Operating Environment:
Hardware: Laptop or Desktop Computers
Software: Windows 8.1 Professional
Description: This section deals with updating anti-virus definition files, configuring real-time scanning, full system scanning, fast or quick scanning for high vulnerability areas of the system, removable media scanning, and reviewing scan results in a Windows 8.1 system.
Notes, Warnings, & Restrictions: Windows Defender is a sensitive utility used to perform system security tasks. Please exercise caution when using it.
Resources (Further Reading):
https://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/definitions/adl.aspx
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/update-windows-defender-manually-windows-8
Procedures:
Update Anti-Virus Definition Files
This procedure guides the user on how to update anti-virus definition files on a system running Windows 8.1.
Search for Windows Defender from Start or Control Panel.
Click on Update Tab in Windows Defender.
Click on Update button and wait till the update completes.
Configure Real-Time Scanning
This procedure guides the user on how to configure for real-time scanning on a system running Windows 8.1.
Search for Windows Defender from Start or Control Panel.
Click on Settings tab.
Tick the checkbox and click on Save Changes.
Full System Scanning
This procedure guides the user on how to run a full system scan on a system running Windows 8.1.
Search for Windows Defender from Start or Control Panel.
In the Home tab click on Full in the scan section on the right.
Click on Scan Now.
Wait until the scan completes.
Fast or Quick Scanning for High Vulnerability Areas of the System
This procedure guides the user on how to run a fast or quick scanning for high vulnerability areas of the system on a system running Windows 8.1.
Search for Windows Defender from Start or Control Panel.
In the Home tab click on Quick in the scan section on the right.
Click on Scan Now.
Wait until the scan completes.
Removable media scanning
This procedure guides the user on how to run a scan for removable media on a system running Windows 8.1.
Search for Windows Defender from Start or Control Panel.
In the Settings tab click on Advanced in the list on the left.
Tick the checkbox Scan Removable Devices.
Click on Home tab.
Click on Full.
Click on Scan Now.
Wait until the scan completes.
Reviewing Scan Results Including Reviewing Any Quarantined Files or Detected Malware
This procedure guides the user on reviewing scan results including reviewing any quarantined files or detected malware on a system running Windows 8.1.
Search for Windows Defender from Start or Control Panel.
In the History tab click on Quarantine Items, Allowed Items, or All Detected Items according to what you need to do.
Click on View Details.
Operating Environment:
Hardware: Laptop or Desktop Computers
Software: Windows 8.1 Professional
Description: This section deals with allowing an application, and allow or block network access through Windows Firewall in a Windows 8.1 system.
Notes, Warnings, & Restrictions: Windows Firewall is a sensitive utility used to perform system security tasks. Please exercise caution when using it.
Resources (Further Reading):
http://ccm.net/faq/34530-allow-or-prevent-app-communication-through-a-firewall
https://www.groovypost.com/howto/block-application-internet-access-windows/
Procedures:
Allow an Application through Windows Firewall
This procedure guides the user on how to allow an application through Windows Firewall on a system running Windows 8.1.
Search for Windows Firewall from Start or Control Panel.
Click on Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall in the list on the left in Windows Firewall window.
Click on Change Settings.
Click on Allow another app.
On the new window that pops up, type the path of the program or Browse to the path and click Add.
Allow or Block Network Access by Software Applications, Utilities, and Operating System Components
This procedure guides the user on how to allow or block network access by software applications, utilities, and operating system components on a system running Windows 8.1.
Search for Windows Firewall from Start or Control Panel.
Click on Advanced Settings in the list on the left in Windows Firewall window.
Click on Action in the window on the top.
Click on New Rule.
On the new window that pops up, select Program, Port, Predefined, or Custom according to your preference and click Next.
Type the path of the program or Browse to the path and click Next.
Check all the boxes and click Next.
Assign a name to the rule and write an optional description and click Finish.
Operating Environment:
Hardware: Laptop or Desktop Computers
Software: Windows 8.1 Professional
Description: This section deals with configuring MBSA to scan a system for vulnerabilities, use MBSA system to scan, view reports from scans, and copy, save, and print scan reports in a Windows 8.1 system.
Notes, Warnings, & Restrictions: Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer is a sensitive utility used to perform system security tasks. Please exercise caution when using it.
Resources (Further Reading):
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff647642.aspx
https://dougvitale.wordpress.com/2011/11/18/microsoft-baseline-security-analyzer/
Procedures:
Configure MBSA to Scan a System for Vulnerabilities
This procedure guides the user on how to configure MBSA to scan a system for vulnerabilities including checking for Windows administrative vulnerabilities, checking for weak passwords, checking for Internet Information Services (IIS) administrative vulnerabilities, checking for SQL administrative vulnerabilities, and checking for security updates (missing updates) on a system running Windows 8.1.
Search for Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer from Start and click on it.
Click on Scan a computer.
Check the following boxes.
Check for Windows administrative vulnerabilities
Check for weak passwords
Check for Internet Information Services (IIS) administrative vulnerabilities
Check for SQL administrative vulnerabilities
Check for security updates
Use MBSA to Scan a System
This procedure guides the user on how to use MBSA to scan a system on a system running Windows 8.1.
Search for Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer from Start and click on it.
Click on Scan a computer.
Complete the configuration of MBSA to scan a system.
Click on Start Scan.
Wait for the scan to complete.
View Reports from Scans including Reviewing Individual Vulnerabilities as Reported by MBSA
This procedure guides the user on how to view reports from scans including reviewing individual vulnerabilities as reported by MBSA on a system running Windows 8.1.
Search for Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer from Start and click on it.
Click on View existing security scan reports.
Click on the desired report to view.
Copy, Save, and Print Scan Reports
This procedure guides the user on how to copy, save, and print scan reports on a system running Windows 8.1.
Search for Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer from Start and click on it.
Click on View existing security scan reports.
Click on the desired report to view.
Click on Print this report at the bottom of the screen to print the selected report.
Click on Copy to clipboard at the bottom of the screen to copy the selected report.
Paste the report in Notepad, WordPad, or MS Word and save it.
