ESET Online Scanner is a fantastic free tool for detecting threats without the need to install antivirus software. It utilizes the same scanning technology and signatures as ESET Smart Security and ESET NOD32 Antivirus but through a web browser. It can scan a wide range of areas, including boot sectors, autostart locations and the registry. It can also resolve issues during a reboot and rescan files that were previously thought to be infected. However, it does not provide real-time security.
The interface is straightforward and easy to use. The primary window displays a list with names and descriptions of all identified threats. The user has the option to either delete or quarantine the threat and create a custom scanning profile to scan specific folders and/or files. The program can also be used offline, however it requires an internet connection to download the required signatures and for completing the initial update.
The program can identify many different types of malware, such as Trojans, viruses and spyware. It can also identify potential unwanted programs. It can also eliminate certain rootkits that are not usually eliminated by other scanners. However, it can take a while to finish an entire scan, and the software could be quite heavy on the CPU. It cannot scan encrypted or password-protected files and is not able to detect sophisticated zero-day malware. It is best used in combination with other antivirus programs as a second-party scanner. The first scan is free however subsequent scans and fixes to issues require payment.