The document provides a comprehensive guide on dealing with viruses and malware in Windows 11, covering definitions, detection, removal, and prevention methods. It highlights the rise of Windows 11-specific malware and the importance of using security measures like Microsoft Defender and third-party antivirus tools. The document also outlines steps for virus detection and removal, as well as tips for maintaining system security.

1. Title: Windows 11 Virus & Malware:Examples/Detection/Removal/Prevention
Keywords: windows11virus, remove windows11update virus, how to checkwindows11 for virus,
remove malware fromwindows11, how to turnoff antiviruswindows11
Description: Have you encountered Windows 11 Virus or malware yet? How do you find it? How do
you handle it? Do you have some ideas about how to avoid it?
URL: https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/windows-11-virus.html
Summary: This article drafted by MiniTool Software Ltd. Mainly introduce some information about
Windows 11 malware and viruses. It covers definitions, examples, detection, removal, as well as
prevention of Win11 virus or malware. Much useful knowledge is here!
A computervirusisa kindof computerprogram that (whenexecuted)replicatesitself bymodifying
othercomputerprogramsand insertingitscode. If thisreplicationsucceeds,the affectedareasare
regradedas infectedwithacomputervirus,whichisametaphorderivedfrombiological viruses.
Viruscreatorsmake use of social engineeringdeceptionsandexploitdetailedknowledge of security
vulnerabilitiestoinfectoperatingsystems(OSes) andtospreadthe virus. A greatmany viruses
target machinesrunningMicrosoftWindows,employingavarietyof mechanismstoinfectnew
hosts.Theyusuallyevade antivirussoftware bycomplex anti-detectionorstealthstrategies.
Whereasmalware isanysoftware intentionallydesignedtocause damage toa computer,server,
client,orcomputernetwork.“malware”isaportmanteauformalicioussoftware. There are awide
varietyof malware typeslike computerviruses,ransomware,trojanhorse,spyware,adware,wiper,
scareware,aswell asrogue software.
https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/malware-vs-virus.html

2. About Windows 11 Virus/Malware
Withthe nextgenerationof the system–Windows11 iscomingon October5, 2021, and itsInsider
Previewbuild hasalreadybeenavailable,the topicof computervirus ormalware inWindows11 has
come intobeing.Will Win11,like itspredecessorssuchasWindows10/8/7, be affectedby
viruses/malware?
Of course!Soonor later,the firstWindows11 virus (malware) will be foundinfectingalarge number
of PCsall overthe world. A large amountof malware and virusesare mosteffective tothe new
Windows. Actually,someWindows11 update or installerisa computermalware insteadof an
official service.
Fake Windows 11 Installers Are Used to Spread Malware
It issaid thatcyber scammershave alreadybeenusingfake Windows11installerstoinjectavirus,
malware,adware,andmanyothermaliciousprogramsintoMicrosoftusers’devices earlyinJuly
2021. Althoughthe officialWindowsInsiderPreviewhasbeenavailable then,manypeoplestill
downloadOSinstallersfromunofficial websites andare infectedwithWindows11 viruses.
Windows11 installerluresare alsousedtodirectlydeliveravarietyof otherpayloadsrangingfrom
comparativelyharmlessadware tomore dangerouspasswordstealers, Trojans,etc.
For example,thereisamuch smallerfake Windows11installer(lessthan2GB) calledwindows11
build 21996.1 x64 + activator.Once launch,itwill displaylikeaWindowsinstallationwizard.
However,insteadof downloadingsystem-relateditems,thismaliciousinstallerdownloadsasecond
installerforadware,malware,orpotentiallyunwantedtools.
Alt=fake Windows11installerdetectedbyKaspersky

3. Windows 11 Alpha Malware
The hackers have managedtohack Windows11 withnew malicioussoftware.A brandnew Win11
Alphamalware hasbeencirculatedinthe techcommunity.Itfoolsusersintoactivating malicious
code on theircomputers.
It issaid thatthe Alphamalware wasspreadviaa Word documentclaimingtobe made with
“Windows11 Alpha”and the documentasksthe usersto performstepstoopenit.Later, a code is
activatedthatcouldbe usedtosteal users’ financial info.
Researchershave foundthatthe cybercrime group FIN7couldbe the reasonfor the start of Alpha
malware.Yet,as forthe source of the spreadingof the maliciousfile,ithasnotbeenfound.The best
wayto avoidbeingaffectedbythismalware isnotinteractingwithanyunauthorizeddocumentor
linkonyour machine mostlyreceivedthroughemails.
Symptoms for Being Infected by Windows 11 Virus or Malware
Most userscan findout theyare infectedbyWindows11 malware orvirusesnotlongafterthe
infection.Typically,if yousuddenlyfindyourcomputerrunsextremelyslow,programspopup
automaticallywithoutpermissionornew appsappear, etc.,or justreceive threatswarningmessages
fromWindows Defender,youmaybe affectedbyvirusesormalware.
How to Check Windows 11 for Virus?
Besidesthe symptomsthatmayindicate malware infection,youcanalsomanually checkforviruses
any time youwant. To detectpotential malware orvirusonyourcomputer,youshould relyon
antivirusandantimalware programsprovidedby the systemorthird-partysecuritycompanies.
For Windows11, the built-insecurity tool isnamed MicrosoftDefender,whichcanscan yourPC
regularlytokeepyourdevice safe fromcyberattacks. Let’ssee how todothisstepby step.
1. Go to Windows11 Settings> Privacy & security > WindowsSecurity.

4. Alt=selectWindowsSecurityinWindows11Settings
2. On the WindowsSecuritypage, choose the OpenWindowsSecuritybutton.

5. ALT=choose OpenWindows11 Securityoption
3. Then,the WindowsSecuritywindow will popup. Inthe defaulttab,if all sectionsare withagreen
tickicon,it meansthat yourdevice isingoodcondition.If notand there are sectionswith ayellow
exclamationmarkorevenredcross mark,it indicatesthatthere issomething improperorwrong
withyourmachine.Youneedto deal withthem, especiallyforthe sectionswith aredcross.

6. Alt=Windows11securityat a glance
4. Navigate tothe Virus& threat protection section.There,click the Protectionupdatesoption
underthe Virus & threat protectionupdates section.
5. On the nextpage, clickthe Check for updates button.
6. Returnto the previouspage andchoose the default Quickscan optionunderthe Currentthreats
section.

7. Alt=Windows11virusand threatprotection
You are able tochange the scan type andcarry out advancedscanningbyclickingthe Scanoptions
belowthe Quickscanbutton.It will offeryouthe following fouroptions.
 Quick scan: Checksfoldersinyoursystemwhere threatsare commonlyfound.(default
option)
 Full scan: Checksall filesandrunningprogramsonyour hard disk.Thisscan couldtake
longerthanone hour.
 Custom scan: Choose whichfilesandlocationsyouwanttocheck.Thismethodsuits the
situationthatyouhave highlysuspiciousobjectives.
 MicrosoftDefenderOffline scan:Some malicioussoftware canbe particularlydifficultto
remove fromyourdevice.MicrosoftDefenderOffline canhelpfindandremove themusing
up-to-date threatdefinitions. Thiswillrestartyourdevice andwill take around15minutes.

8. Alt=Windows11virusscan options
Wait until WindowsSecurityfinishesthe scanning.If itscansout a virusor malware,itwill allow you
to remove the maliciousitemsfollowingthe instructions.
How to Remove Malware from Windows 11?
Firstof all,if youfindthe malware withthe WindowsSecurity app,itwill provide youwithawayto
remove the malware.Justfollowthe on-screeninstructionstocompletethe removal.
You can alsorelyon third-partysecuritytoolstodetectanddelete malware orviruses.Below lists
some popularantivirusandantimalware productsinthe market.
 Avast
 Avira
 AVG
 Bitdefender
 Kaspersky
 Malwarebytes
 McAfee
 Norton

9.  TrendMicro
If both system self-containedand3rdparty securitytoolsfail togetridof yourWindows11 virus,
youshouldreinstall Windows11or have a cleanandrefreshinstallation.Or,youmayhave to factory
resetyourPC or laptop.Those actionsmayhelpyouremove the malware.
Tip: If noneof the abovemethodsworks,you haveto takeyourmachineto a computerrepairstore
and askfor help fromprofessionals.
How to Set up Microsoft Defender to Protect Your Windows 11 PC?
Besidescheckingformalware orViruswhenyoufeellikeyou have alreadybeeninfected,itis
stronglyrecommended thatyouarm yourself toteethforvirusattacksby takingfull advantage of
MicrosoftWindowsDefender.
1. Enable Windows 11 Virus and Threat Protections
On Virus& threatprotectionpage,clickonthe Manage settingsoptionunderthe Virus& threat
protectionsettings.
Alt=manage Windows11virus& threatprotectionsettings
Next,switchonall protectionsincluding Real-time protection,Cloud-deliveredprotection,
Automatic sample submission,andTamper Protection.

10. Alt=enable all Windows11virus& threat protections
2. Set up Windows 11 Ransomware Protection
AlsoinVirus& threatprotectionpage,clickonthe Manage ransomware protection optionunder
the Ransomware protection section.

11. Alt=manage Windows11ransomware protection
Then,turn onthe Controlledfolderaccess to protectfiles,folders,andmemoryareasonyour
machine fromunauthorizedchangesbyunfriendlyapps. Youcanalsoturn on Ransomware data
recoveryby configuringWindows11OneDrive tosyncyour crucial filestothe cloud.

12. Alt=setupWindows11 ransomware protection
3. Windows 11 Account Protection
To protectyour Microsoftaccount frombeinghacked,youshouldsignin toyour Windowsaccount
and secure itwith WindowsHelloandDynamic lock.

13. Alt=Windows11account protection
4. Windows 11 Firewall and Network Protection
Next,foronline Windows11viruses,there is a firewallandnetworkprotectiononWindows
Security. Withthisfeature,youcanguard yourdomainnetwork,private network,aswell as the
publicnetwork.

14. Alt=Windows11firewall &networkprotection
5. Windows 11 App and Browser Control
As forapplicationsandwebbrowsers,there is anapp& browsercontrol utility. Reputation-based
protectionsecuresyourdevice frommaliciousorpotentiallyunwantedapps,files,andwebsites. It
includesappsandfilescheckingby MicrosoftDefenderSmartScreen,SmartScreenforMicrosoft
Edge,potentiallyunwantedappblocking,andSmartScreenforMicrosoftStore apps.
Thisutilityalsocontainsexploitprotection,whichprotectsWindows11 devicesagainstattackswith
settingstobothsystemandprogram.
Exploitprotection systemsettings:
 Control FlowGuard (CFG)
 Data ExecutionPrevention(DEP)
 Force randomizationforimages(MandatoryASLR)
 Randomize memoryallocations(Bottom-upASLR)
 High-entropyASLR
 Validate exceptionchains(SEHOP)
 Validate heapintegrity

15. Alt=Windows11app & browsercontrol
6. Windows 11 Device Security
Device securityenablesyoutoviewstatusandmanage hardware securityfeatures.Itcontainsa
feature called Core Isolation,whichisa virtualization-basedsecurity featureprotectingthe core
parts of your device. Core isolationfurtherincludes the MemoryIntegrityfunctionthatprevents
attacks frominsertingmaliciouscode intohigh-securityprocesses.

16. Alt=Windows11device security
7. Windows 11 Device Performance and Health
The device performance &health utilitychargesinmonitoringthe healthconditionsof Windows
Time service,storage capacity,aswell asappsand software.

17. Alt=Windows11device performance &health
How to Avoid Windows 11 Virus?
Justbe similartothe strategiesof avoidingmalware onotherWindowseditions,the traditional and
effectivewaysare below.
#1 Avoid Dangerous Operations
What are dangerousoperations? operationsthatmayinvite malware orvirustoyourcomputersare
regardedas dangerousoperations,suchasconnecting tounknownnetworks,visitingunsecured
websites,downloadingunknownfiles,openingunknownapps,andsoon.
#2 Keep Firewall and Antivirus On
You are recommendedtoalwayskeepyourfirewall andantimalware programson.Unless inrarely
necessarysituationsandyou trustthe targetitem, itis notsmart to turn off the securityservices.
#3 Scan Computer for Viruses Regularly
You shouldcheckthe healthconditionof yourmachine notonlywhenyoususpectthatyouhave
beenattackedbyvirusesormalware,butalso at the usual time andbetterwitha schedule.Youcan
setup an automaticWindowsDefenderscaninTask Scheduler. See the steps>>

18. #4 Keep a Data Backup Habit
Finally,the lastchoice isto create a backupof your importantfilesbefore theyare destroyedor got
lostdue to virusattacks.Thus, a powerful andreliable backupprogramisneededlike MiniTool
ShadowMaker.Itcan back up yourfiles/folders,system, partitions/volumes,andeventhe entire
hard diskwithjusta fewclicks.Moreover,itenablesyou tobuildaschedule to automaticallyback
up data inthe future and manage backupimagessmartlyto save target space.
SM-Trial
Alt=MiniTool ShadowMakerdatabackup
Windows 11 Virus FAQ
Is Windows11 upgrade a virus?
Windows11 upgrade itself isnota virus.Yet,some maliciouspeople maycreate virusesormalware
namedor lookslike Windowsupgradeorupdate.
Is windows11 safe or virus?
The officiallydistributedWindows11iscompletelysafe andfree of viruses.However,if you
downloadandinstall Windows11 fromunauthorizedsources,itmaycontain malware orviruses.
Also,some virusesmaytake exploitof the vulnerabilitiesof Windows11to spreadthemselvesto
your computer.
How to remove Windows11 update virus?
The way to remove Windows11update virusisthe same as that of deletingothervirusesor
malware.Generally,youneedtorelyonMicrosoftDefenderorthird-partysecuritytools.

19. How to turn off antivirus Windows11?
Firstly,itisnot recommendedtoturnoff antivirusinWindows11.If youreallywantto, justgo to
Settings> Privacy & security> WindowsSecurity > Open WindowsSecurityand disable all the
optionsandservicesone byone.