How to tell if my Windows 11 Firewall is on?

Question

I just got a brand new Victus laptop yesterday, and it runs Windows 11. I downloaded my McAfee Anti-virus security to it, but it is still telling me that I have viruses and that I need to turn on my Windows Firewall. I'm a novice at computer stuff, so I need help. Thank you in advance to anyone that can help.

Answer 1

Sure, I can help you with that! It sounds like your antivirus software is detecting potential threats on your computer and suggesting you enable the Windows Firewall for additional protection. The Windows Firewall is a built-in security feature that helps protect your computer from unauthorized access over the internet or network.

To enable the Windows Firewall on your Windows 11 laptop, you can follow these steps:

1. Click on the Start button (Windows icon) in the bottom left corner of your screen.
2. Type "Windows Security" and press Enter to open the Windows Security app.
3. In the Windows Security app, click on "Firewall & network protection" in the left sidebar.
4. Under "Firewall & network protection settings," you'll see three network profiles: Domain network, Private network, and Public network. Make sure that the switch next to each profile is turned on to enable the Windows Firewall for that network type.
5. If prompted, confirm the action by clicking "Yes" or entering your administrator password.

Once you've enabled the Windows Firewall, your computer will have an additional layer of protection against potential threats from the internet or network. Additionally, make sure that your McAfee antivirus software is up to date and performing regular scans to keep your system secure. If you continue to experience issues or have further questions, feel free to ask!

Answer 2

Hello,

To check the firewall status, simply type 'Check Firewall Status' in the search box. Once you see 'Windows Defender Firewall' appear in the results, right-click it. This will display the firewall's current state, highlighted in the yellow area. If the firewall is turned off, proceed by selecting 'Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.' After doing so, the status should change to 'On,' as illustrated in the subsequent images.

As for the antivirus warning, even with the firewall enabled, it's possible that you might have some malware that managed to get through. Here's what you can do:

1. Run a full system scan with McAfee Anti-virus. To do this, open your McAfee software, go to the 'Virus and Spyware Protection' section, and choose to run a Full Scan. This may take some time, so be patient and let it complete.
2. After the scan, quarantine or remove any threats the software finds.
3. If issues persist, consider running another scan with Windows Defender (which is built into Windows 11) as a secondary check. Go back to the "Windows Security" app, click on "Virus & threat protection," then "Scan options," and select "Full scan."

Remember to keep your antivirus definitions up-to-date and perform regular scans to ensure your system remains protected. If you're still encountering problems, reaching out to McAfee's customer support could be helpful.

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