ESET Online Scanning is a no-cost tool that can be used to identify 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 autostart areas, boot sectors and the registry. It also tries to fix issues caused by restarts and re-scan files which were previously considered to be infected. It doesn’t offer real-time security.
The interface is simple and easy to navigate. The primary window displays a list of threats found, with their names and descriptions. Users can decide to remove or quarantine threats and create a custom scanning profile to scan specific files and folders. The program can be run offline, however you’ll need an internet connection to download the signatures and complete the initial update.
The program can identify a lot of different malware, including Trojans, viruses such as spyware, adware, and potentially unwanted applications. It can even remove some rootkits that are not usually removed by other scanners. It can take some time to complete a complete scan and the software is heavy on the CPU. It does not scan encrypted or password-protected files, and it does not always detect sophisticated zero-day malware. It is best utilized as a second-opinion scanner, in conjunction with existing antivirus programs. A single-time free scan is available, however future scans and fixes need to be paid for.