A file virus scanner is software that detects malware and viruses in files, such as Word documents or Excel spreadsheets, PDFs, images, video files or audio files. It uses heuristic analysis, scanning technologies and other methods to identify malicious objects in files. The program can scan entire disks for viruses, and can also create a protection scope that includes specific folders or individual files. When files are added to the protection scope, the software searches iSwift databases for information about them and decides whether or not to scan them.
If the application recognises a threat, it will display a notification and take an action on the file, such as disinfection or deletion (depending on the settings). If a virus scanner can’t determine whether or not a file is infected, it is given a probably infected status. The virus scanner will save a copy of the file for further examination, and move the original to Quarantine.
File Virus Scanner: Scan and Protect Your Data
In addition to detecting existing threats, a good virus scanner can prevent attacks on new vulnerabilities that have not been discovered yet. By comparing uploaded files against an extensive database of known threats, companies can minimize the damage caused by zero-day attacks that wreak havoc on business systems and cause data breaches.
To check a file for a virus, right-click it and select Scan with Microsoft Defender. A scan will start in a few seconds and provide a green, yellow or red status. It is recommended to regularly run a quick scan, especially if you have downloaded a large number of files recently.