Occasionally, malware such as viruses prevents Windows from functioning as it should. You might not be able to utilize a third-party virus scanner or even the Microsoft Defender scan in that circumstance. Microsoft Safety Scanner can be used to search for and locate malware on your Windows PC. Since the program doesn’t require installation, it can be helpful if Defender or your third-party antivirus is having issues.
Steps On How To Use Microsoft Safety Scanner To Scan For Malware
The Safety Scanner utility is available for download from the Microsoft website. Choose the appropriate version for your PC from the two that are offered: 32-bit and 64-bit. Since the scanner tool is a portable app, installation is not necessary. Run it from the download folder or desktop. You can even use a flash drive to run it.
Download Microsoft Safety Scanner
Step 1: To launch the software, double-click the MSERT icon after downloading it.
Step 2: Click Next after agreeing to the license agreement. The available scan options can be found on the screen that follows.
Step 3: A Quick Scan, Full Scan, or Customized Scan are your options. With the exception of an offline scan, these are the identical scan options as in Defender.
Step 4: Click Next after selecting the desired scan. You must also choose the folder you want to scan if you choose a Custom Scan.
Step 5: Depending on the type of scan and the number of files to be scanned, the scan time will change.
Step 6: You can find a thorough report of the findings of the scan in the C:\Windows\debug. If you installed Windows somewhere other than the default location, the file path will be altered.
Find and open the msert.log file in Notepad to view the scan results.
When A Safety Scanner Discovers Malware: What To Do
The Microsoft Safety Scanner displays suspicious files and their locations but does not remove any malware that is discovered. Locate the suspicious file at the location indicated by the file icon. The Microsoft Malware Protection Center can then be used to determine whether the file contains malware and delete them from your computer.
What Are The Microsoft Safety Scanner’s Limitations?
The scanner can only be used for 10 days after it has been downloaded. It will then need to be downloaded again. This assists in keeping the security definitions from aging out. As was already indicated, the tool won’t let you remove or quarantine the risks. The infected file(s) must be located and manually removed. Before or after a scan, the scanner may occasionally display error codes. Among the most typical is
Code 0x80508019: The scan destination file or drive does not exist.
Code 0x80508007: There is not enough memory to finish the process.
Code:0x80508024: A complete scan is necessary.
Code 0x80508001: The scanning engine could not load.
Use T9 Real-Time Antivirus As An Alternative
Even though real-time antivirus might not always be able to block attacks, it will assist you to avoid the malware tools that cybercriminals utilize. T9 Antivirus is one of the top antivirus products on the market; it received iVB100 certification two years ago and still holds it. Using this program has a ton of benefits, some of which include the following:
- T9 Antivirus defends against a wide range of threats, including infections, zero-day threats, malware, Trojans, PUPs, adware, and more.
- The best method to reduce these hazards is to use a cutting-edge program like T9 Antivirus and malware protection software, which provides real-time security and many defenses.
- Immediate security thwarts malware in its tracks before it can infect your computer. Threats can all be avoided, including identity fraud, security hazards, and other issues.
- The most recent database definition updates are routinely installed by T9 Antivirus to safeguard you from attacks.
The Final Word On How To Use Microsoft Safety Scanner To Scan For Malware
If something goes wrong with Defender or the malware scanner you’ve chosen from a third party, having a backup method of scanning for malware might be quite helpful. Your other security tools shouldn’t be completely replaced with Microsoft Safety Scanner, But it is a good tool that one must know about.
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