Using Windows Defender Security Center options

July 31, 2018:

Using Windows(10x64) Defender Security Center(WDSC)\Virus and Threat Protection\Threat History\ I ran a Full Scan on my PC this morning...

*Information on the WDSC directly from MS indicates the *most current virus and malware definitions from MS will be found and downloaded *prior to running a Virus and Threat Scan. However, this routine does not appear to be happening...!! If these tasks (Windows Update-Task Scheduling-and Various Windows Services) are not occurring as needed,it is a problem IMO..

IF the WDSC and its Virus and Threat Protection section require the end USER to "set up" this function in order for it to operate as intended, it must be made known to the end user along with proper instructional information from Microsoft.!

What good is the Virus and Threat Protection section of the WDSC to me and others if it is not functioning as MS intended..?
This is a critical issue in my opinion.
thank you...

Then use the feedback app to report the issue. Be sure to include what symptoms led you to the conclusion that WD was not updating.

GOOD suggestion. Will do...! thanks.
after a month or so, the MS feedback forum does not appear to be much of a forum for many reasons.
I am still interested in the issue, perhaps someone here has worked it out, others may/maynot be interested.

Try3 said:

Then use the feedback app to report the issue. Be sure to include what symptoms led you to the conclusion that WD was not updating.

Definition updates for Windows Defender Antivirus and other Microsoft antimalware
source: [ Latest definition updates for Windows Defender Antivirus and other Microsoft antimalware - Windows Defender Security Intelligence ]

"Microsoft continually updates its antimalware definitions to cover the latest threats and to constantly tweak detection logic; enhancing the ability of antimalware solutions to accurately identify threats. [ so far so good - OP ]Automatic updates to ensure your antimalware solutions detect the latest threats, you should always use the latest definitions.
*Your antimalware product should be *set to automatically get updates. *Windows Defender Antivirus gets updates as part of Windows Update.

I find the above last sentence interesting In light of always having the the Latest anti-malware definitions automagically downloaded, and then have the default Quick Scan run using the latest anti-malware update. However my observations tell me the above routine is not happening on my W10-x64PC using standard W10-1803 anti-virus and antimalware settings.....

What MS indicates, I think, that it is best as/when a definition update becomes available it should be automatically downloaded to the PC. Then, after the updated definition is downloaded, an immediate scan (if that is not un-desirable to the user) could/should be run.
However, as stated previouly, the above routine is not happening on my W10 using the installed standard W10-1803 anti-virus and antimalware settings.....

So, do I need to manage the Task Scheduler and/or specific tasks to achieve the above result???

I should have noted the website location but failed to do so.
Information on the WDSC directly from MS indicates the most current virus and malware definitions from MS *will be found and downloaded *prior to running a Virus and Threat Scan.

The definitions are suppose to be downloaded via Windows Update. Is WU a maintenance task?? If so, does MS use the Task Scheduler as the place to enter the Triggers and Conditions of the task? I examined 'Windows Update' in the Task scheduler. It had one Enabled task and three Disabled tasks.
This update task is described as:"This task is used *to start the Windows Update service *when needed* to perform *scheduled operations such as scans." It could be that WU will auto run when definitions are made available, but I have NOT experienced that.

I would like to know the Default installed settings for this Enabled WU task; especially the Triggers Tab and the Conditions Tab. Do you know how or where I might find them?

I believe you suggested *Adding additional WU Trigger settings IF desired by the user. I agree. I now believe the settings of the WU task that is Enabled should be left as is!