Why is the Microsoft Safety Scanner Misreporting Infections and Not Logging Them? Unveiling the Truth

An Inside Look at the Microsoft Safety Scanner Malware Detection Process

Have you ever run a scan with the Microsoft Safety Scanner, seen it detect a number of infections, but then finish reporting no infections at all? You’re not alone. Many Windows users wonder why the scanner seems to find malware during the scan, yet concludes with a clean bill of health. What’s really going on here?

As it turns out, there’s a fascinating behind-the-scenes process that explains this behavior. Stick with us as we dive into the inner workings of the Safety Scanner’s malware detection system.

The “Files Infected” Count is Just a Preliminary Indication

When the Safety Scanner is chugging away through your system files, you’ll notice it displays a counter for "Files Infected." This may lead you to believe that serious threats have already been discovered.

In reality, that number is simply a preliminary status showing there are items that may contain malware. These items likely matched malware signatures from Microsoft’s massive threat database. However, at this stage they aren’t yet confirmed as active infections.

How does Safety Scanner work?

Safety Scanner helps remove malicious software from computers running Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 10 Tech Preview, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server Tech Preview, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, or Windows Server 2008 R2. For details, refer to the Microsoft Lifecycle Policy.

How many ‘infected files’ are found during a MSERT scan?

Number of “infected files” ranges from 15 to 250 during the scan, but at the end of the scan, all three report no infections found (and the msert.log file says the same). Glad issue is solved. Not really resolved as other poeple have the same problem.

Think of it as the scanner saying "Hey, I found some suspicious looking stuff here. Let me investigate further just to be sure." The files aren’t yet convicted; they’re simply suspects awaiting trial.

Verifying Threats with MAPS and the Cloud

Toward the end of the scan, around 95% completion, is when the real magic happens. The Safety Scanner connects to Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure called MAPS (Microsoft Active Protection Service).

It uploads the suspicious file signatures it found and essentially asks "Are these actual threats I should be worried about?" MAPS contains constantly updated definitions for millions of malware strains. It acts as judge and jury, analyzing the evidence and returning a verdict.

The Final Verdict: No Infections

In most cases, MAPS clears the initially suspected files. They end up being harmless items incorrectly flagged or inactive components of old, obsolete malware. MAPS tells the Safety Scanner "Stand down soldier, the system is clean."

This vital background check explains why the final scan results can report zero infections, even though the initial count was higher. MAPS cloud verification separated the malware wheat from the benign chaff.

What does ‘files infected’ mean on Microsoft Safety Scanner?

The “Files Infected” count displayed on the Microsoft Safety Scanner, scan in progress screen or any of their other security products for that matter, is actually just a preliminary status indication that there are items which may contain malware.

How does Microsoft safety scanner detect malicious software?

During a scan, Microsoft Safety Scanner detects possible malicious software contained in a file archive, such as a .zip file. You should determine whether the file is malicious software and remove it from the archive manually. To determine whether the file is malicious, follow the steps below:

Does Microsoft Safety Scanner work on Windows 10?

Get a second opinion with the Microsoft Safety Scanner tool. On Windows 10, the Microsoft Safety Scanner (MSERT) is a standalone tool to scan, find, and remove many types of malware, including viruses, spyware, and unwanted software that may cause harm to your computer without additional installation.

An Extra Layer of Protection

You might ask why the scanners even bother displaying those preliminary infection counts if they end up being bogus. Surely that just causes confusion and concern, right?

Actually, that functionality serves an important purpose. It provides an extra layer of protection in case MAPS happens to miss any brand new threats.

By reporting suspicious files upfront, Microsoft collects samples that may indicate emerging malware outbreaks. If patterns emerge from multiple devices, it can proactively update MAPS definitions to combat zero-day attacks.

So in a way, those confusing preliminary hits help strengthen the entire Windows security ecosystem. Think of it as crowdsourcing threat detection from millions of scanners around the globe.

Shedding Light on the Black Box

Security software can feel like a black box that bewilderingly displays inaccurate numbers and logs we don’t understand. However, appreciating the sophisticated threat-hunting methods that underpin the process demystifies these tools’ secret inner workings.

The next time your Microsoft scanner alarms you with a preliminary hit list, take comfort knowing hidden in the background, MAPS is on the case to eliminate false positives. The final all-clear means you can rest assured your system is safe thanks to the Security Center’s thorough double-checking.

What is Windows 10 security tool?

The security tool is similar to the Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT), and it works similarly to the anti-malware software you use on Windows 10. It even has the same engine and threat definitions as the Microsoft Defender Antivirus.

How do I rerun a Microsoft Safety Scanner?

To rerun a scan that uses the latest antimalware definitions, download and run the Microsoft Safety Scanner again. A Microsoft Support agent may be able to download Microsoft Safety Scanner to your computer remotely. To try this method, contact Microsoft Support to get live assisted support.

The Path Forward

We hope this inside look brought some clarity about how your Microsoft security tools operate under the hood. But the learning never stops in the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape. Let us know in the comments if you have any other questions about Windows scanners or how Microsoft keeps your devices malware-free!

References

1. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/421180/safety-scanner-found-12-infected-files-but-scan-re
2. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/326108/mar-17-21-msert-detects-items-during-scan-but-at-e

Does Windows 10 have a virus scanner?

In Windows 8 and Windows 10, Windows Defender was upgraded to be able to do virus scans also. It pretty much is the same scanner as the one in Microsoft Security Essentials and that is the reason why Microsoft does not allow you to install Security Essentials on Windows 8/10.

How do I install Microsoft Safety Scanner on an uninfected computer?

Save the Microsoft Safety Scanner to removable media on an uninfected computer, and then run the tool on the infected computer. To do this, follow these steps: On an uninfected computer, browse to the Microsoft Safety Scanner download page, and then click Download Now. Click Save as, and then save the file to a USB flash drive or a blank CD.

Should I use Microsoft Safety Scanner?

FYI: Using the Microsoft Safety Scanner is kind of useless since it uses the same definitions as Windows Defender. 3. For future use: Here is a list of useful tools whenever you feel the need for extra scans: List of Malware Removal Tools 4.