Microsoft Safety Scanner

Microsoft Safety Scanner

Original author(s)	Microsoft
Initial release	12 April 2011; 13 years ago (2011-04-12)
Operating system	Windows 10; Windows 8; Windows 8.1; Windows 7; Windows Server 2003; Windows Vista; Windows XP^[1]
Platform	IA-32 and x86-64^[2]
Size	121.75 MiB (32-bit); 125.05 MiB (64-bit)^[2]
Available in	56^[2] languages
Type	Virus scanner
License	Freeware for development and test purposes^[3]
Website	www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/

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.^[4]

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.^[5] It uses the same detection engine and malware definitions as Microsoft Security Essentials and Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection.^[6]^[7]

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.^[3]

References

^ "System Requirements". Microsoft Safety Scanner website. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Microsoft Safety Scanner". Microsoft Safety Scanner website. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
^ ^a ^b "Microsoft Software License Terms Microsoft Safety Scanner 1.0". Microsoft Safety Scanner website. Microsoft Corporation. Archived from the original on 22 April 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
^ "Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner finally discontinued". LiveSide.Net. 15 April 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
^ Nick Peers, Nick (16 April 2011). "Microsoft Safety Scanner (64-bit version) 1.0.3001.0". PC Advisor. IDG. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
^ "Presenting... the Microsoft Safety Scanner". Microsoft Malware Protection Center. Microsoft Corporation. 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 22 August 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
^ Introducing Microsoft Antimalware Technologies. Microsoft Corporation. 22 June 2010. p. 9. Retrieved 28 September 2011.