How can I scan my computer for viruses manually?

 There are several ways to scan your computer for viruses manually. One of the most reliable methods is to use the integrated Windows Security application, also known as Microsoft Defender, to run an anti-malware scan. You can do this by following these steps¹:

- Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security and then Virus & threat protection.

- Under Current threats, select Quick scan (or in early versions of Windows 10, under Threat history, select Scan now).

- If the scan doesn't find any issues, but you're still concerned, you may want to check your device more thoroughly by selecting Scan options and choosing a Full scan, a Custom scan, or a Windows Defender Offline scan.

Another way to check for viruses is to monitor your hard drive activity, boot up time, and log in process for any signs of a virus slowing down or taking over your system. You can also use Windows Task Manager or Windows PowerShell to manually see what programs are running and look for any unusual or suspicious ones². However, some viruses may disguise themselves as normal Windows processes or hide from detection, so this method is not foolproof.

If you find any evidence of a virus on your computer, you should try to remove it as soon as possible. You can use Windows Security to remove or quarantine malware from your PC³, or you can use other antivirus software such as Bitdefender⁴, Norton⁵, or Avast One⁶ to scan and clean your system. You may also need to restore your files from a backup if they have been corrupted or deleted by the virus.

I hope this helps you keep your computer safe and secure. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask me. 😊

Source: Conversation with Bing, 9/9/2023

(1) Does Your Computer Have a Virus? Here's How to Check. https://www.howtogeek.com/441321/does-your-computer-have-a-virus-heres-how-to-check/.

(2) . https://bing.com/search?q=how+to+scan+computer+for+viruses+manually.

(3) How to scan your Windows PC or Mac for viruses (2022). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQz6oNJONvg.

(4) How to run a virus scan in Windows 10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQSfufMlts8.

(5) Windows 10 - Windows Defender How To Scan For Viruses. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ImR_YRyy4o.

(6) How to start a scan for viruses or malware in Microsoft Defender .... https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-start-a-scan-for-viruses-or-malware-in-microsoft-defender-e98663f1-8827-4abe-b9ce-fb2664201f29.

(7) undefined. https://www.mcafee.com/support/?page=shell&shell=article-view&articleId=TS101105.

(8) undefined. https://www.windowscentral.com/how-scan-file-manually-microsoft-defender-antivirus-windows-10.

(9) undefined. https://www.wikihow.com/Scan-Your-Computer-for-Viruses.

(10) undefined. https://www.theverge.com/22705042/how-to-scan-microsoft-windows-pc-malware-security-antivirus-defender.