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Protects your PC from virus attacks when you are offline

Protects your PC from virus attacks when you are offline

Vote: (25 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Microsoft

Version: 4.4.304.0

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(25 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Microsoft

4.4.304.0

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • Official Microsoft software
  • Easy to run
  • Highly effective

Cons

  • Requires additional hardware
  • Must be updated regularly
  • Doesn’t support multiple languages

Windows Defender Offline is a powerful anti-virus tool that allows you to boot a limited version of Windows in order to eradicate persistent threats.

No matter how careful you try to be, you will probably have to deal with at least a few viruses over the years. While most malware can be taken care of with basic security software, there may come a point when a virus makes its way deep into your computer. When that occurs, you are going to need a tool like Windows Defender Offline. This powerful program lets you run a virtual Windows session so that persistent malware can be permanently deleted from your system.

Setting up Windows Defender Offline is going to take a little bit of time and some outside hardware. In order to use this program, you are going to need a spare CD, DVD, or USB flash drive that doesn’t have any information on it. After downloading Windows Defender Offline, you must then burn it to one of those pieces of hardware or create a flashable ISO. Once that has been done, your computer will need to be booted directly from the hardware.

When your computer is restarted, that tool will open up a limited version of Windows before any other apps or programs are activated. That will allow the software to seek out and delete malware before any protective features have been enabled. In order to find the malware, Windows Defender Offline must perform an exhaustive scan of your hard drive. You will then be given a list of potential apps and files that must be quarantined or deleted.

Pros

  • Official Microsoft software
  • Easy to run
  • Highly effective

Cons

  • Requires additional hardware
  • Must be updated regularly
  • Doesn’t support multiple languages