Purpose: Confirming Your Primary Defense Against Malware is Active and Alert

Your computer’s antivirus software is its most important line of defense against viruses, ransomware, and other malicious software. This health check is a vital diagnostic that confirms your digital “security guard” is not only on duty, but is also awake, alert, and equipped with the latest information to protect you effectively.

How it Works: The Security Guard’s Three-Point Check

Think of your antivirus program as a dedicated security guard for your computer. For this guard to be effective, they need to meet three critical conditions. Our health check verifies all three:

Is the Guard on Duty? (Is it enabled?)

1. First, we check that you have a security guard and that they are clocked in and active. An antivirus program that is turned off offers no protection.

Is the Guard Actively Patrolling? (Is real-time protection on?)

2. A guard sitting in a back room isn’t very useful. We verify that “real-time protection” is on, meaning your guard is actively patrolling your system, inspecting files and applications as you use them.

Does the Guard Have Today’s “Most Wanted” List? (Are definitions up-to-date?)

3. Criminals change their tactics every day. Your guard needs the most current “Most Wanted” list (virus definitions) to recognize new threats. We check that this list has been updated within the last 7 days. An outdated list is a major security blind spot.

What Your Results Mean

This is a fundamental security check. Your result indicates your level of protection against active threats.

Status	What It Means	What To Do
Fully Protected(Pass)	Your antivirus is active and up-to-date.Your digital security guard is on duty, actively patrolling, and has the latest “Most Wanted” list.	No action is required. Your protection is sound.
Action Recommended(Warning)	Your protection is compromised. This means either your guard is not actively patrolling (real-time protection is off) or their “Most Wanted” list is old (definitions are outdated).	Please take the following steps:  1. Restart your computer. This often resolves the issue. 2. Manually run Windows Update to check for new security intelligence updates. 3. If the warning persists, contact the IT Help Desk.
ACTION REQUIRED(Fail)	You have no active antivirus protection.This is a critical security failure. Your computer has no security guard on duty, leaving it completely exposed to malware.	This is a top priority security risk. Please contact the IT Help Desk IMMEDIATELY to report this issue. Do not use the computer for sensitive tasks until it is resolved.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from the Firewall?

• The Firewall is the traffic cop for your internet connection, deciding what data can come and go. The Antivirus is the security guard inside your computer, inspecting the files and programs themselves. You need both.

I have another antivirus program installed. Why am I seeing a warning?

• Even if you have a third-party antivirus (e.g., McAfee, Norton), it must be active and up-to-date to be effective. If it’s expired, disabled, or not updating, it becomes a liability. Our standard, Microsoft Defender, is always available to take over protection.

Why do the definitions need to be updated so frequently?

• Thousands of new viruses and malware variants are created every single day. Regular updates ensure your computer can recognize and block these brand-new threats as soon as they appear.