A program to scan your browser for viruses. Which free antivirus will provide the best protection for Windows?

If a lot of unnecessary advertising materials appear in the browser, files disappear somewhere on the desktop, or other incomprehensible things happen, and the antivirus is powerless against them, a virus removal utility comes to the rescue.

This concept refers to a small program that simply finds and removes viruses and their remnants.

This is an inferior antivirus, such as Doctor Web or Kaspersky, but a small part of them that only scans the system and removes all malware.

Such utilities do not require installation and, most often, are distributed completely free of charge.

Some antivirus giants release such utilities so that users can fully appreciate the power of their software.

An example of such is the same Doctor Web and Kaspersky.

The first “giant” has this utility called , and the second one – .

These two programs are the most popular of their kind, but far from the most effective. But they are distributed for free!

Using their example, we can consider the main functions and features of viruses removal utilities.

And then we’ll move on to considering those programs that really work effectively against ad viruses and other unnecessary programs.

• Several ways: How to clean your computer from viruses absolutely free

No. 6. Dr.Web CureIt

No. 5. Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool

There, by the way, you can download this very utility.

On the forums you can find reviews that Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool does not find most ad viruses, which Dr.Web CureIt easily copes with.

Some write that it takes a very long time to run and heavily loads the computer's memory.

Often it is simply impossible to run other programs in parallel with Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool. Although, all Kaspersky products suffer from this.

In any case, although Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool is the brainchild of one of the best antivirus products of our time, it does not have even a quarter of the power that Kaspersky antiviruses are famous for.

Therefore, it is better to use one of the utilities listed below.

No. 4. AdwCleaner

In any topic on the forums where free utilities for removing viruses are discussed, it will appear.

And this is not at all surprising, because many choose this particular program as an alternative to the popular ones.

Although, if you take all the many reviews and posts, then it can hardly be considered the most powerful of its kind. But AdwCleaner was created, as they say, with soul and for people.

After a standard and identical virus removal process for everyone, AdwCleaner shows recommendations on how to avoid similar problems in the future.

As for use, this healing utility is practically no different from the above-mentioned similar programs.

The AdwCleaner window is shown in Figure 4. All actions are concentrated in the section with the appropriate name (highlighted in the figure).

To start using it, you need to click the “Scan” button, and then wait until the end of the scan.

The “Results” section (located immediately below the “Actions” section) will contain the inspection report.

There you can select all the threats found or some specific ones and click the “Delete” button.

Of course, the scanning and removal algorithms for all such programs are different, but the method of use is almost the same for all.

As for AdwCleaner, judging by the reviews people left on forums and social networks, this healing utility works better than Kaspersky and Doctor Web products.

There were cases when the same Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool did not find anything, but AdwCleaner found several dozen viruses and easily removed them from the computer.

No. 3. Anti-Malware

No. 1. HitmanPro

It's entirely possible that HitmanPro will be our winner today!

At least, the reviews about this utility are so positive that it is quite possible to consider HitmanPro the most powerful of its kind to date.

Yes, the program is paid, but it has a trial period of 30 days. During this time, it is quite possible to completely clean the system of all kinds of viruses and never think about them again.

The very fact that HitmanPro removes not only existing viruses, but also the remnants of deleted programs and the so-called tails of viruses, already says a lot.

At the same time, the HitmanPro developers did not repeat the mistakes of the people who created Anti-Malware.

They did not choose to sacrifice the main function, i.e. virus removal, for the sake of beautiful design and a wide range of additional functions.

We can say about HitmanPro that it is really powerful! In tests conducted by various sites, this particular utility performed best.

What other similar programs did not pay attention to, HitmanPro detected very quickly and immediately reported their existence.

By the way, if we talk about speed, this is another undeniable advantage of HitmanPro.

Thus, we can highlight the following main advantages of HitmanPro:

• Speed ​​of operation (in this parameter HitmanPro is clearly better than all its current competitors);
• High-quality virus removal;
• High-quality detection of viruses and even their remnants.

The disadvantages of this utility are:

• Paid license (there is a trial period for 30 days);
• Minimum additional functions.

In principle, the choice between good virus removal and a beautiful interface is quite obvious.

Therefore, HitmanPro is the best virus removal utility and the winner of our today's competition.

Although very few people know about this program.

If the trial period has expired and there is no way to buy a license, Spybot Search & Destroy, Anti-Malware or the popular AdwCleaner can deal with viruses well.

But HitmanPro is still better!

More information about HitmanPro can be found in the video below.

Not all users install an antivirus on their computer or laptop. Some people are lazy, others don’t see the need for it. And when suddenly your PC starts behaving strangely (it’s buggy and slow, or advertising appears in the browser), you can simply check your computer for viruses online and for free. Fortunately, there are plenty of options today.

Below are the 7 best antiviruses that can scan for viruses online. True, you won’t be able to check your computer without downloading the installer. Virus scanning is done online, but antiviruses need access to your files. Therefore, some of them are installed as a browser module, and some are installed as a small utility.

A full-fledged antivirus is well known in Russia, and its “younger brother” is also popular.

The program runs in the cloud, so you can quickly check Kaspersky for viruses online on any PC or laptop.

Its main advantages:

• does not slow down Windows (which cannot be said about the full-fledged Kaspersky antivirus, which “eats” a lot of resources during scanning);
• does not conflict with other antiviruses installed on the computer;
• does not remove detected viruses, but only reports them (on the one hand, this is a plus, but on the other, you will have to remove them manually);
• issues a detailed report.

1. Download the installer file from this link http://www.kaspersky.ru/free-virus-scan.
2. Launch the program.
3. Wait until the scan is completed.

After this, all you have to do is remove the viruses (if any were found).

BitDefender QuickScan - fast online PC virus scan

Another way to clean your computer from viruses online is by using BitDefender QuickScan. It is considered very effective and enjoys great success abroad. About the same as our Kaspersky.

Cleaning your computer from viruses online is also easy. All you need is:

1. Follow this link http://quickscan.bitdefender.com/.
2. Click on “Scan Now”.
3. Install a browser module through which the antivirus will gain access to your folders and files.
4. Wait until the check is completed.

The main advantage of BitDefender is fast online virus scanning. On average it takes 1-2 minutes. On the one hand, this is cool, but on the other, what will he be able to scan in such a short time?

Most likely, the online scanner checks the main list of the most common threats: system files, startup - i.e. those places where viruses mainly “live”. The developers themselves say that checking your computer for viruses online is carried out in the cloud (on their servers), which is why it is done so quickly.

ESET Online Scanner - effectively scan your computer for viruses

The next method is using a free ESET product from the developers of NOD32. To start checking, follow this link.

It is recommended to scan your PC through Internet Explorer - in this case, the scan will be performed in the browser window. When using Chrome, Firefox or Opera, the user will have to download a small file, and the PC analysis will be performed in a separate program.

After downloading and running the file, you need to set the settings. For example, enable scanning of archives and potentially dangerous programs. You can also clear the checkbox in the “Remove threats” item so that the antivirus does not accidentally erase important files that, in its opinion, are infected. Then click the "Start" button.

ESET Online Scanner will update the database, after which an online scan of your PC for viruses will begin.

• a thorough system scan (takes 40 minutes on average - depends on your Internet speed and HDD capacity);
• detects any threats;
• can detect malware, incl. in the register;
• performs heuristic analysis;
• generates a complete report on the work performed.

Another plus is that the online scanner is automatically deleted after the scan is completed. That is, no files will remain after it.

Thus, ESET antivirus is perhaps one of the best ways to clean your computer from viruses online. Its only drawback is the need for installation.

Panda Cloud Cleaner - online scanning of flash drives for viruses

Users are offered 4 versions to choose from:

• standard;
• portable (does not require installation);
• for scanning USB flash drive;
• in ISO format (emergency boot disk for checking PC viruses that won’t turn on).

Which version to choose, decide for yourself. For example, if you want to check a flash drive for viruses online, then download the third installer on the developers’ website.

Main advantages:

• quick check (on average 20-30 minutes);
• detection of common threats;
• effective online virus cleaning.

As in the previous case, Panda also “self-destructs” after successfully checking and treating viruses. That is, it is automatically deleted and does not leave any files behind.

F-Secure Online Scanner – treatment of viruses and spyware

Another excellent antivirus that can scan your computer for viruses online. To start checking, go to the developers’ website and click on the “Launch” button. After downloading and launching the installer, a new window will open in which scanning of the laptop or PC will begin.

The main advantages of this antivirus:

• quick scanning – takes 10-15 minutes on average;
• effective treatment of viruses and spyware utilities;
• works even with antivirus installed on your PC.

Before starting the scan, it is advisable to turn off “heavy” programs. This will help speed up the scanning process.

VirusTotal

All previous options had one common disadvantage - the need to download the installer. In this case, you can scan your computer for viruses online without installing any programs.

VirusTotal is a service from Google that can scan any files on your PC. It can also scan sites for malicious utilities. Using the service is very simple:

1. Follow this link.
2. Provide the path to the file you want to scan or the URL of any website.
3. Click the "Check" button.

Wait until the check is completed, and then look at the report.

It is not possible to scan all documents on your computer using VirusTotal. It can scan sites and files individually. This option is suitable for those who, for example, have downloaded a program and want to make sure that it does not contain viruses before installing it. For such cases, VirusTotal is best suited, because it does not need to be downloaded.

Dr.Web - effective scanning of files for viruses

And the last way is through Doctor Web. It has an excellent service that allows you to check individual files. For this:

1. Go to this website http://online.drweb.com/.
2. Click Browse and browse to the file you want to scan.
3. Click the “Check!” button.

In this case, you can scan your computer for viruses online without installing Dr. antivirus. Web. But, like VirusTotal, Doctor Web can scan only one file at a time.

A few words in conclusion

This sounds strange, but it is impossible to completely scan a laptop or computer and remove viruses online. The first 5 antiviruses require the installation of a small file. The question arises: isn’t it easier to install a full-fledged version of Kaspersky or BitDefender? They have more features, plus they provide real-time PC protection. In addition, many popular antiviruses have free versions.

The last 2 options are VirusTotal and Dr. Web – do not require installation, but check one file at a time. This is also not entirely convenient.

By the way, a computer or laptop may be infected not with viruses, but with malware. As a result, advertisements appear in the browser, third-party pages of unknown sites open, etc. In this case, antiviruses will not help; special software is required.

In order to identify various malware and ensure security on the PC, this type of subcategory of resources was designed that will scan after a command from the user. There are a lot of full-fledged anti-virus programs that constantly carry out tracking operations on the PC for its reliable security. There are security programs that periodically scan the system. These include the following antivirus programs:
Each of the antivirus platforms works according to a system programmed into them, but the whole point is that some are better and some are worse. Because each PC user independently installs the platform that he considers the most convenient and reliable.

The program is completely free for scanning, and also tracks and destroys items that are unlikely to be repaired for the computer. This type of virus runs along with the Windows operating system. After one hour, a complete update is performed with the latest versions, ensuring 100% security.
The way Dr.Web CureIt works is to remove the following elements:
mail and network worms;
stealth viruses;
polymorphic type viruses;
powerful Trojans;
various spy programs;
macroviruses and incorporeal;
keylogger and dialer programs;
adware modules, as well as other very rare types of dangerous programs.

Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool

The package is a completely free antivirus tool from Kaspersky. It performs scanning functions according to specific requirements. The scanner's ability to detect malicious elements, such as adware, that negatively affect the operation of the software, and, under the guidance of the OS, carries out therapeutic operations on the affected areas of the device.
The Kaspersky AVP system is used to quickly search for unwanted files, and completely isolates them, but it cannot work to protect the computer all day long. Therefore, you should not leave your computer unprotected and install an additional tool. Which will work 7 days a week and 24 hours a day.

Emsisoft Emergency Kit

This type of program does not require complete installation, so you can carry out the process of scanning and cleaning computers on a full charge. It belongs to free scanners that are used by home users, and differs from the full version of the antivirus in that it finds and destroys programs harmful to the PC. It is also important to note that Emsisoft is an additional tool for combating various malicious software and does not pose problems in functioning with other anti-virus programs installed on the PC.

F-Secure Online Scanner

Another cloud scanner that works on a free basis is “F-Secure Online Scanner”. It is able to determine the charge level of your device online, and then cleans the system of existing threats.

AdwCleaner is a very powerful utility. Eliminates flashing toolbars and platinums that appear out of nowhere. It will also clean the browser from extensions and add-ons in the browser. Completely removes various advertising components and recycles “hijacker”.

A joint scanner for cleaning viruses “HitmanPro”, which works together with the main anti-virus system. In its basic work, the program uses such cloud databases as Kaspersky, Bitdefender and SophosLabs. It deeply analyzes the operation of search engines, as well as the neutralization of all existing threats to the PC.

Another powerful antivirus scanner is Zemana AntiMalware, which runs on a cloud base. The software package helps remove complex threats using several engines. It is used as additional protection and is used as a compatible element with the presence of anti-spy shingles.

You can download and use this protective barrier for free. It will easily search for all viruses and spyware that are harmful on your PC. Systematically and very effectively treats deep OS charges in the process of exposure to dangerous viruses.

A high-quality antivirus utility that works free of charge. The program deals with the following functions at a high level:
search for various modules;
calculating the presence of Trojan programs and dialers;
identifying the presence of network worms;
deep cleansing from various malware;
performs medical operations on areas affected by the virus.

MBAM specialists in the field of designing anti-virus utilities have created a unique application - “Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit”. Specializes in identifying and eliminating encrypted threats, such as rootkits. After which it corrects the damage caused to all areas of the OS. As an additional utility it uses “FixDamage”.

ESET Online Scanner

An effective antivirus scanner “ESET Online Scanner” that works flawlessly for free. In his work, he focuses on the signals that NOD 32 emits, after which he analyzes all obvious threats, using powerful technology - “ThreatSense” in his work. It will provide PC software with control over the emergence of viruses and their rapid elimination, without causing any disruptions in the overall functioning of the OS.

Norton Power Eraser

Norton Power Eraser is one of the most powerful anti-virus scanners, which uses aggressive heuristic operations in its diagnostics for more detailed calculation and destruction of threats. This type of hidden virus cannot be detected by ordinary antivirus programs, unlike Norton Power Eraser.

09/07/2018

Dr.Web CureIt is a free antivirus program from a well-known developer. Dr.Web CureIt is able to scan your computer and detect the presence of various viruses on it. In this case, the program will try to disinfect the files as much as possible. If they cannot be cured at all, then Dr.Web CureIt will send them to quarantine. The program successfully fights all manifestations of viruses: Trojans, dialers, spyware, etc. The program's anti-virus databases are updated regularly, so it can be used in critical situations. The program can be launched from the command line. In this case, you can ask her which folders need to be scanned...

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RogueKiller is a lightweight antivirus product that allows you to quickly and effectively remove and clean the entire system of malicious applications. The program will easily find and neutralize any worms, Trojans, or rootkits. After downloading the program, the scanning process begins immediately. The anti-virus utility finds all running malicious applications and stops them. Then a window appears asking you to delete, disinfect, or replace the infected file. This utility can restore HOSTS, DNS, proxy server files modified as a result of the influence of malicious software. RogueKiller is able to quickly remove infected autologin elements...

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Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit is a software that allows you to detect and remove various exploits, vulnerabilities and threats. Provides effective control even against those pests against which traditional antiviruses are powerless. The latest Zero Vulnerability Labs technologies are used to provide high-quality computer protection against malicious exploits. The application is equipped with screens for all browsers and their components. It is possible to block exploit systems such as Blackhole, Sakura and others. A convenient quality is that there is no need for regular signature updates. Another important advantage...

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BitDefender is a free antivirus scanner that scans your system on demand or on a schedule. We must warn you that this program does not provide permanent protection, and therefore it is not recommended to use it as the main means of protection. The user is offered several operating modes to choose from. You can conduct a quick scan, you can do a full scan, or you can set the scan to run on a schedule, which is very convenient if the computer is constantly running, but you are often away. In addition, BitDefender has a quarantine function, which makes it easy to isolate all detected...

24/08/2017

EMCO Malware Destroyer is an antivirus scanner with a unique engine and low system requirements. It may come in handy when the main antivirus agent is no longer enough. For example, if you know for sure that there is a virus on your computer that is not detected by your standard antivirus. In this case, installing EMCO Malware Destroyer will help. This anti-virus scanner very quickly checks the system for viruses, after which it provides a list of detected threats and suggested actions. In addition to simply scanning files and folders, the program can check Internet browsers for spyware...

31/03/2017

IObit Malware Fighter is a free application designed to identify, block and remove various malicious software that can harm your computer. This application is equipped with an improved algorithm of actions that helps to easily detect and neutralize different types of viruses and spyware. There is a built-in “cloud technology” for real-time device protection. Settings can be fully customized by the user, allowing you to customize protection functions based on the smallest details of the process. The program is also equipped with improved...

10/06/2016

Cezurity Antivirus Scanner is a powerful antivirus product. The program helps to search for viruses and treat files from them. The use of cloud technologies speeds up the process of checking your computer for Trojans and spyware. The user of Cezurity Antivirus Scanner does not need to download signatures every time. The principle of operation of an anti-virus scanner is extremely simple: the scanner collects information (hashes) from the computer, and later transmits this information to a cloud service for analysis. Cezurity Antivirus Scanner also checks files differently. The application checks critical system files for integrity. This check only takes a few minutes, so...

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Panda Cloud Cleaner is a program for cleaning your system from malicious software. This program is part of an antivirus package developed by the same company. Essentially, this free utility is a simple scanning module with reduced functions, taken out of the main package. This program is designed as an additional means of protection against malware. It does not conflict with antivirus tools, which allows it to be used together with them. After launching the utility, it will quickly scan your computer for malware, and then give you a report where you can remove everything...

10/02/2016

AntiSMS is a boot disk for restoring your system after being blocked by SMS blockers. Surely you are familiar with the situation of blocking your computer with various SMS blockers. Those. when you boot your computer, you are given a window asking you to transfer some amount to a certain number, or send an SMS to a short number, which, in principle, means the same thing. There may be several pretexts, for example, they may write that your computer is blocked for distributing unlicensed content. This problem occurs quite often and is also easy to solve, however, due to the fact that the system is locked, you cannot...

02/12/2015

Emsisoft Emergency Kit is a collection of useful tools for reliably getting rid of malicious files. With this emergency kit, you can quickly and efficiently scan your PC for infected files, either directly or using a command line utility. You can also quickly remove all third-party programs. Emsisoft Emergency Kit protects against 4 million known threats. The set contains the BlitzBlank utility, which automatically cleans the registry files before rebooting the PC. Also, for more comfortable work, the kit includes the Emergency USB stick program, which makes it possible to create a USB drive for maximum...

24/09/2015

Detekt is a very useful utility that helps identify the activities of various spyware and hacker modules. The app was originally created as a tool to prevent journalists from being tracked. Today Detekt is available to the average user from anywhere in the world. It finds most of the famous spyware applications that are often used by government special information security services. To check your computer for the presence of tracking modules, just install the program, close all applications, and turn off the Internet. After running the scan, Detekt will display the result.

15/04/2015

McAfee Stinger is another utility for detecting various viruses and Trojans. A distinctive feature of this program is its small size, as well as the ability to combat so-called fake antiviruses. We must warn you that this program is not an independent tool for protecting against viruses. This utility should be used as a preventive measure only. Also, the program must be used on already infected computers. McAfee Stinger is a portable utility, i.e. can be launched from any media. The program developers tried to make its interface convenient.

16/03/2015

Virus Scanner is a free anti-virus solution from Russian developers that allows you to scan files up to 128 MB in size for malware. The program works thanks to the VirusTotal cloud service. It is built into Explorer and allows you to check individual categories of folders and files. The application uses a multiscanner, which includes about 50 programs that check for viruses. The antivirus solution uses a minimum of system resources and does not affect performance. The application's functionality includes a log of performed checks with results displayed. All information about checks is saved in the application history.

14/03/2015

Norton Power Eraser is an application that allows you to remove malware from your computer. Focused on removing programs that can mislead the user using dialog boxes. For example, when you are informed that your computer is infected with a large number of viruses, and this needs to be fixed immediately by paying a certain amount to the attackers. Norton Power Eraser allows you to remove programs of this kind, as well as scan your system for other threats. It should be noted that the application uses aggressive tactics to identify and detect threats, which may lead to the removal of programs that are not...

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Avira EU-Cleaner is a simple, convenient utility that scans the system and all files for viruses and other malicious threats. The program is a tool to support anti-botnet initiatives in European countries. The scanner does not need to be installed. Just download, run, and the program will scan system files and hard drive. Detected malicious applications will be eliminated from the computer system. The utility not only cleans hard drives of malware, but also restores files that were damaged by the virus. Works on desktop computers, netbooks, laptops. The scanner is absolutely neutral to each other...

02/02/2015

USB Disk Security is a very useful program for increasing the security of your data and your computer as a whole. This utility allows you to block malware and viruses that spread through external media connected via USB. Blocks the autorun function of such devices, which eliminates the possibility of viruses and other programs entering. In addition, the program does not require updates, which allows it to provide protection even in cases where the user does not have Internet access. Another feature of the program is that it does not conflict with other antivirus programs.

17/01/2015

Kaspersky AVP Tool is a virus and spyware removal utility developed by one of the popular antivirus software companies. Like all similar programs, Kaspersky AVP Tool is not a standard antivirus. The program serves only for scanning in critical situations, or for prevention, since different antivirus engines often find some kind of malicious code that is not detected by another program. A distinctive feature of the program is that it starts in safe mode. This may be useful if your computer does not boot normally. In addition, we work...

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Trend Micro Anti-Threat Tool Kit is a set of useful tools for a personal computer, also known as Trend Micro ATTK. These tools are designed to provide protection by detecting a range of threats such as viruses, worms, Trojans and spyware. Just like more popular antiviruses, this program has the necessary settings for scanning the system; three scanning methods are possible: quick, full, or only selected folders. After scanning, you have a choice of what to do with each infected file and the risk of this malicious software for your computer. A report file is also created in zip format, which...

12/11/2014

Microsoft MSRT is a program from a well-known developer designed to remove malware that can harm your computer. This program is constantly updated by its developers, which increases the number of viruses it detects. The Microsoft MSRT program uses a signature search, which allows it to detect even some rootkits. In addition, because the program was created by the same programmers who created the Windows operating system, Microsoft MSRT program knows the features of the operating system code and immediately detects virus software. Another feature of the program is its ease of use...

26/08/2014

Another free antivirus scanner that allows you to detect and remove almost all known viruses. As you know, one antivirus is often not enough to conduct a full scan of your computer. This is due to the characteristics of the engines of different antiviruses, as well as the characteristics of the viruses themselves, because some of them have protection against a number of well-known antiviruses. That is why your computer must be periodically scanned with another scanner for spyware and viruses. The program is just suitable for such cases. It has an extensive anti-virus database, which, by the way, is constantly updated and...

Sophos Virus Removal Tool is an antivirus scanner from Sophos that helps protect your computer from various threats that your main antivirus did not detect in time. A distinctive feature of this program is that it is fully compatible with all popular antiviruses, which allows it to be used as a backup protection tool. In addition, the Sophos Virus Removal Tool allows you to detect and remove fake antivirus programs that can either harm your data or computer, or mislead you. The SVRT program, using unique technologies, scans the computer... HijackThis is a free program specifically designed to remove dangerous Trojan programs from your computer, which are installed by some programs and subsequently prevent users from operating their computer normally. The HijackThis complex scans critical areas of the registry and then displays a list of keys found, some of which are infected with malware. This program will be your assistant, which will easily rid your computer of dangerous software. This complex can safely be considered an antivirus that can prevent threats on your computer and restore...

Cloud antivirus scanners are useful tools for additional analysis of suspicious files, and users do not need to install the program to perform the scan.

Online scanners have been tested

When selecting test participants, the finalists of the Digital Citizen Awards 2016 were primarily used. The researchers checked whether the vendor offered an online scanning tool. Unfortunately, not all companies offer such opportunities, and not all tools are of high quality.

As a result, the following products and services took part in testing: , and .

It quickly became clear that not all products are classic online scanners that run in a browser. Many antivirus vendors now offer standalone utilities that you download and install on your computer. They can work together with the main anti-virus protection without conflicts or performance problems. They can only be used when it is necessary to further check the security status of the system.

Important note: This test does not include full-fledged antivirus products. The trial involves free tools that can be used to scan and evaluate system security. These programs are not intended to replace basic security solutions, in particular antiviruses, firewalls, and anti-spyware tools. They should be used to complement antivirus protection and help identify potential system problems that may be caused by malware.

How was the testing procedure?

First, the concept and architecture of the product were clarified - whether it was a classic online scanner, a standalone application, or a hybrid version of the two approaches. Before installing or launching the product under test, the test system was infected with malicious objects. Then they visited dangerous websites with unwanted cookies and offers to install toolbars and malware.

After the researchers were convinced that the system was infected and dangerous files were stored on the disk, the scanners were launched sequentially. The time it took to scan the system, the number of samples detected, the threat information provided, and the proposed solutions were recorded. The scans were performed on a 20 gigabyte partition with 17 gigabytes of occupied space. The test machine was running Windows 10 with Windows Defender disabled, and 17 malware programs were forced to run on the system.

One of the real online scanners. However, you cannot run the scanner in all browsers. Bitdefender QuickScan supports Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. A distinctive feature of the scanner is its high speed of operation - checking the test system took less than one minute.

Unfortunately, Bitdefender QuickScan simply tells you whether the system is infected or not and does not tell you the name of the active threat. The user does not receive any additional information; he is asked to install a 3-month trial version of Bitdefender Internet Security to disinfect the system.

This tool works quickly and smoothly, but is of dubious value to users. Other vendors offer more interesting alternatives.

A cloud scanner that is presented as a standalone program available for download and installation on Windows computers. You will immediately notice that the scanner looks more like a full-fledged antivirus solution. The user interface offers a large number of options and settings, as well as several types of system analysis: quick, full or custom scans.

A quick scan of the test system with Comodo Cloud Antivirus completed in 2 minutes, and only one malicious sample was detected. This is a weak result, so an additional full scan of the system was carried out. This time the scan took 59 minutes, and Comodo was able to detect 13 out of 17 malware.

Comodo Cloud Antivirus is one of the few antivirus scanners that can remove detected threats. Users appreciate this feature.

One of the best online scanners. The product is available as a standalone Windows application that can be downloaded and run on your computer. Before running a scan, ESET automatically downloads the latest signatures to your computer and allows you to configure scan settings. By default, ESET Online Scanner is configured to scan your computer completely: RAM, startup items and local drives. The user can set automatic cleaning of detected threats, scanning of archives, and scanning for potentially unwanted applications.

A full system scan took over 29 minutes and ESET was able to recognize all 17 test samples. For each individual malware, ESET displayed the name and path of location. It is noteworthy that after the scan is completed, the user can configure the removal of scanner files from the system.

ESET products are promoted discreetly and unobtrusively. ESET Online Scanner copes well with the tasks of a secondary scanner and demonstrated high efficiency in the test.

Another standalone program that needs to be downloaded and run first. Before performing the scan, the product downloads the latest signature definitions.

F-Secure Online Scanner then begins scanning the system for malware. The user cannot configure anything and cannot select the type of verification - the entire process is performed automatically.

If F-Secure Online Scanner detects infected files, the product asks you to reboot the system in order to clean up the threats. If you wish, you can view information about the location of threats and the total number of infected files - if this is not enough, you can go to the website to obtain additional data about the malware found.

F-Secure Online Scanner is one of the fastest scanners, scanning a test system with a 20 GB partition in less than a minute. F-Secure ultimately detected 12 out of 17 viruses.

Another scanner in standalone application format. The program has a simple and intuitive interface and allows you to perform quick or full system scans and even create a schedule for regular scans. By default, the tool checks the system twice a week. Unfortunately, you cannot change the frequency of checks, but you can specify specific days of the week when they should be run.

A quick system scan took 2 minutes and resulted in 2 threats being detected. The full scan took 52 minutes, Kaspersky detected 9 malware.

Scan results are presented in several categories:

• Malware - all detected infected files
• System protection - shows whether anti-virus protection is installed on the system
• Other problems - Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer configuration problems are displayed.

If you want to remove detected threats or fix detected problems, Kaspersky Security Scan will redirect you to the vendor’s website to download a trial version or purchase a commercial solution.

It has a long and complicated name, but it really is a very simple Windows application that scans your computer for threats and security issues. McAfee Security Scan Plus automatically updates its files on startup, and the product scanned a test system in less than a minute. Unfortunately, the user cannot set scan parameters. On the test system, McAfee detected only one malicious file out of 17.

It's hard to find reasons to regularly scan your computer with McAfee, but McAfee Security Scan Plus makes it possible. The user can schedule checks at their convenience.

McAfee Security Scan Plus does not offer a cleaning function, so the only sample it detected remained active on the system. When you select the protection option, the tool will redirect you to the McAfee website to purchase a McAfee Total Protection subscription for 3 computers. Don't you think this is too much for one infected device?

A desktop application that needs to be downloaded and installed on your computer. When launched, the program automatically downloads the latest antivirus definitions and scan engine updates. Norton Security Scan scans systems not only for malware, but also for suspicious cookies and potentially dangerous applications.

When you hover your mouse over a detected threat, Norton displays detailed information about it. After installation, Norton Security Scan automatically starts scanning the system; on a test machine, the product detected 12 malware in 2 minutes. Unfortunately, the user cannot configure the scan, and removal of detected threats is also not available.

When you click the “Fix now” button, Norton Security Scan will send you to the website and recommendations for downloading Norton products.

Proven high accuracy and efficiency. The product comes as a separate application that must be downloaded and installed on your Windows system. Before scanning starts, Panda downloads the latest signatures automatically. The user can run a quick scan or a custom scan.

When the scan is complete, Panda Cloud Cleaner displays a report of detected malware and PUPs, unknown files and suspicious policies, and items that can be removed.

When you select a separate section, you can view detailed information about detected problems.

The quick scan took 8 minutes to complete and found 13 infected files, while the full scan took 32 minutes and was able to detect 17 malicious samples. The high detection rate makes Panda Cloud Cleaner a testing favorite.

A standalone application that needs to be downloaded and run on your computer. When launched, the product automatically downloads the latest signatures. The program interface is extremely simple. Using the settings button, the user can select quick, full or custom scans.

The quick scan completed in 7 minutes and found 3 infected files. A full system scan took 462 minutes (and this was not an error!) and allowed 11 files to be recognized. The long scanning times tested the patience of the researchers.

For each malicious object, the name, exact location, type and severity level are displayed. On the plus side, Trend Micro HouseCall allows you to remove malicious elements, which users appreciate.

Trend Micro HouseCall is an innovative product that has capabilities that most free scanners do not have. Low scanning speed and average detection level prevent Trend Micro from getting closer to the leaders.

Review of results

Summary data on the test results are presented in the table:

If you are trying to choose a good cloud scanner, this is probably the best option. We also recommend and, located in 2nd and 3rd place in the ranking, respectively. All of the programs listed are reliable security tools that were able to detect most threats. All three products allow you to clean the system and do not force you to install additional security programs. When you are faced with an infection, this will be a big plus.

Almost all other products have shown low efficiency in detecting malware and are purely informational in nature, not allowing you to remove dangerous objects. They are basically marketing tools designed to sell commercial solutions.

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