What is meant by Offline scanning?
Offline scanning is a process where security software examines files, drives, or the entire computer system for the presence of malware without requiring an internet connection. This is useful when the computer is not connected to the internet or when an additional security check is needed independently of the internet connection.
Typical functions of software in the area of offline scanning include:
- Virus and Malware Scans: Performing comprehensive scans of the system to look for viruses, trojans, spyware, and other types of malware.
- Scanning Drives and Storage Media: Examining internal and external drives, USB sticks, memory cards, and other media for malware infections.
- Boot Scans: Checking the system during the boot process to detect malware that may attempt to hide in the computer's boot sector.
- Isolated Environment: Running scans in an isolated environment to ensure that malware has no opportunity to spread or hide during the scanning process.
- Manual Updates of Virus Definitions: Providing options for manual updating of virus definitions to ensure that the scanning engine has the latest detection methods available.