ESET Online Scanner operates as a specialized removal tool designed to function alongside your existing security setup without causing conflicts or system slowdowns. Unlike traditional antivirus programs that require a lengthy installation process, this lightweight utility runs directly from a small executable file, making it an ideal solution for users seeking a second opinion on their system's health. It targets active threats, lingering malware, and hidden rootkits that your primary defense might have missed, effectively acting as a safety net for Windows environments.
Key Features
- Periodic Scan: Establishes a monthly schedule to automatically check your system for infections, ensuring consistent surveillance without requiring you to manually launch the application every time.
- Custom Scan Targets: Allows you to select specific drives, folders, or files for analysis, which significantly reduces the time required compared to a full system sweep when you only need to check a downloaded file or external drive.
- Anti-Stealth Technology: Incorporates advanced detection algorithms specifically engineered to uncover rootkits and other hidden threats that attempt to mask their presence deep within the operating system registry or boot sectors.
- PUA Detection: Identifies and removes Potentially Unwanted Applications—programs that may not be malicious but can negatively impact performance or user experience—giving you control over what stays on your machine.
- One-Time Scan: Executes a thorough, on-demand inspection of your entire computer to identify viruses, ransomware, and spyware, utilizing the same threat signature database as ESET’s paid premium products.
Use Cases
This tool serves as an essential resource for technical support professionals who need to clean an infected computer quickly without uninstalling the existing antivirus software. It also benefits home users who suspect a malware infection due to sluggish performance or strange behavior but want to verify the diagnosis before purchasing a full security suite.
ESET Online Scanner delivers a precise, no-cost method to validate your system's security status using enterprise-grade detection logic in a portable format.
Version 3.7.9.0 — March 2025
- Resolved an issue where the Periodic Scan feature occasionally failed to initiate or run as scheduled.
- Improved application stability through minor internal bug fixes and optimizations.
- Updated the detection engine and virus signature database to ensure the latest protection against emerging threats.
