Threat blocked. This indicates that Defender has blocked and removed a threat on your device. There's no action necessary on your part, though you might want to consider how the threat reached your machine so you can reduce the risk of that occurring again.

Learn how to use virus and threat protection options in Windows Security to scan your device for threats and view the results.

Your security software uses definitions to identify threats. They're a set of known patterns or behaviors that your security software compares software it scans to in order to determine if a file might be a threat.

Select Enhance security for this site and turn the Use enhanced security for this site toggle On or Off. If you turn off enhanced security, Microsoft Edge will automatically add that website to a list of site exceptions.

Smart App Control adds significant protection from new and emerging threats by blocking apps that are malicious or untrusted. Smart App Control also helps to block potentially unwanted apps, which are apps that may cause your device to run slowly, display unexpected ads, offer extra software you didn't want, or do other things you don't expect.

The Windows Firewall helps safeguard your device by filtering network traffic and blocking unauthorized access. It reduces the risk of network security threats by restricting or allowing traffic based on various properties such as IP addresses, ports, or program paths.

One of the key benefits of the Windows Security app is its ability to provide real-time protection. Microsoft Defender Antivirus continuously scans your device for potential threats and takes immediate action to neutralize them.

Windows Security has reputation-based protection that can help protect your PC from potentially unwanted applications. Potentially unwanted app blocking was first introduced in the Windows 10 May 2020 update and is turned off by default for enterprise and consumer customers.

To block threats from malicious websites, use a modern browser like Microsoft Edge, which uses Microsoft Defender SmartScreen to identify sites with poor reputation. Upgrade to the latest version of Windows to benefit from a host of built-in security enhancements.

Important: The National Public Data breach exposed personal information, including names, addresses, and social security numbers. Learn how to protect yourself and how Microsoft Defender is helping to prevent fraud.