You can decide how you want Microsoft Security Essentials to handle the potential threats it detects, by either applying Microsoft Security Essentials' recommended actions or by specifying a default action for each alert level (see What are actions and alert levels?).

By defining a default action for each alert level, you gain more control over how the program handles detected threats. For example, if you know that all medium level threats are something you feel comfortable simply quarantining, then specify Quarantine for the medium alert level.

To apply default actions

1. Click the Settings tab and then click Default actions.
   
   
2. Select a default action (Recommended action, Quarantine, or Remove). The default setting (Recommended action) means that you want Microsoft Security Essentials to decide how to handle this alert level.
   
   
3. Click Save changes. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or confirm the action.
   
   

To make sure Microsoft Security Essentials applies these actions after it detects potential threats, select the Apply recommended actions check box.