Microsoft Safety Scanner | |
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Original author(s) | 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 |
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]
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]
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]