To check your Windows PC for malware, you can layer built-in tools with third-party scanners to detect both obvious and subtle threats that modern malware attempts to hide.

– Microsoft Defender (built into Windows Security) runs scans by default; use Quick Scan for common threat locations, Full Scan for comprehensive checking, or offline scan mode to restart your PC into the Windows Recovery Environment and catch cloaked malware.
– Enable Windows Firewall for all three connection types within Windows Security's Firewall & network protection section to block unauthorised incoming connections.
– Malwarebytes is a recommended supplementary anti-malware tool (free version available) offering Quick, Custom, and Deep Scan options that can catch threats Defender might miss without conflicting with it.
– AdwCleaner is a separate free Malwarebytes tool specifically designed to remove adware and similar unwanted software when other tools haven't fully cleaned your system.