Microsoft Safety Scanner Explained

Microsoft Safety Scanner
Author:	Microsoft
Operating System:	Windows 10 Windows 8; Windows 8.1; Windows 7; Windows Server 2003; Windows Vista; Windows XP
Platform:	IA-32 and x86-64
Size:	158 MiB (32-bit); 164 MiB (64-bit)
Language Count:	56
Genre:	Virus scanner
License:	Freeware for development and test purposes

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.^[1]

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.^[2] It uses the same detection engine and malware definitions as Microsoft Security Essentials and Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection.^{[3] [4]}

License restriction

, Microsoft Safety Scanner's end-user license agreement permits personal usage of one copy for the development and testing of user programs.^[5]

Further reading

1. Web site: Anti-virus to go: Microsoft makes portable anti-virus tool available to download . The H Security . . 19 April 2011 . 20 April 2011 .
2. Web site: Microsoft Safety Scanner detects and removes threats without installation . PC & Tech Authority . . 17 April 2011 . 20 April 2011 . Nick . Peers .
3. Web site: Microsoft Safety Scanner, Free On-Demand Virus Scanner . ghacks.net . Martin . Brinkmann . 14 April 2011 . 20 April 2011.
4. Web site: A Portable Virus Scanner and Removal Tool from Microsoft . techvigil.com . Sandeep . Kumar . 4 December 2011 . 4 December 2011.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner finally discontinued . LiveSide.Net . 15 April 2011 . 20 April 2011.
2. Web site: Microsoft Safety Scanner (64-bit version) 1.0.3001.0 . . . 16 April 2011 . 20 April 2011 . Nick . Nick Peers.
3. Web site: Presenting... the Microsoft Safety Scanner . Microsoft Malware Protection Center . Microsoft Corporation . 12 May 2011 . 13 May 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110822164724/http://blogs.technet.com/b/mmpc/archive/2011/05/12/presenting-the-microsoft-safety-scanner.aspx . 22 August 2011 . dead .
4. Book: Introducing Microsoft Antimalware Technologies. Microsoft Corporation. 28 September 2011. 9. 22 June 2010.
5. Web site: Microsoft Software License Terms Microsoft Safety Scanner 1.0 . Microsoft Safety Scanner website . Microsoft Corporation . 19 November 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110422074503/http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/Eula.aspx . live . 22 April 2011.