Implement Malware Protection on Windows 11

Protecting your systems from malware is essential for maintaining the security of your business. This guide will show you how to set up and maintain malware protection on Windows 11, aligning with CIS Control 8.5 (Malware Defenses).

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure that you:

• Have a device running Windows 11.
• Are logged in with an administrator account.

Step 1 — Opening Settings

First, open the Settings app.

1. Click on the Start menu.
2. Select the Settings icon (it looks like a gear).

Step 2 — Navigating to Windows Security

Next, navigate to the Windows Security section.

1. In the Settings window, click on Privacy & Security in the left-hand menu.
2. Click on Windows Security.

Step 3 — Configuring Virus & Threat Protection

Set up virus and threat protection to keep your system safe from malware.

1. Virus & Threat Protection: Click on Virus & threat protection.
2. Manage Settings: Under the Virus & threat protection settings, click on Manage settings.
3. Real-Time Protection: Ensure that Real-time protection is turned on.
4. Cloud-Delivered Protection: Turn on Cloud-delivered protection for enhanced, up-to-date protection.
5. Automatic Sample Submission: Enable Automatic sample submission to help Microsoft improve protection for everyone.

Step 4 — Running a Full Scan

Perform a full scan of your system to detect and remove any existing threats.

1. Scan Options: Under Virus & threat protection, click on Scan options.
2. Full Scan: Select Full scan and click Scan now.
3. Allow the scan to complete and follow any recommended actions to remove detected threats.

Step 5 — Keeping Malware Protection Updated

Ensure that your malware protection stays current.

1. Update: Under Virus & threat protection updates, click on Check for updates.
2. Ensure that your malware definitions are up-to-date and that Windows Update is configured to download and install updates automatically.

Why Malware Protection Matters

Implementing and maintaining robust malware protection is crucial for preventing malicious software from compromising your systems. This step helps protect your business from potential data breaches and disruptions.

Related CIS Control

This step satisfies CIS Control 8.5: Malware Defenses, which focuses on implementing and managing malware defenses to protect against malicious software.

By following these steps, you can significantly enhance the malware protection of your Windows 11 systems. Stay tuned for more tips on managing your business’s cybersecurity risk effectively.

For more details on securing your business, check out our CyberGuardian Framework.