The best virus removal utility. The best program to remove viruses from your computer

Increasingly, users are attacked by Trojans, malicious files that change browser or system settings, and constantly display advertising sites or viral ads. Windows protection does not always work, and it becomes necessary to clean your computer from viruses for free. This can be done in several ways.

How to check your computer for viruses

Threats can penetrate the operating system via the Internet, along with someone else’s flash drive, or when installing dubious software. The development of antivirus products has prompted the emergence of more cunning, complex spyware or malware codes. Now they can be recorded in startup and automatically restored after deletion. It becomes more difficult to cure your computer. Here are ways to clean your laptop from viruses yourself:

The most radical, tough way to clean your computer from viruses is to reinstall the operating system. Along with malicious files, files will be completely deleted from system partitions or from a logical drive. This means that the programs and documents that were on it will be lost. You can save data on other drives, but there is a risk that the infected file lives on them too.
Formatting the disk. A good way if you know that the virus is not in section C.
Return to a restore point without malicious files. The operating system can roll back to its previous state, for example, yesterday, when worms or Trojans had not yet penetrated it. When using a backup, all new files and folders will be deleted and replaced with old ones. Suitable if only system data and directories were affected.
Use any good antivirus, for example: Doctor Web (Dr.Web), Kaspersky or Nod32. The scanner will detect threats and offer to remove, treat, or quarantine them.

Some viruses are not so easy to clean: they open browser windows with advertising pages and carry out hidden actions. One of them is blocking the operation of anti-virus utilities. In such cases, online services for the initial start of scanning can provide assistance. Here are some popular and effective options:

BitDefender QuickScan – online scanning via a cloud service is enabled directly on the website;
Panda ActiveScan – a special module will be downloaded, which will scan your computer for security threats through a cloud service;
HouseCall – searches for spy codes and viruses online;
Microsoft Safety Scanner – one-time check from the company;
Kaspersky Security Scan – your computer is treated for viruses using a special utility. It needs to be downloaded, but the software works via a cloud service.

The best utilities for cleaning your computer from viruses

To clean your computer, full-fledged antiviruses are best suited, but you can also use special utilities. The best of them are given below:

DR WEB CUREIT is a simple, free, portable utility. You just need to launch the program and click “Start scanning”. This can take from 1 to 6 hours (depending on the number of objects being checked).
NORTON SECURITY SCAN is another additional protection tool that will help clean your computer from viruses. Distributed free of charge. It works and is accessible to the user online, controls the PC in real time.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus is a full-fledged program that is distributed for a fee. There is a special utility that you can download for free - Kaspersky Security Scan.
AVZ is a powerful, popular utility that can solve even the most complex pest problems. Very useful in cases where you cannot log into Windows. Launch it in safe mode when the system boots. The current version is updated automatically free of charge.
ESET ONLINE SCANNER is another option on how to clean your computer from viruses for free. No installation is required, you just need to download and run the executable file.
AVIRA REMOVAL TOOL is not the most successful option for cleaning your computer from viruses, but they use it because the utility is distributed free of charge.
AVAST! VIRUS CLEANER TOOL – additional protection against Avast antivirus. Works autonomously in a cloud service. Searches for and removes spyware and malicious files.
Malwarebytes is a very effective program for removing ad viruses that successfully hide from Kaspersky or Dr.Web. The first month can be used absolutely free, but then you will have to purchase a license.

How to clean your computer from viruses yourself

If you wish and have free time, you can clean the computer yourself. It is recommended to delete everything from the Recycle Bin at the very beginning and use the CCleaner program, which will destroy unnecessary and redundant information from the registry and all kinds of garbage. The easiest way to clean your computer from viruses is to format your hard drive. If it is important to save data on it, you should choose a more complex path, using an antivirus and special programs.

Cleaning and formatting the hard drive

You should understand that disk cleaning and formatting are two different things. The first is often carried out with the aim of freeing up space on the desired partition by removing junk, temporary and broken (non-working) files. This action does not directly affect the cleaning of malicious files. You can do it as follows:

Go to "My Computer".
On the disk that needs cleaning, right-click.
Select Properties.
In the window that opens, find the “Disk Cleanup” button at the bottom and click on it.

Formatting completely deletes the entire contents of the partition along with malicious code. Make sure to copy all important data to temporary media. To do this you need:

Open "My Computer".
Right-click on the desired section.
Select “Format” from the menu.
Uncheck the "Fast" box.
Click the “Start” button.

Using a special antivirus program

Before you remove viruses from your computer, you must log into safe mode. To do this, press F8 when you boot your computer. Before this, you must download the AVZ program and install a full-fledged antivirus, for example, Kaspersky or Nod32. When entering safe mode:

Launch AVZ immediately.
Go to the File menu, select System Restore.
Confirm all points, click “Run”.
Once finished, go to the “Tools” section and click on “Process Manager”. Delete everything that is not highlighted in green.
Go to the File menu and click Troubleshooter. Clean the system.

These first steps on how to properly clean your computer of viruses will allow you to identify problems in the system, the location of infected files and neutralize them, but not delete them. You need a full-fledged antivirus program. AVZ prepares the ground for its effective operation. Select full scan and wait for the results. All threats found must be removed. If after this the advertisement continues to load and pages open spontaneously, use “Malwarebytes.”

If the antivirus installed on your computer does not detect anything suspicious, but the symptoms are obvious (freezes, strange running processes, autorun.inf appearing on flash drives, etc.), a “disposable antivirus” is necessary. It's easy to use - just download from the link and run it. In this case, during the scan, it is advisable to disable the antivirus that is installed on a permanent basis.

Advantages of disposable antiviruses

1. Free. For home use, almost all one-time antiviruses are free.

Flaws

1. They are not able to protect your computer all the time (there is no module for constant protection) and there is no update of anti-virus databases.

2. You have to download it again every time so that such an antivirus detects new viruses.

Dr.Web CureIt!

Dr.Web CureIt!- a good one-time antivirus. Knows how to fight running viruses (does not allow itself to be killed during scanning).

HerdProtect

An online antivirus that scans all computer files using 68 antivirus databases. I explained how to use it in a separate article.

This is a good option if you have unlimited internet.

Minus: does not know how to treat infected files.

Plus: You don’t need to download it again to check, the databases are always fresh.

Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool

ESET Online Scanner

Plus Online scanner - no need to worry about downloading new versions with fresh databases. Just open the link or run esetsmartinstaller_rus.exe, the antivirus will start, update and scan your computer for viruses.

Norton Security Scan

Norton Security Scan- another one-time antivirus. You can download the interface in English, but simple.

Checks hard drives very quickly. Requires an Internet connection, just like Eset Online Scanner.

When you first start it, it creates a shortcut to itself, which is strange.

In general, it is better not to use it, since viruses common in Russia enter its database a little late. The newest winlockers (ransomware banners) are unlikely to be detected.

AVZ or Zaitsev Antivirus

Powerful antivirus utility (not a full-fledged antivirus!) for advanced users. There is not a sea of functions, but a whole ocean.

Supports updating anti-virus databases from the Internet. Unlike disposable antiviruses, it cannot treat infected *.exe files. It is more of an “anti-spyware” with many unique additional features. I will quote the words of the author AVZ: “ The utility is a direct analogue of the Trojan Hunter and LavaSoft Ad-aware 6 programs. The primary task of the program is to remove AdWare, SpyWare and Trojan programs.» The archive with the program contains help on all functions; it must be read carefully before the first launch.

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 such a utility called Dr.Web CureIt, and the second one – Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool. 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.

No. 6. Dr.Web CureIt

So, Dr.Web CureIt does not require installation.

In order to use this utility, you need to go to the official website of this antivirus free.drweb.ru/cureit and download it.

It's very easy to use.

It all comes down to these few steps:

Launch the downloaded file.
Click on one big button “Start checking” (Figure 1.a).
In the next window, check off the threats that the program will look for on your computer (highlighted in green in Figure 1.b).
Click the big “Start scan” button.

After that, you just have to wait for the end of the check. This process is shown in Figure 2.a. Upon completion, the user will see a report that displays detected viruses and the files that contain them.

An example of such a report is shown in Figure 2.b. Using the buttons at the bottom of the window, they can be deleted or quarantined.

That's the whole process of using Dr.Web CureIt.

No. 5. Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool

The use of Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool is very similar to what we saw in Dr.Web CureIt. In principle, the same applies to all other utilities for treating a computer.

As for the utility from Kaspersky, I want to believe that it is really powerful and that it is capable of efficiently finding all viruses. But, judging by the reviews on the Internet, everything is not as rosy as it seems at first glance.

Moreover, it seems that the developers of Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool decided not to put too much effort into their product. This is confirmed by the fact that the latest version of this program was released in September 2015.

Since that time, Kaspersky Lab specialists have not worked with the utility. This is evidenced by the official website of the program - www.kaspersky.ru/antivirus-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

Any topic on forums that talks about free virus removal utilities will feature AdwCleaner. And this is not at all surprising, because many people choose this particular program as an alternative to the popular Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool and Dr.Web CureIt.

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. Although it cannot be considered the best of its kind.

No. 3. Anti-Malware

Anti-Malware is one of the most popular healing utilities. Almost the same thing can be said about it as about AdwCleaner - in any topic about utilities for removing viruses, at least someone will write about Anti-Malware.

The peculiarity of this program is that it is a full-fledged software with several tabs in the main window, extensive customization options, several scanning modes and a great variety of functions.

Thus, the user can set exceptions for scanning, set scheduled scans, restrict access to the utility for other users, and do much more. He also has the opportunity to view history.

In general, Anti-Malware is much more than AdwCleaner, Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool and Dr.Web CureIt combined.

Moreover, this program is distributed completely free of charge. It only has Premium mode, in which a quick scan is available, the aforementioned scheduler, even real-time protection (!) and many other additional features.

But the main Anti-Malware package is quite enough to detect and permanently remove certain viruses.

In some cases, users use it as a replacement for an antivirus, only checking it from time to time. Although doing so is highly not recommended.

Anti-Malware also has disadvantages. But they are very small. For example, for one user the utility detected Webalta and Conduit, but did not respond to Mobogenie, which is also a completely adware program.

So in the race for the title of “best virus removal utility,” Anti-Malware clearly cannot claim first place. But her place in the top three is guaranteed!

Important: Anti-Malware has a full Russian language. Only for this you need to download it from the official website - ru.malwarebytes.org/mwb-download.

No. 2. Spybot Search & Destroy

This program differs from the others in its very interesting interface - it is clear that few people worked on the program, and they did not spend a lot of time on beautiful design and advertising of their product.

But they spent a lot of time making a truly powerful virus removal tool for any modern computer. The program interface is shown in Figure 6.

As you can see, in the main program window there are such standard items as system scan, quarantine and update. Although there are two scans here - one for the system as a whole, the other for individual files.

This is very unusual for such programs. There is a “Statistics” button, by clicking on which you can see how many viruses were on the computer for the entire time that Spybot Search & Destroy was on the computer, which of them were removed, and so on.

This is also a very useful function that allows you to analyze the main ways threats enter your computer.

But the palm among non-standard functions goes to “Immunization”. It allows you to protect certain files from infection. A very unusual, but very useful feature!

Among the advanced tools there is a report creator, which makes it possible to create a report on the operation of the program and the state of the system.

There are also settings and another interesting item - “Startup tools”. It allows you to specify those programs and functions that will be loaded with the system. For example, you can set automatic scanning at startup.

Most importantly, Spybot Search & Destroy protects against viruses very well - search is at the highest level, and removal occurs without side effects. And this is the main thing for such programs.

Important! Spybot Search & Destroy does not take first place in our rating today for one simple reason - it is unfinished!

For one user, this utility for some reason removed the drivers from the scanner; for another, the computer rebooted. In addition, the creators approached the licensing agreement with humor that was not very appropriate in this case.

If they take their creation more seriously in the future, Spybot Search & Destroy may well outperform other similar programs.

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.

As you know, timely cleaning of Windows will be the key to high performance of your computer and the versatility of its software resources. We reviewed the best programs that can perform a complete cleaning of the system. Which of the above utilities should you choose?

The undisputed leader among computer system cleaning programs is Computer Accelerator. This program has amazing capabilities that are only partially available to other analogues. Manage the cleaning process, optimize the Windows registry as efficiently as possible, and forever get rid of any software glitches and problems that have been bothering your computer for a long time. The Computer Accelerator is able to quickly increase the performance of all computer resources, ensuring reliable stability and multifunctional performance of all its important system resources!

System Mechanic can be recommended for both beginners and professionals, however, specialists will like the product more. Its reliability and quality are captivating; only the English language on the menu is a slight hindrance. In the West, the utility package is widespread and popular; development has been going on for more than 20 years, so all functions have been honed to perfection.

An inexpensive alternative is Wise Care 365. The software is distinguished by the most convenient controls in comparison with analogues, powerful tools for ridding the system of computer junk, as well as an optimal ratio of the cost of the license and the high quality of the productivity tools offered by the developer.

CCleaner is one of the most common computer junk and junk cleaners in the world. The utility gained its popularity thanks to its user-friendly interface and rich built-in capabilities. Owners of CCleaner receive virtually the entire list of most paid modern analogues among “cleaners” and “optimizers” of the operating system. Using Advanced SystemCare Free will help you not only clean the platform, but also seriously overclock the power of your computer. Thanks to the presence of a whole range of specialized tools, the program can increase the performance level of RAM and processor, which will have a great impact on the performance of the entire OS.

In addition to the common functions of cleaning the system from unnecessary and damaged files, Glary Utilities will provide you with proper protection of all confidential data, increasing not only the performance, but also the level of security of the operating system. The program can even correct incorrectly entered links, as well as find any errors in the registry and correct them correctly. If you have to share your computer with several other users, Comodo System Cleaner will help get rid of even the slightest suspicion of theft of your information; the utility can delete any confidential data without the possibility of their subsequent recovery. Komodo System Cleaner has a simple interface and will quickly remove all unnecessary files, in addition, it will analyze the system for duplicate files.

Wise Registry Cleaner is one of the leading registry cleaning utilities. The program does not have such extensive functionality compared to its main competitors, but it will cope with its direct responsibility perfectly. The application will give you the possibility of both manual and automatic control modes. There is no need to worry that Weiss Registry Cleaner will clean up anything important automatically, because the developer has introduced a convenient option for creating a registry backup. Using Wise Care 365 Free, you can quickly clear cache and cookies within web browsers. The utility features a convenient ability to customize the (already simple interface) to suit your preferences. Vice Care 365 will protect user personal data, defragment the required disks and clean the system of excess garbage.

Malware is software that gains unauthorized access to PC resources or user data stored on it. Such mini-programs are malicious because they are downloaded and installed unauthorized, interfere with the operation of applications, run autonomously, monitor user activity, and in some cases stop the operation of antiviruses and firewalls and send data. But it is incorrect to call malicious software or “malware” viruses in the full sense of the word; they are mini software that pursues its own “malicious” goals.

Such programs that secretly sneak onto a computer are often not identified by antiviruses, and in some cases even deactivate its operation. And it is very difficult to get rid of them. But there are special software methods that allow you to remove Malware.

Or on websites - a pressing problem that is not so easy to solve. We will tell you how to remove ads using one of the programs. But before you follow our recommendations, stop running extensions in your browser, even trusted ones, and look at the result. You may not need utilities. And if the method doesn't work, read on.

Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool

If your PC runs on the latest version of Microsoft operating system, “ten,” you can use a special utility already preinstalled by the developer. This program monitors the system automatically, but it can also be launched manually. The program is located in the system, hidden partition C:\Windows\System32\MRT.exe. An application from an official manufacturer is inferior in efficiency to programs that are installed externally. But you can still run it and check your computer.

After launch, you will see a wizard window with Russian language support. All you need to do while the utility is scanning is to press the “continue” button in time. The process of identifying malicious software using this utility is quite long, so wait until it is finished.

If licensed Windows 10 is installed on your PC, the utility for identifying malicious applications is official, i.e. developed by Microsoft itself. This means that you can use this method absolutely safely, without fear that the program will delete an important file. If your PC does not have pre-installed software, it can be downloaded separately on the official OS developer page.

AdwCleaner

AdwCleaner is the most effective tool that will rid your browser of adware and clean your computer of unnecessary malware applications. If you are tormented by pop-up adware, have unwanted pages open automatically when surfing, and have an unnecessary start page installed that cannot be replaced, the utility from Xplode will help you deal with all these problems.

Why do we recommend AdwCleaner? This program is absolutely free, created with support for the Russian language, does not require installation, effectively removes adware and all kinds of malware, is constantly improving and distributes free and very useful recommendations and tips. Yes, when the procedure for checking and removing malicious software and advertising is completed, the utility will tell you how to protect your computer from unwanted software.

Even untrained PC users can use this utility. All you need to do is launch the software, click “scan”, view the scan results and remove unnecessary programs. If you doubt the “need” of a particular application, uncheck the box.

If the program that needs to be removed using AdwCleaner is running at the time of scanning, the computer will restart.

Download the AdwCleaner utility to your computer only from the author’s official page. Otherwise, you risk getting the same malicious software, only under a different cover. If you downloaded the software from an unofficial resource, check it in real time.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free

Anti-Malware is the most popular utility that effectively searches for and removes virus adware and malicious applications.

The program is available in two versions - professional and free, and has Russian-language support. If you used the program before 2015, be sure to update, as the new version has been improved in terms of efficiency and has been efficiently translated into Russian. The free version of Anti-Malware is practically no different from the professional version, only some options are missing. And if you use it, it will find and effectively remove malicious software installed on the PC.

According to some users, the program sometimes skips suspicious software. If you are ready for a long scan, run the Anti-Malware version “Free”.

Zemana AntiMalware

If the first two programs we described above did not remove all malicious applications and adware, download and scan your computer with the Zemana AntiMalware utility. The program positions itself as an anti-virus scanner. In its work, it uses a number of engines and cloud technologies that allow it to find and effectively get rid of modern threats that are undetectable by most antiviruses.

The program has Russian-language support and a fairly simple interface. Scans and finds individual program components using cloud technology. At the same time, it has the ability to work in real time, preventing harmful Malware and adware from entering the computer.

Most often, advertising software appears in browsers, in the form of modules and extensions. The Zemana AntiMalware utility effectively combats this type of malware, finding and removing them in real time. To take advantage of this useful program option, you must allow extension checking in your browser. Enable this option in Advanced Settings.

There is one drawback to the utility - it is paid. But it allows you to scan your computer for half a month in free mode. Also, for startup and further testing, the computer must be connected to the network.

HitmanPro

The HitmanPro mini-utility is another effective solution for combating malicious software that is installed on a PC without authorization. This utility is capable of detecting a sufficient number of modern threats, and it will also clean up those elements that were missed when other programs were running. A huge advantage of this program is that it will scan your computer in record time, and does not require installation.

There is one drawback, so to speak, of the program - it is paid, but you can only buy it after a month. During this time, you can clean the operating system from malicious software. It will cope with the problems of pop-up advertising in browsers and with replacing the start page. Moreover, this utility can work in tandem, completely removing all junk programs and its individual elements from the computer.

Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool

Malicious Soft Removal Tool Win is a mini-software utility created by the operating system developer. It finds and removes the Blaster and Sasser computer worms, the Novarg mail worm and many other threats that became a real epidemic in its time. The utility works on all versions of the Microsoft operating system, and is a method supported by the developer. To use the program's options, you just need to launch it and scan your computer. When the scanning procedure is completed, the Microsoft utility will provide results on the basis of which you can make decisions about whether to remove or not remove certain applications or individual components.

The utility does not make any changes to the registry or OS, so you can safely use it, at least at the first stage.

Spybot Search & Destroy

The utility, positioned as Anti-malware, Antivirus Software, will not only effectively rid your computer of harmful software and advertising, but also protect against new threats. A program developed with support for the Russian language will not only allow you to scan your computer. You can also take advantage of its auxiliary options aimed at ensuring computer security in real time.

Immediately after launch, the program will scan the system, find unwanted software, and remove it completely or only individual components/elements. And after that, you can protect your computer from new threats. Also, SpyBot-Search and Destroy can monitor applications already installed on the computer and stop their active activity, attempts to change system files, edit the registry, etc.

It is safe to use the program from the software developer Safer Networking, since its functionality allows you to delete all previously made changes. For example, if the utility removed some necessary component, and this led to a failure in the operation of a separate program or the operating system as a whole, you can return everything back.

These are, in our opinion, the most effective mini-utilities that allow you not only to remove malicious software and adware, but also to protect your computer online from other threats or the activity of already installed applications. If you need to clean your PC once, use the official utility. And if you need constant protection, install more effective programs.