a question about setting up Windows Defender. I haven’t ever actually used it before, but decided to use it on this new laptop instead of Norton or ESET, or one of those separate programs. I ordered it without any additional AV except for Defender.

Are there certain settings that I’d need to adjust to be sure that is working properly? Can those settings be set before going online with it – I have a list of things to do before allowing it to go online, but wanted to get things set up as much as I can ahead of that so that it all is working properly.

And, will Windows Defender scan email in a third party program like Thunderbird?

Thanks!

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opti1

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Nothing special. Just let it run. If you have any special folders you want Defender to ignore you can add exclusions.

Since no product is 100% accurate, I recommend downloading Malwarebytes free version and periodically scanning your PC for a second opinion. You get to choose how frequently you run it.

--Joe

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Coldheart9020, LHiggins

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Thanks! I’ll check into that. I do have Malwarebytes Anti Exploit on both of my laptops now – is that something I should consider also?

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Microsoft Defender does not automatically scan either email attachments or links in emails for possible viruses.  If your new Thinkpad has no pre-installed AV program other than Defender, then Defender should be up and running when you start using your new laptop.  (Look for Defender blue shield icon among your hidden task-bar icons.)  When you right-click on a file in File Explorer, you will have an option to Scan with Microsoft Defender.  You can do that for an email attachment.  In MS Outlook you need to save the attachment before Defender can scan.  I don’t know if it’s possible to scan without saving in Thunderbird.

Wishing you an easy launch and good satisfaction with your new Thinkpad.

 

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LHiggins

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Thanks Paul! I appreciate the information. I’m not sure email scanning is as “important” as it once was – but being able to scan individual attachments with Defender is good to know. I’ll have to check more into how it might work with TB.

Paul wrote:

Wishing you an easy launch and good satisfaction with your new Thinkpad.

Thanks! I hope it goes smoothly. I always hate the first few days of getting everything all set up on a new computer, but I’ve had a Thinkpad for many years – on Win 7 – and I love it. Hoping that this new one will be as good. Hate to be making the move to Win 10, but I think it is getting to be time.

Thanks again!

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Coldheart9020

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