Malware refers to any kind of malicious software, such as computer viruses, ransomware, spyware, trojan horse, worms, and adware. The primary intention of malware is to harm the normal functioning of the computer, server, client, or computer network in such a way that it is unrepairable.
The first known malware was a computer virus, whose sole purpose was to infect the running computer programs with its code. After re-execution of the infected program, the virus used to replicate itself and spread even more severely. The software applications which are used to protect against the wrath of viruses are known as antivirus programs.
Why do We Need Malware Protection?
Cyber-attacks are one of the most hazardous threats that one can experience in the 21st century. So, it becomes necessary for computer users to use anti-malware software to safeguard themselves against such incidents. 2 best reasons why you need protection against malware are summed up as follows:
1. Stay Away from Ransomware
Ransomware is the sneakiest malware which is extremely difficult to detect and cure. It ceases file access from the hard drives, locking the PC completely. The only solution is to format the disk completely, which is an infeasible solution. The better option is to download an antivirus and prevent it from doing any harm to you.
2. Protection of Sensitive Data
Nobody can deny that the personal and financial information of a user is quite precious. Sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, bank accounts, and passwords should remain away from the hands of hackers. The most common form of malware is spyware which steals data. It is very difficult to remove.
10 Best Malware Scanner Software
A malware scanner is an application software or tool that helps in the detection and removal of various kinds of malware, such as viruses, worms, ransomware, adware, and trojan horses. Choosing the best malware scanner is a very important task so that it can safeguard the computer system from being infected or malfunctioned in a hazardous manner.
It does not matter which device or operating system you use, any vulnerability found in the browser can lead to some kind of malware attack which can be a very severe condition at times. Below is the list of the 10 best malware scanners that can be used to prevent malware attacks on your devices:
1. Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes is one of the most effective anti-malware available in the market. It removes all the malicious files and applications as soon as they show up. The anti-malware receives updates every single day that upgrades its features and functionalities.
A 14-day trial comes with the premium edition of Malwarebytes with functionalities, such as real-time scanning, protection against ransomware, and deep scanning tools. After the free trial ends, it switches to the basic version, which is free of cost but features fewer tools.
Malwarebytes provides the best security that any antivirus can provide and can be run once a week to detect any kind of anomalies or strange behavior that occurs in your computer.
2. Avast Antivirus
Avast is an anti-malware protection and removal tool that offers the best internet security. It was a free antivirus software, but now it comes bundled with anti-malware as well. It uses the constant behavior monitoring tool for the detection of suspicious programs. This antivirus is compatible with both desktops as well as mobile phones.
Some of its key features include fine-tuning, secure file shredding, and anti-ransomware software. Business users and home users can take advantage of Avast to protect their computers from malware.
The premium version of Avast Antivirus provides various amazing features, such as a firewall, protection against webcam hijacking, secure file transfer, and URL filtering.
3. Kaspersky Anti-Virus
Kaspersky is one of the best security packages that focus on web filtering by blocking malicious websites. It is mainly used for the detection and removal of threats by using smart monitoring techniques along with the reversal of malicious actions. This program has a user-friendly interface and is easy to use.
Everything is explained by this program using instruction popups. Some of its useful key features include automated scanning, security management, and crypto mining infection management. Though it is not a free antivirus, it is quite reliable, consistent, and accurate in terms of properly treating the malware.
4. Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security
Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security is a handy and proficient package to deal with various forms of spam and ransomware. It provides a high level of accuracy and protection to the computer system. Some of its key features include AI learning methodologies, ransomware protection, email-scam protection, and payment transaction management.
Along with all this, it also performs regular PC clean-ups and maintenance sessions. Trend Micro is compatible with almost all operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and Android. It is a paid antivirus that comes with a 30-day free trial that lets the user check out its outstanding security features and functionalities before purchasing it.
5. F-Secure SAFE
F-Secure SAFE is a combination of various anti-virus tools. Though it is a bit expensive, the countless features it provides make it an excellent choice. Some of its impressive key features include safe banking transaction management, family safety tools, device locating, and automated device locking mechanism in case if certain suspicious activity is observed.
It is a user-friendly and lightweight package and is available for Windows, macOS, and Android. Being a conflict-free anti-virus, it can easily work in collaboration with various other security tools without compromising on the speed. The URL blocking feature is not available with this package, making it a little vulnerable to malicious websites.
6. Bitdefender Antivirus Free-Edition
Bitdefender is a free yet strong anti-malware software. It works in silence and does not restrict the user from installing any kind of file. Bitdefender directly identifies and eliminates the file causing any harm to the computer. It has a proactive malware and spyware detection mechanism. Boot scanning is performed automatically every time the device is started.
Some of its key features include automatic malware blocking, effective multi-layered ransomware detection, Wi-Fi security scanning, banking protection, password management, and secure file deletion. This malware scanner is ad-free and hassle-free. It does not bother users that much and tries to take action on its own with minimal user input.
7. Avira Free Security Suite
Avira Free Security Suite is a powerful security package available online. It provides anti-virus protection, software updater, and network scanning facilities for searching vulnerabilities with a fixing mechanism. Along with all this, it also provides safe browsing features, eCommerce options, and optimization mechanisms to speed up the PC.
It comes with a built-in password manager and a privacy settings manager. The users have the flexibility to install whatever features they like and require. There is only one problem with Avira Free Security Suite and that it does not have anti-ransomware protection. Other than that, it is a top-notch package.
8. AVG Antivirus Free
AVG Anti-virus Free is an anti-malware software. It is a very vocal software in terms of displaying constant notifications in case any discrepancy or interruption occurs between the normal function of the computer system. It provides a user-friendly interface that is easy to use. There are protection measures present for downloadable threats as well as dodgy links.
This software can also be controlled remotely using mobile phones to scan the PC and perform some necessary action against certain dangerous malware. AVG Antivirus Free has a robust download protection mechanism and offers data encryption by building a firewall.
9. SpyBot Search & Destroy
SpyBot Search & Destroy is the first adware that was launched in the year 2000. It is an efficient tool against malware. Though it doesn’t protect against viruses, it is an established tool for the detection and fixation of malware, adware, and spyware. It is an amazing system repair tool with many functions such as immunization and quarantine.
Also, SpyBot Search & Destroy provides an interesting feature called deletion of usage traces that enables the demolition of the activity log and browser history. One of the drawbacks of SpyBot is its slow speed.
10. Emsisoft Emergency Kit
Emsisoft Emergency Kit is a free malware and spyware removal tool. It provides complete security for the computer system. It is a portable tool that can be installed on a USB drive and carried along with you. It consists of 2 million malware signatures which can be used to recover almost any kind of infected PC.
It can detect various malware such as spyware, adware, trojans, worms, viruses, keyloggers, and dialers. This tool is compatible with Windows and uses only 200 MB RAM.
Key Takeaways
Along with detection, it is also important to develop a plan of action to remove or destroy malware that enters the system. It doesn’t matter how expensive your device is or the brand to which it belongs, all the devices are vulnerable to these malware attacks.
It is all up to the choice of the user to decide whether she wants to install a free anti-malware from the internet or want to buy a paid tool. It is always advisable to try the free version of a particular malware scanner first so that the user can understand the mechanism involved by the scanner in tracking and removing malware and then purchase it.
Wrapping Up!
To conclude, we can say that there are a variety of malware scanners and tools available in the market to prevent malware from entering your machines and stealing your sensitive information. A good malware scanner can detect any kind of suspicious activity or hindrance caused to the normal functioning of a certain device.
The basic observation that can be made from reviewing all different kinds of free or paid malware scanners is that the paid version of these scanners has some additional features and functionalities.
These added features justify the cost, and the security level offered by premium malware scanners is also better than that offered by the free ones. So you need to be careful and wise enough to decide which malware scanner to go for. All the best!
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