A boot scan, also known as pre-boot scan or a shoe scan virus scanner is an advanced device that is used by antimalware programs to identify and remove malware that may not be detected by traditional scanning tools. This type of scan is able to run on a regular basis or manually invoked by the user when they suspect that their computer is infected. Many antivirus tools allow users to choose the degree of sensitivity for the boot scan and also determine what actions are to be taken if a threat is recognized.

A boot scan is effective because it lets an antimalware program detect files being used by the OS. These types of files are unable to be deleted as they are constantly accessed by the OS and will result in an Access Denied error when attempts are made to erase them. The boot scan will identify these files and allow antivirus software to delete before the OS is able to start using them.

The duration of a boot-scan will vary depending on several factors, such as the speed trustfulwonderful.com/identity-theft-protection-services-2021 and number of system files being examined. It also is contingent on whether the machine is running during the scanning process. It is typical for this type of scan to take much longer than the standard antivirus scan due to the thorough nature of the process.