

Like a wanted outlaw in the old west, a cybercriminal can disguise a piece of malware to avoid detection. This process is executed quickly and is an essential feature of an antivirus software, but it is also easy for cybercriminals to evade.

Specific detection works by scanning a file for a specific set of characteristics and checking these characteristics against a known list of malware. This is what most people think of when they think about how an antivirus works. The most basic detection process is known as specific detection. Most modern antivirus programs feature multiple scanning detection processes.

While the instructions are intended for a single machine, you can apply them to a virtual network and deploy them using a configuration or management suite, such as System Center Configuration Manager or Intune, if you wish.Whenever you download or launch a file, an antivirus program scans the file for malware. Note: This version of the guide is intended for single-machine evaluations of Windows Defender Antivirus protection. These technologies, along with our detailed and rapid signature delivery system and malware analysis, work together to provide fast detection and pre-infection response – without the traditional reliance only on periodically downloaded signatures. Windows Defender Antivirus makes extensive use of our cloud-based detection, advanced real-time heuristics, and integrated reputation-based identification of files, URLs, and emails. It is a core part of the security and protection capabilities in Windows 10, and operates as an Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) alongside Windows Firewall, Device Guard, and other security technologies in Windows 10. Windows Defender Antivirus is a built-in antimalware solution that provides antimalware protection for PCs running Windows 10 and servers running Windows Server 2016. It explains the important features available for both small and large enterprises in Windows Defender ATP's endpoint protection capabilities, and how they will increase malware detection and protection across your network. If you’re an enterprise security administrator, and you want to determine how well Windows Defender Antivirus & Windows Defender Exploit Guard protects you from viruses, malware, and potentially unwanted applications, then this guide is for you.
