ESET Online Scanner is an excellent free tool for detecting threats without the need to install antivirus software. It employs the same scanning technology and signatures as ESET Smart Security and ESET NOD32 Antivirus but through an internet browser. It is able to scan a broad range of areas, including boot sectors, autostart locations and the registry. It is also able to resolve issues during restarts and scans which were previously considered to be infected. It doesn’t, however, offer real-time security.
The interface is simple and user-friendly. The primary window displays the threats detected including their names and descriptions. The user has the option of either removing or delete the identified threats and may also opt to create a custom scan profile to look over specific folders and files. The program can also be used offline, however an internet connection is required for downloading the required signatures and for completing the initial update.
The program can identify numerous types of malware, including Trojans, viruses and spyware. It also can detect potentially unwanted applications. It can even remove some rootkits that are not usually removed by other scanners. However, it could take some time to complete the entire scan, and the program can be quite demanding on the CPU. It does not scan password-protected or encrypted files and it isn’t always able to detect sophisticated zero-day malware. It is best used in conjunction with other antivirus software as a second opinion scanner. The first scan is completely free, but subsequent scans and fixes to issues require payment.