Why Should I Use Windows Security Center?
The Windows Security Center checks your computer for the status of three important security elements: Internet firewall, virus protection software, and Automatic Updates. The Windows Security Center alerts you and provides recommendations if there is a problem with any of these three elements.
How do I use the Windows Security Center?
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Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Security Center. |
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Double-click Security Center. You should see a window that looks like this. Note: If your computer is part of a domain (a group of computers on a network), your security settings are typically managed by your network administrator. In this case, the Windows Security Center will look and act differently. |
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Windows Security Center checks your computer for:
- A firewall program
Firewall programs help protect your computer from hackers who may seek to delete information from your computer, crash it, or even steal personal information, such as passwords or credit card numbers. - An up-to-date anti-virus program
Anti-virus programs help protect you from malicious programs, called viruses, that attach themselves to a program or file in order to spread from computer to computer. - Automatic Updates
Automatic Updates can download and install important security updates automatically on a schedule you set.
Ongoing Protection
When the Windows Security Center determines that your computer has a problem that might be addressed by stronger security functionality in one of the three security elements, it also displays an alert in the notification area (to the right of the taskbar, above the clock). You will see an alert like the one below every time you log on, until the problem is fixed.
Security settings alert
Click any alert and the Security Center will open. In the WindowsSecurity Center, click Recommendations to find out how to address the problem.
Tips
- After checking the Windows Security Center for the status of Automatic Updates, visit Microsoft Update to confirm that you have the latest updates and to opt-in to the Windows Update service, which provides updates to Microsoft Office, Microsoft Windows, and other programs
- If you have anti-virus software installed, be sure to run a complete scan of your system to make sure there are no viruses present
- If you do not have anti-virus software on your computer, see the anti-virus vendor software offers for Windows Security Center
Your next step toward a more secure PC
Completing the following task will better protect your PC.
