How to Check Which Antivirus is Installed on Windows: Complete Guide for IT Professionals

Endpoint security is fundamental for any organization. Knowing exactly which antivirus solutions are active in your Windows environment isn't just a good practice—it's a critical necessity for managing digital employee experience (DEX). In this technical guide, we'll show you precise, professional methods to identify antivirus software installed onWindows systems.

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Why Verifying Your Windows Antivirus Matters

Before diving into the methods, let us understand why this is important:

• Regulatory compliance: GDPR and other regulations require precise documentation of implemented security measures
• Conflict prevention: Multiple antivirus solutions can cause performance and compatibility issues
• Centralized management: Organizations need complete visibility into their security posture
• Performance optimization: Misconfigured antivirus software directly impacts employee productivity

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Method 1: Flexxible Workspaces (Recommended)

Simply navigate to the Workspaces section within the Flexxible Portal and filter to view it. Workspaces has an agent that collects information, metrics, services, and event logs, among many other things. Among these, it detects which antivirus is installed, providing valuable information from the moment you install the agent.

The Antivirus, Antivirus version, and Antivirus status properties are your friends. They'll let you see which antivirus your fleet has installed and their status.

Similarly, Workspaces collects performance metrics from the detected antivirus, so you can see its performance and how it might impact the device.

Method 2: Windows Security Center

The most straightforward approach for users and administrators without the Flexxible platform, is using Windows built-in Security Center.

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Steps for Windows 10 and Windows 11:

1. Open Windows Security Center
2. Press Windows key + I to openSettings
3. Navigate to "Privacy & Security" > "Windows Security"
4. Click "Virus & threat protection"
5. Verify current status
6.  In this window, you will see the active antivirus provider
7. Check if it is Windows Defender or a third-party antivirus
8. Review the date of the last definition updates

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What to look for: The Security Center will clearly show if Windows Defender is active or if it has been replaced by another solution. If you see a message indicating your protection is managed by another provider, that is your primary antivirus.

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Method 3: Windows Settings

For a more administrative view:

1. Open Windows Settings (Windows+ I)
2. Go to Apps > Installed apps (Windows 11) or Apps & features (Windows 10)
3. Search the list for applications with names like: Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky, Bitdefender, Trend Micro, ESET, Avast, AVG, or enterprise solutions such as CrowdStrike, SentinelOne or Carbon Black

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Advantage of this method: It lets you see not only the active antivirus but also residual versions of security software that may not have been completely uninstalled.

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Method 4: PowerShell (For IT Administrators)

For enterprise environments, PowerShell offers the most precise and scriptable visibility.

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Command to verify antivirus status: Get-MpComputerStatus

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This command displays detailed information about Windows Defender, including:

• Real-time protection status
• Antivirus engine version
• Last signature update
• Scan status

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To list all registered antivirus products on Windows 10 or 11:

Get-CimInstance -Namespace root/SecurityCenter2-ClassName AntiVirusProduct

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This command returns information about all antivirus products that have correctly registered with Windows Security Center, including:

• Product name (displayName)
• Product status (productState)
• Execution path (pathToSignedProductExe)

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Interpreting product State: this is a hexadecimal value indicating operational status. An active and updated antivirus typically shows specific values indicating active protection.

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Method 5: WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation)

For administrators who prefer WMI or need integration with management tools:

Get-WmiObject -Namespace"root\SecurityCenter2" -Class AntiVirusProduct

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This method is especially useful when working with enterprise system management tools or automated audit scripts.

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Method 6: Command Prompt (CMD)

While less visual, the command prompt can be useful in remote support scenarios:

wmic /namespace:\\root\securitycenter2 pathantivirusproduct get displayname,productstate

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This command quickly lists all antivirus products with their current status.

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Verification for Enterprise Environments

If you manage a fleet of Windows devices, you need a more robust approach:

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Centralized Management Solutions

Modern digital employee experience (DEX) platforms, such as Flexxible, offer:

• Automated inventory: Continuous scanning of all security software in your environment
• Status monitoring: Real-time alerts when an antivirus is outdated or inactive
• Compliance reporting:Documentation for audits and certifications
• Policy management: Ensure all endpoints meet your security standards

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Common Problems and Solutions

Problem 1: Multiple antivirus detected

Symptom: You see more than one antivirus product listed in SecurityCenter2.

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Solution:

• Verify which one is actually active by checking the productState
• Completely uninstall inactive solutions using official removal tools from the manufacturer
• Restart the system after uninstalling

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Problem 2: Windows Defender will not disable

Symptom: You try to use a third-party antivirus but Windows Defender remains active.

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Explanation: Windows Defender automatically disables when it detects another compatible antivirus. If this does not happen:

• Verify that the third-party antivirus is correctly installed and registered
• Check that the third-party antivirus is on Microsoft compatibility list
• Restart the device after installing the new antivirus

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Problem 3: No antivirus appears

Symptom: PowerShell or WMI commands return no results.

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Possible causes:

• The antivirus has not correctly registered with Security Center2
• There is a problem with Windows services
• The antivirus is a custom solution that does not follow Microsoft standards

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Diagnostic steps:

• Verify that the "SecurityCenter" service is running
• Review Event Viewer for errors related to SecurityCenter2
• Manually check in Installed apps

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Best Practices for Enterprise Antivirus Management

1. Establish a clear policy

Define which antivirus solutions are approved in your organization. This facilitates:

• Standardized technical support
• Volume licensing negotiation
• Integration with other security tools

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2. Automate monitoring

Do not rely on manual checks. Implement:

• Scheduled scripts that verify antivirus status
• Automatic alerts when an endpoint does not comply with policies
• Centralized dashboards for real-time visibility

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3. Maintain regular updates

Ensure that:

• Virus definitions update at least daily
• The antivirus engine updates according to the manufacturer schedule
• Operating systems receive security patches promptly

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4. Document everything

Keep records of:

• Which antivirus is installed on each device
• When the last update was performed
• Security incidents and responses
• Policy configuration changes

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5. Train your team

The best technical controls fail without user awareness:

• Teach employees to recognize signs of security problems
• Provide clear guides on what todo if the antivirus shows alerts
• Conduct phishing simulations and periodic training

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Integration with DEX Platforms

Modern digital employee experience management solutions go beyond simple software inventory. A complete DEX platform offers:

Holistic Visibility

• Antivirus status in context with other endpoint health indicators
• Correlation between performance issues and antivirus activity
• Trend analysis on protection effectiveness

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Intelligent Automation

• Automatic remediation when problems are detected
• Coordinated updates that minimize productivity impact
• Adaptive policies based on user risk level

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Employee Experience

• Contextual notifications that do not interrupt work
• Self-service for common antivirus problems
• Proactive support before issues affect the employee

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Additional Security Considerations

Verifying your antivirus is just one component of a comprehensive security strategy:

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Defense in Depth

Do not rely exclusively on antivirus:

• Implement endpoint firewalls
• Use endpoint detection and response (EDR)
• Apply the principle of least privilege
• Properly segment your network

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Protection Against Modern Threats

Traditional antivirus may not be sufficient for:

• Zero-day attacks
• Advanced persistent threats(APT)
• Sophisticated ransomware
• Fileless attacks

Consider complementary technologies like behavior-based detection, artificial intelligence analysis, and sandboxing.

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Regulatory Compliance

Keep in mind specific requirements such as:

• GDPR: Appropriate technical and organizational security measures
• PCI DSS: If you process card payments
• Sector-specific standards:Healthcare, banking, etc.
• Industry certifications: ISO27001, SOC 2, etc.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a paid antivirus if Windows includes Defender?

Windows Defender has improved significantly and provides solid protection for many organizations. However, enterprises often prefer third-party solutions because of:

• Advanced centralized management features
• Dedicated technical support
• Integration with other corporate security tools
• Specific compliance requirements

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Can I have two antivirus installed?

Technically yes, but it is not recommended to have two antivirus with real-time protection simultaneously active. This can cause:

• Software conflicts
• Significant performance degradation
• False positives
• System stability issues

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How often should I verify my antivirus?

It depends on your environment:

• End users: Verify weekly that it is active and updated
• IT professionals: Implement continuous automated monitoring
• Formal audits: Quarterly or according to compliance policies

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What do I do if I discover a device without antivirus?

1. Immediately disconnect the device from the network if possible
2. Run a scan with a rescue disk tool
3. Install and update an approved antivirus
4. Perform a complete system scan
5. Review logs to detect possible compromises
6. Document the incident

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Conclusion

Verifying which antivirus is installed on Windows is a fundamental task for any IT professional. Whether you use simple graphical methods or advanced automation with PowerShell, what matters is maintaining continuous visibility into the security status of your endpoints.

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In a world where threats constantly evolve, proactive management of your security posture is not optional. Modern digital employee experience management platforms allow you to go beyond simple verification, offering automation, predictive analysis, and proactive remediation.

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Flexxible unifies your endpoints, providing technology experiences that enable secure business continuity and measurable results. Book a demo with us to take your DEX to new heights.