Microsoft Safety Scanner
Virus scan utility
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Microsoft Safety Scanner is a free time-limited virus scan utility similar to the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool. It is used to scan a system for computer viruses and other forms of malware. It was released on 15 April 2011, following the discontinuation of the Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner.[3]
| Microsoft Safety Scanner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Original author | Microsoft |
| Initial release | 12 April 2011 |
| Operating system | Windows 11; Windows 10; Windows 8; Windows 8.1; Windows 7; Windows Server 2003; Windows Vista; Windows XP[1] |
| Platform | IA-32 and x86-64[1] |
| Type | Virus scanner |
| License | Freeware for development and test purposes[2] |
| Website | learn |
It is used as a more rigorous second opinion in cases where daily-use programs are suspected to have missed an infection. It is not intended to be used as a replacement for these tools, as it does not provide real-time protection, cannot update its malware definitions, and expires after ten days.[1] Before they were discontinued, Microsoft Safety Scanner originally used the same detection engine and malware definitions as Microsoft Security Essentials and Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection.[4] It now uses the same "security intelligence updates" as Microsoft Defender Antivirus.[5][a]
License restriction
As of 24 July 2011[update], Microsoft Safety Scanner's end-user license agreement permits personal usage of one copy for the development and testing of user programs.[2]
