Find and destroy: 11 programs for cleaning your PC from viruses

29.06.11

The problem of protecting your PC from malicious programs is relevant for users of any level. As a rule, many people prefer to solve it with the help of comprehensive antivirus solutions. In general, this approach is justified, but you need to understand that even the most powerful anti-virus software cannot provide 100% protection for your computer from any virus. Considering that the classification of computer “parasites” is quite extensive, sometimes it becomes necessary to use utilities designed to identify and treat certain types of malware. Such programs are not antiviruses in the classical sense of the word, and can often easily coexist with already installed antivirus software on one computer. As a rule, such utilities are not used for permanent PC protection, but only allow you to cure an already infected computer.

We have selected for you the ten best, in our opinion, utilities for combating various types of malware.

The Sting by McAfee

McAfee Labs Stinger

McAfee Labs Stinger is a free application designed to detect and remove the most common viruses, Trojans, worms and spyware. The database of malicious utilities is built into the program itself; however, the utility also has a good heuristic analyzer. The main advantages of the application are its small size and the ability to work from removable media.

Although the program is not a full-fledged PC protection tool, it is an excellent help for system administrators to quickly help already infected computers. Moreover, not only files and folders are scanned, but also running processes.

When running, McAfee Labs Stinger allows you to set the level of heuristic scanning of files, giving you the opportunity to choose between speed and efficiency. Another advantage of the application is its intuitive interface and settings. Although McAfee Labs Stinger does not have Russian localization, even an inexperienced user can figure it out.

McAfee

www.mcafee.com/us/downloads/free-tools/how-to-use-stinger.aspx

Free

+ presence of heuristic analyzer
+ work from removable media
+ simple interface
- signature updates are not available
- no Russian interface

Little observer

GMER

A small program designed to detect rootkits in a system – programs to hide traces of the presence of an attacker or malware in the system. GMER displays hidden processes and services, displays a list of hidden files, registry keys and drivers, shows programs, libraries, modules, as well as all automatically launched system components. In addition, the application monitors process creation, driver and library loading, file usage, registry changes, and TCP/IP connection activity. All received information can be saved to log files for subsequent analysis.

GMER

www.gmer.net

Free

+ function for detecting hidden data transfer channels to the hard drive
+ TCP/IP connection activity monitoring
- lack of Russian interface

Blaster against spies

SpywareBlaster

The program is a spyware and malware blocker. The application does not allow scanning the system; its activity is aimed at blocking the paths of possible penetration of malware onto the user’s computer and thus preventing the process of infecting the PC itself. Actually, the program prevents the installation of spyware and adware components via ActiveX and blocks unwanted spy cookies. SpywareBlaster supports Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. The program is free for private home use.

Javacool Software

www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Free for non-commercial use

+ supports installation of updates
+ blocks potentially dangerous sites
- does not support Opera and Google Chrome browsers
- no Russian interface

Comprehensive protection

Ad-Aware Pro Internet Security

A comprehensive product that protects your computer from various threats: advertising, phishing sites, fraudulent programs, Trojans, malware, browser hooks and spyware components. The application also allows you to scan the operating system registry. If an entry installed by a malicious program is detected in the registry, it is deleted. When spyware is detected, the program offers to remove them (all or selectively). To prevent accidental deletion of a desired file or registry entry, a recovery function is provided (for this, backup copies of the deleted data are automatically created). The program has a fairly simple and intuitive interface.

Lavasoft

www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_pro.php

27.95 euro

+ real-time protection
+ presence of heuristic analyzer
+ availability of additional plugins
- no Russian-language interface

Agent Bot

Spybot-S&D

Free program to detect and remove spyware. Spybot-S&D can also remove so-called “traces of presence”, which can be useful if several users are working on the computer.

Spybot-S&D can be launched in two modes: standard (Easy mode) for users who want to use only the basic features of the program, and advanced mode (Advanced mode) for “advanced” users who want to keep the situation completely under their control.

Safer-Networking

Free

+ support for the most popular browsers
+ availability of localized interfaces (Russian and Ukrainian)
+ the ability to rollback after each program action

Ruthless Doctor

PC Tools Spyware Doctor

The program is designed to protect your computer from a variety of malicious applications: spyware and adware, Trojans, keyloggers, unwanted software, phishing utilities, pop-up advertising windows, malicious sites, rootkits, etc. Spyware Doctor monitors activity in the browser, working with the IM client and other programs with which you work on the Internet.

The application has flexible settings, makes it possible to add different programs to the exclusion list, restore the system to a specified point, stop malicious processes, etc.

PC Tools

www.pctools.com/ru/spyware-doctor

$29.99

+ real-time protection
+ background mode
+ Smart Update technology

Free and enjoyable

PC Tools AntiVirus Free

PC Tools AntiVirus Free provides basic real-time protection against viruses, Trojans, worms and other malware and threats. This free antivirus guarantees the safety of your system from known malware. The program is equipped with Intelliguard real-time protection function. In addition, the utility is equipped with the Startup Guard tool, which provides protection against malware that is configured to automatically launch when Windows boots or while the system is running.

PC Tools

www.pctools.com/free-antivirus

Free

+ Intelliguard real-time protection module
+ user-friendly interface

End the bad guys

Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware

A complete anti-malware program that allows you to quickly detect and remove any malware (viruses, worms, Trojans, rootkits, spyware, etc.). To identify and destroy various types of malware, the application uses fast system scanning technology. The utility monitors every process in the system, which allows you to stop malware before it begins to operate. And heuristic analysis technology prevents new threats from penetrating your PC.

Malwarebytes Corporation

www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

19.23 euro

+ collaboration with other antivirus software
+ simple interface
+ command line support
+ Russian and Ukrainian localization

Super-duper

SUPERAntiSpyware

A free program that allows you to remove all kinds of malware from your computer (spyware and adware, Trojans, worms, keyloggers, etc.). The program scans hard and removable drives, memory and registry for the presence of the above “parasites”. In addition, SUPERAntiSpyware Free restores damaged settings of Internet connections, desktop, and system registry. It can protect the settings of the Internet Explorer browser from changes, thereby increasing the overall security of the computer by closing holes in the Windows security system discovered during startup.

SUPERAntiSpyware.com

www.superantispyware.com/index.html

Free

+ scan RAM and registry
+ low consumption of system resources
+ fixes a broken Internet connection

Full immunity

Immunet Protect FREE Antivirus

Free antivirus based on cloud technology. Combines the principle of local detection of malicious software with scanning of suspicious objects “in the cloud,” i.e., on servers on the Internet. The proposed solution combines all the advantages of “cloud” antiviruses, including compact size, highest productivity, timely download of updates and low system requirements. The application uses the Immunet Community “collective intelligence” system, which forms a kind of intelligent network with the rapid neutralization of new threats.

Sourcefire

www.immunet.com/main/index.html

Free

+ cloud technologies
+ high productivity
+ Immunet Community

Total sweep

Norman Malware Cleaner

The utility for searching and removing malicious applications has an extensive database of virus entries, which includes various variants of dangerous programs from the Blaster, Mydoom, Mytob, Netsky, Rootkit, Sasser and many others. The utility can stop detected malicious processes in RAM, remove virus files from the hard drive, including ActiveX components and browser helpers, fix modified registry keys, and also remove links to start viruses when opening normal files associated with them.

In addition, it is possible to search for and remove hidden modules (rootkit) in the system. There is a command line mode.

Norman ASA

www.norman.com/support/support_tools/malware_cleaner

Free

+ simple interface
+ work without installation

Sergey Potapenko