Bitdefender updates Quickscan, its cloud-based virus scanner

Bitdefender has released an update to its cloud-based virus scanner, Quickscan.

The service runs in Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome as a browser add-on that will check for any threats currently running on the system or that run during system start-up.

Quickscan works by comparing files running on a computer with an online database. Scanning and virus definitions are hosted on remote servers and if any potentially malicious files are detected, the software makes the user aware of the threat.

Razvan Costache, Quickscan's product marketing manager, said that the online tool was a fast and effective way to check if a computer was infected.

"The security of users is our paramount concern, and we are proud that Quickscan is one of the fastest and most effective ways to check whether your computer is infected. Just ask the millions of people who used it last year,"

Bitdefender still recommends that people download a full security application because Quickscan is unable to scan viruses that are not currently downloaded and active on someone's PC.