Microsoft Virus Scan

Microsoft Virus Scan
How to Scan on Windows 10 with Microsoft Virus Scan?

Microsoft Virus Scanner (Microsoft Safety Scanner) is a malware detection and removal programme for Windows computers. Simply download it and run a search to look for malware and try to undo any changes created by threats that have been found.

Important Notes

The Microsoft Safety Scanner’s security intelligence update version corresponds to the version mentioned on this page.

Safety Scanner only scans when it is manually activated, and it is available for use for 10 days after it is downloaded. Before each scan, we suggest that you download the most recent version of this tool.

Safety scanner is a lightweight executable that doesn’t show up in the Start menu or as a desktop icon in Windows. Make a note of where you saved this file.

This method does not take the place of your antimalware software. Using Microsoft Defender Antivirus on Windows 10 and Windows 8, or Microsoft Security Essentials on Windows 7, for real-time protection with automatic updates. These antimalware programmes also have effective malware removal features. If you’re having trouble removing malware with these tools, check out our guide to removing difficult threats.

Download Microsoft Safety Scanner (32-bit)

Download Microsoft Safety Scanner (64-bit)

PC Specifications Requirements

Windows 10, Windows 10 Tech Preview, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server Tech Preview, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows Server 2008 are all supported by Safety Scanner. Please see the Microsoft Lifecycle Policy for more information.

How to run Microsoft Virus Scan?

  1. Open this tool after downloading it.
  2. Start the scan by selecting the type of scan you want to run.
  3. Examine the scan results that appear on the screen.
  4. View the log at %SYSTEMROOT%\debug\msert.log.
  5. Delete the executable file to get rid of this programme (msert.exe by default).

How to Scan on Windows 10 with Microsoft Virus Scan?

Malware for Windows is also a major issue. That is why Microsoft includes Microsoft Defender as part of Windows 10. It scans for malware in the background, but you can also use Defender to run a complete machine scan.

To begin, go to the Start menu and search for “Windows Security.” When the “Windows Security” software icon appears, click it.

Tap “Virus & Threat Protection” in the sidebar.

By clicking the “Fast Search” button, you can perform a quick scan from this location. If you haven’t scanned in a while, you might want to suggest doing so. Tap “Scan Options” in the field below the “Current Threats” heading.

You’ll find a list of four different types of scans you can run on your machine using Microsoft Defender in the “Scan Options” menu.

  1. Quick Scan: Scans files on your computer where threats are most likely to be identified, such as Downloads and Windows. It normally only takes a few minutes to finish this task.
  2. Full Scan: This scans every file on your screen, as well as all currently running programmes. It’s possible that the scan will take more than an hour to complete.
  3. Custom Scan: If you choose this option, Windows Security will prompt you to select a particular file or folder to scan.
  4. Microsoft Defender Offline Check: This option restarts the computer and checks device files and programmes when they are not running, which is helpful if a piece of malware is currently active and obstructing the scan.

Start with a Full scan if you’ve never used Defender before or if your machine is behaving strangely and you’re concerned about an apparent threat. Click the “Scan Now” button after selecting the radio button next to “Full Scan.”

A full-system scan will begin, with a progress indicator bar displayed by Windows Security.

You’ll be able to see the results once the scan is done. You’ll see a message that says “No Current Threats” if everything went well.

If the scan does detect malware, you’ll see a message that says “Threats Found” with a list of the infected files below it.

Click the “Start Actions” button to delete the threats.

After you press “Start Actions,” Microsoft Defender will automatically delete the threats. Look under the scan results and click “Protection History” to see more information about the risks that were removed.

How to Get Rid of Malware From Your Computer?

What do you do if you believe or realise you’ve been infected with a computer virus on your Windows 10 PC? If you follow these measures, you should be back in business in no time.

It should be second nature to you at this point: Antivirus software should be used. These applications track your Windows PC with scans, real-time tracking, and even heuristic analysis of files and processes to identify new threats, ranging from free tools to paid antivirus apps to major security suites. It’s critical to have antivirus software installed, particularly if you’re using Windows.

Even the best antivirus software isn’t 100 percent effective. A device that has already been infected with malware may gain access to your network, people can instal malware on their own computers, and some malware is dormant and waiting to strike. People (you) can be duped into clicking on or installing an infected connection or attachment using social engineering and phishing schemes. There are also rogue scareware programmes that appear to be antivirus or antispyware but infect you when you instal them! Stop third-party download sites by downloading directly from the source.

It can be difficult to say whether you’ve been infected with a computer virus. There are a number of warning signs to look out for, including painfully slow output when the PC used to zoom along, browser pop-ups when no browser is open, frightening alerts from security programmes you didn’t instal, and even ransom demands.

If you believe or know for sure that you have a malware infection, here are the steps you can take right away to get rid of it.

Note*

The solutions listed below may remove the ransomware, but they may not restore access to your data. As a result, make sure you have a continuous backup of your data, whether it’s to the cloud or not.

Update your antivirus software

To begin, make sure your antivirus programme is up to date with the most recent virus definitions—this is how the software detects malware based on previous events. Antivirus vendors update these lists on a regular basis as new viruses and Trojans emerge in the wild and in the lab. You run the risk of contamination if your programme is even a day out of date.

If you have Windows 10, you will still have Microsoft Windows Defender Security Center enabled as a free antivirus (formerly called simply Windows Defender). That’s better than nothing, and Windows 10’s built-in updating feature keeps you up to date. However, it is far from ideal. We recommend that you download Kaspersky Security Cloud Free, our top-rated best free antivirus, which is a stripped-down version of the complete Kaspersky Security Cloud suite.

If you or your boss need to repair an infected PC for a company, you should invest in a full security suite. The aforementioned Kaspersky Security Cloud, as well as Kaspersky Internet Security, BitDefender Internet Security (and Bitdefender Total Security), and Norton 360 Deluxe, are today’s Editors’ Choice choices. All of the above received 4.5 out of 5 stars. They range from basic (but complete) suites to feature-rich mega-suites and cross-platform suites that safeguard all of your devices, not just Windows.

Perform a deep, comprehensive scan with that device installed. Allow it to run for as long as it needs to in the hopes of discovering and correcting the problem. That’s the best-case situation for you. However, if the malware does its job well, it would have deactivated the antivirus in the first place.

Reboot and Scan

If you have Device Restore points set in Windows, you can use this opportunity to reset the system if malware attacks and cannot be patched. It could work…but it’s more than likely not. It’s possible that the malware is overly intelligent.

You can use the built-in Microsoft Defender in Windows 10 to reboot directly to it. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & Threat Defense to accomplish this. (If you have a third-party antivirus installed, you’ll see it here, along with an option to allow Microsoft Defender for “periodic scans” that won’t interfere with your installed antivirus’s real-time work.) It’s not going to hurt.)

Look for Scan Options once Windows Defender has been enabled, even if only for periodic scans. Check the box next to Microsoft Defender Offline Scan when you click it. According to Microsoft, after a reboot, it will run a 15-minute search to check for “rootkits and other highly persistent malware.”

Are you still infected? If you have a remote access trojan (also known as a RAT) on your computer, it’s possible that someone is remotely accessing it. That’s not good news. Similarly, if you’ve been infected with malware, you don’t want it automatically encrypting files you back up to the cloud. Take a deep breath and turn off your computer. Remove the Ethernet cable from the PC, disable Wi-Fi, and unplug the router if necessary. Make sure the computer is turned off. To remain online on the side, make sure it’s not using Wi-Fi from a neighbour or a nearby company. After that, run some antivirus scans.

What if it didn’t work? Restart Windows, but this time in a way that prevents the malware from restarting. Try entering Safe Mode, which is a stripped-down version of Windows 10 (here’s how). It could work if you run a scan from there.

Delete any temporary files when in Safe Mode. They infiltrate Windows even after a brief period of use, and they may be hiding malware. Type Disk Cleanup into the Start menu (tap the Windows key), and it will scan the C: drive for files you can safely remove from all the temp files.

If Windows is infected to the point that it won’t let you in, bypass the operating system by booting directly into antivirus software. Use a bootable software, also known as a “Live CD” or “rescue CD”—though you’ll most likely boot from a USB flash drive these days. Set it up now, while your PC is still stable, to be secure.

In Conclusion

In addition, if Defender detects a hazard during a Fast or Full scan, it’s a good idea to select “Microsoft Defender Offline Scan” from the Scan Options screen and run it right away just in case. Hopefully, everything will go as planned. Best wishes, and stay away!