Even with an antivirus installed on the system, some malware can disable your internet connection and if it was somehow allowed to get through, you cannot go online until the issue is fixed. If you have a computer that isn’t connected to the internet, such as one with XP installed, it’s still useful to sometimes scan the computer to make sure nothing malicious has found its way onto the system. One example is celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s website recently being hacked several times serving up possible malware to its unsuspecting visitors.

When the scan has finished (usually takes about 15 minutes), your PC will automatically restart.Having an antivirus application or antimalware software installed on your system while connected to the internet is essential these days, not only to protect you if you browse questionable websites or use torrents etc, but even legitimate websites can be hacked and serve malicious files to unsuspecting visitors. After you are, your PC should restart. Microsoft Defender Offline will load and perform a quick scan of your PC in the recovery environment. You'll be prompted that you're about to be signed out of Windows.

Select Microsoft Defender Offline scan, and then select Scan now. In older versions of Windows 10: Under T hreat history, select Run a new advanced scan. In an up-to-date version of Windows 10 or Windows 11: Under Current threats, select Scan options. On the Virus & threat protection screen, do one of the following: Select Start, and then select Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection. Save any open files and close all apps and programs. You suspect your PC might have malware hiding on it, but your security software doesn’t detect anything. Windows Security (also called Windows Defender Security Center in previous versions of Windows) detects rootkits or other highly persistent malware on your PC and recommends you use Microsoft Defender Offline.

When should I use Microsoft Defender Offline?

Microsoft Defender Offline is a powerful offline scanning tool that runs from a trusted environment, without starting your operating system.

Microsoft safety scanner 32 bit