Best standalone antivirus scanner

On launch the program unpacks itself to the system Temp folder and then runs. The main default scanning mode is an Express scan which checks memory, boot sectors, root folders, Windows and Document folders and Temp folders. Web are very quick with their updates as the program cannot update itself, new executables are released approximately every hour.

Download Dr. Web CureIt! Despite the name, Cloud Cleaner will also work while you are completely offline. It is less effective without the internet though because the local virus database only detects the most common and dangerous infections. That said, Panda Cloud Cleaner is still a useful program while offline.

The PCCLauncher. To get the latest virus definitions the program will first need to be run online, then taken to an offline PC. For a normal launch run PCloudCleaner. Besides malware, Cloud Cleaner also checks for unknown files and other suspicious behavior or settings, in addition a basic cleaner can remove temp files, browser files, cookies and etc.

Options to close unnecessary processes or deleted locked files are in Advanced Tools. Download Panda Cloud Cleaner Portable. They also offer this Antivirus Toolkit which is a proper dedicated portable virus scanner. One issue is the kit currently contains virus definitions that are months out of date, so you need to first get them updated on an internet enabled computer.

The best way to do this so the updated version can be reused is to unpack mwav. This one may be more suited to the technically minded. The default is a Deep Scan with Rootkit checking enabled.

By default VIPRE Rescue will clean the infected objects so if it falsely quarantines something you will need to use the command line to list and the restore a quarantined item. As the program cannot update itself, new downloadable executables are added to the website every day with the latest definitions.

Notes: Sophos Virus Removal Tool would be an unofficial number 11 but there was a few reasons we left it out. Firstly it asks for a name and email to download, it also installs itself fully onto the system before you can copy the folder and only a full system scan is carried out. However, none of Trend Micro's programs include a two-way firewall or webcam protection, standard with other brands' midrange offerings. Nor does the premium product have the cloud storage or backup software that some of the best antivirus brands add as enticements to their flagship packages.

Read our full Trend Micro Maximum Security review. ESET is one of the biggest antivirus names in Europe, with a very small system-performance load and fast scans. Its malware-detection rate used to be kind of meh, but has improved markedly in recent lab tests. However, there's no VPN client, backup software or file shredder.

ESET's pricing is per device, which is optimal for users who might have more than a few devices to protect. But if your device count gets into double digits, ESET's costs can add up. Sophos Home Premium does its job economically, offering reasonable protection from malware at an affordable price. Because it's spun off from Sophos' enterprise software for business clients, Sophos Home Premium lacks many of the bells and whistles other security suites offer, such as a password manager, identity theft protection service or VPN service.

What Sophos Home Premium does have is the essentials: ransomware rollbacks, webcam defenses and protection against keyloggers, malicious websites and boot-sector and fileless malware. It also has a web-filter system for parents and an online management console from which you can tweak most of the settings.

Some people might demand more from an antivirus suite, but anyone who would rather buy only what they need will appreciate Sophos Home Premium's just-the-basics approach.

Read our full Sophos Home Premium review. A good paid antivirus suite is a digital-protection jackknife, often bundling in parental controls, identity theft protection, a password manager, backup software, cloud storage, a firewall, a system optimizer and software for Mac, Android and iOS as well as Windows. But what if you just want Windows antivirus software without all of those pricey extras? And what if you can't afford to pay for antivirus software? One of the best free antivirus programs might be exactly what you need.

Free antivirus software used to be a step down from the paid software and involved trade-offs. The protection wasn't as good and you'd either have to put up with ads filling your screen or with constant nags to upgrade to a paid program.

That's all changed. One of the best antivirus makers, Kaspersky, offers a free version with the same excellent malware protections as its paid offerings. Its top rival, Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition, has been officially discontinued, although Tom's Guide readers can still download it with this link.

A merger between the biggest names in free antivirus, Avast and AVG, created a combined malware-detection engine that's much better than the sum of its parts. Meanwhile, Microsoft's built-in antivirus software, Windows Defender, aka Microsoft Defender Antivirus, has gone from being a joke to being one of the best antivirus programs out there, free or paid.

You can now get free antivirus protection that's as good as anything you pay for. So here are the best free antivirus programs based on their protection, system impact, ease of use and extra features.

Kaspersky Security Cloud Free 2. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition 3. Windows Defender Antivirus 4. Avast Free Antivirus 5. Kaspersky Security Cloud Free Antivirus may be the best free antivirus program we've ever seen. It has excellent malware protection, a decent set of extra functions and features, and a system-performance impact so small that our computer actually sped up after we installed the program. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition has been officially discontinued, and we're not sure how long Tom's Guide readers can still download it.

It's the best "set it and forget it" free antivirus option. It's now one of the best antivirus programs altogether. You don't have to install or download it — it's already on your PC. If you want an unlimited password manager or a hardened web browser, Avast Free Antivirus might be for you.

Its malware protection is much better than it once was, although its performance impact is fairly heavy. Avast's stepsister AVG has the same malware-detection engine, but lacks Avast's full slate of useful extra features.

But it does have a file shredder and system optimizer. We have to mention one program that's not antivirus software, but which we recommend anyway: Malwarebytes Free. While antivirus tries to stop malware from infecting your machine, Malwarebytes functions as the cleanup crew, sweeping out less-harmful adware or potentially unwanted programs that the antivirus software ignores.

It works well alongside any antivirus program. Kaspersky doesn't talk much about its free antivirus product, and you might have a hard time finding the free Kaspersky software download page on the company's website. That's too bad, because Kaspersky Security Cloud Free is the best free antivirus product we've ever tested. We've never seen such a combination of excellent protection and extra features in a free antivirus program.

It's got a bright, comprehensible interface, a lot of customization potential and Kaspersky's unbeatable malware protection. The program also lets you schedule scans, and its performance impact was so small that it actually sped up our test machine a bit.

Kaspersky's useful extra features include a file shredder, an on-screen keyboard and an email scanner. The password manager and VPN service are fairly limited, however, unless you pay. Read our full Kaspersky Security Cloud Free review. Bitdefender has officially discontinued Antivirus Free Edition, and it will be supported only until June 30, We still love it and you can still get it , but proceed at your own risk.

Compared to premium paid antivirus programs that are big, heavy and loaded with extra bells and whistles, Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition is like a '60's sports car, stripped to the essentials but still providing plenty of power. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition offers nothing but the basics.

There's no password manager, no gaming mode, no quick scans and no scan scheduling. You can manage the software from the program's System Tray icon, but you don't really need to interact with Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition after its installation.

Yet Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition has the excellent Bitdefender malware-detection engine, which sits just below Kaspersky and Norton in the lab-test rankings.

It's the best free antivirus software if you want a security solution that you can set up and then forget about. It's also perfect if you need to protect the computer of an elderly relative but don't have time to manage antivirus software from afar. Read our full Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition review. Microsoft's built-in antivirus software is now a heavy hitter. While Windows Defender, aka Microsoft Defender Antivirus, doesn't quite beat Norton or Kaspersky in malware-protection lab tests, it comes out ahead of Avast, AVG and most other free antivirus products while operating almost entirely behind the scenes.

You won't be getting many extra features with Windows Defender itself, yet Windows 10 does have parental controls, a gaming mode and protections for its own Edge and Internet Explorer browsers. There's no built-in VPN, but you also won't be bothered by pop-ups trying to upsell you to paid antivirus software.

As for a password manager, there's a stealth one built into the Microsoft Authenticator app for Android and iOS that syncs with the Edge browser, as long as you're signed into your Microsoft account on all devices. We still recommend going for Kaspersky Security Cloud Free, which has even less of a system impact, better malware protection and more useful extras, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with using Windows Defender as your primary antivirus solution.

Only thorough research will ensure that you get the right product. That's why we've taken time to compile a list of the best Standalone Malware Scanner in today's market, on your behalf, so that there will be no more worries for you. How did we come up with the list, you ask? How did we create this buying guide? First, our algorithms collected as much information available about these products from trusted sources.

We employed both Artificial Intelligence and large data volume to validate all collected information. Then our AI ranked them on their quality-to-price ratio using industry-standard criteria that let us pick the best Standalone Malware Scanner currently on the market! We consider several criteria before assembling a list. Some of the criteria are discussed below- Brand Value: What happens when you go for a not-so-reputable brand just because the price seems cheap?

Well, the chance of getting a short-lasting product goes higher. Top Standalone Malware Scanner brands try to offer some unique features that make them stand out in the crowd.

We look at the features that matter and choose the top Standalone Malware Scanner based on that. Specifications: Numbers always help you measure the quality of a product in a quantitative way. We try to find products of higher specifications, but with the right balance. Better ratings mean better service experienced by a good number of people. Customer Reviews: Like ratings, customer reviews give you actual and trustworthy information, coming from real-world consumers about the Standalone Malware Scanner they used.

Seller Rank: Now, this is interesting! Web CureIt! A majority of programs mentioned in our list comes with updated malware definitions database. Portable antivirus software is not a replacement for your licensed anti-malware product. Microsoft Safety Scanner works with your existing antivirus software, and it comes with an update malware definition database.

It is, however, worth pointing out that this particular scanner expires 10 days after being downloaded. Hence, it is advised that you download a new one and run the scan again to ensure your safety.

Download Microsoft Safety Scanner Free 2. Unlike other scanners in the list, this one requires a quick installation , as it extracts from program files. Once done, you can quickly jump into the scanning process. Emsisoft Emergency Kit has an easy to use interface , where all the options are neatly listed out in the overview screen. It also includes a command-line scanner with support for all standard features like Direct Disk Access , which is perfect for running batch scan jobs.

You can install it on your PC within seconds and get started with virus removal. Unlike other portable antiviruses, this one does not skip on any kind of malicious programs. It looks for both malware as well as spyware on your system, and has powerful abilities to remove them. On top of that, it also detects rogue browser add-ons , adware, unwanted apps, and more.

Not to mention, the scanning process is pretty fast as it uses its well-sourced cloud definition to check file integrity. By using the cloud as a checkpoint, Zemana saves a lot of resource overhead on the local PC.