What is meant by Offline Malware Scanner?
Offline Malware Scanner is typically defined as antimalware program that runs outside of the traditional operating system environment. The reason: malware such as rootkits can invade and compromise operating system components and even hide their code on areas of the hard drive that can’t be seen by the operating system and thus can’t be scanned by the virus scanner that operates within the boundaries imposed by the OS.
Offline malware scanners run at a lower level than the operating system, which means they have a lower chance of being fooled by “tricks” that malware uses to avoid detection. There are a couple of reason why offline malware scanners are called “offline”. The main reason is because these tools are usually self-contained and don’t require any network or Internet connection in order to do their job. Offline scanners are typically loaded onto a flash drive or CD/DVD and set to boot prior to the operating system
When to use an Offline Malware Scanner?
If something has slipped past your primary antivirus / antimalware solution and is still wreaking havoc on your machine then you may want to try installing a Second Opinion Scanner before using an offline malware scanner
If both primary and second opinion scanners fail to detect a threat that you are confident still remains on your system, then it might be time to employ an offline antimalware scanner.
Where can i find An Offline Antimalware Scanner And Which One is Good?
Good starting point for finding an Offline Malware Scanner is to check with the vendor who makes your primary antimalware solution. They may have an offline solution and it may be more likely to be compatible with what’s already on your system since it’s made by the same vendor. You should also check with your operating system vendor, they may offer a free solution that is tailored to the specific version of your operating system. Given that they are the OS vendor, their software may be able to reach more of the contents of your drive then a 3rd-party solution.
What Are Some Offline Malware Scanners that are Worth?
There are many offline malware solutions out there that do an excellent job of removing pesky persistent malware.
Example :
Microsoft Windows Defender Offline
For Windows-based computers, Microsoft’s Windows Defender Offline is an excellent first-line tool when it comes to identifying and eradicating malware that traditional scanners might have missed. Although this scanner is a Microsoft product with the Windows moniker, it runs outside of the actual MS Windows Operating System itself. Always ensure that you download the updated copy of this software just prior to using it to ensure that it will be able to detect the latest threats.