What are the best malware removal tools for Windows?

Question

WindowsAntivirusAntimalware

What are the best malware removal tools for Windows?

9

Options
Considered

106

User
Recs.

Sep 26, 2023

Last
Updated

8 Options Considered

Best malware removal tools for Windows	Price	Platforms	Last Updated
-- Malwarebytes	-	Windows, Mac, Mobile	Sep 25, 2023
-- Bitdefender	-	-	Sep 26, 2023
-- Spybot	-	-	Aug 4, 2022
-- RogueKiller Free	FREE	-	Nov 22, 2022
-- ADWCleaner	0	-	Oct 10, 2022

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score 15 · Answer 1

Malwarebytes

Top Pro

Simple setup

Top Con

Limited free version

GEORGE //'s Experience

Well actually it's a craziest anti-virus but the thing is it costs 39.99$ per year and it's not compatible for linux See More

Specs

Platforms:Windows, Mac, Mobile

Top Pro

Light resource usage

Top Con

Not compatible for Linux

Yanis's Experience

Simple and efficient. See More

Top Pro

Achieved a perfect score in a test performed by AV-TEST

In 2014 AV-TEST tested 7 different cleaning tools (along with 10 antivirus solutions) Malwarebytes was the only tool that was capable of completely removing and restoring the system. It was concluded by AV-TEST to be the best tool for removing malware from infected computers. See More

Top Con

Free 30-days trial

Top Pro

Free for manual scans

Offers a completely free scan and removal version for personal use. See More

Top Con

Free version lacks scan scheduling

Premium version of the software is required to schedule scans in advance. See More

Top Pro

Doesn't ignore adware and toolbars

Malwarebytes removes toolbars that get bundled with software and adware that some other products keep. See More

Top Pro

Aggressive defending

Top Pro

Antimalware

Antivirus is a specific term referring to well-known and established malware, meaning that you'll still remain vulnerable to new and unique malware if you use an antivirus. Malwarebytes is constantly updated to find newer and rarer malware. See More

See All

score 5 · Answer 2

Bitdefender

Top Pro

Excellent firewall protection and deep scanning

LogicalOgma's Experience

I have been a loyal customer for Bitdefender for a long time! They have never let me down not even once, I have tried many other products like PC Matic, AVG, Avast, Norton etc and Bitdefender out beats them all and has great prices! I highly recommend this product to anyone! See More

Top Pro

Easy to use

Top Pro

Great prices for multiple devices

See All

score 7 · Answer 3

Spybot

Top Pro

Free for personal use

Basic functionality (includes malware removal) can be used for free for non-commercial purposes. See More

Top Con

Bad malware detection

In a test performed by PCMag, Spybot detected just 32% of installed malware. See More

Top Pro

Has a portable version

A portable version of the app can be found here. It allows putting the software on an external storage devices such as an USB thumb stick and running it from there without having to install it on the target machine. See More

Top Con

Bad at removing found malware, especially rootkits

In a test performed by PCMag over half of malware that the tool attempted to remove was still running after the attempted cleanup. Rootkit removal often crashes other software. See More

Top Pro

Can be installed in safe mode without issues

Top Con

Free version lacks scan scheduling

Premium version of the software is required to schedule scans in advance. See More

Top Con

Awkward interface elements

See All

score 9 · Answer 4

RogueKiller Free

Top Pro

Aggressive cleaning engine

RogueKiller is capable of disinfecting systems from a long list of very persistent viruses and malware with minimal user interaction. See More

Top Con

Complicated initial configuration

To use effectively, new users should invest some time into reading about all the possible configuration options and determining how best to customize their installation to suit their needs. See More

Peter J. Mello's Experience

RogueKiller lives up to its billing as a power users tool, and I'm glad I have it in my arsenal when faced with systems suffering from multiple infections. It has a semi-steep learning curve but the results you can achieve with it make the time cost worthwhile. See More

Top Pro

Better than Malwarebytes

Roguekiller catches what Malwarebytes leaves behind. See More

RespectableMoros's Experience

I now have pro, after I tried the free version. Malwarebytes is very bad for me. I tested both and roguekiller catches what malwarebytes leave behind. See More

See All

score 3 · Answer 5

ADWCleaner

Top Pro

Fast

Only requires downloading and scanning. Does not even need to be installed. See More

Top Pro

Lightweight

score 2 · Answer 6

super antispyware

Top Pro

Freemium

Offers limited free version. See More

score 2 · Answer 7

MalwareBuster AntiMalware for Windows

Top Pro

recovered a PC that had gotten ramsomware

Zoidberg's Experience

Cleaned up what Malwarbytes left behind. See More

score 3 · Answer 8

Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool

Top Con

Doesn't scan the whole system

The tool checks for just the most common infections and only in the most common places and skips everything else. See More

Top Pro

Comes bundled with all Windows versions by default

There's no need to set up the tool, it comes with all versions of Windows and as long as you install important Patch Tuesdays updates the tool will be up to date. See More

Top Con

Can't scan in the background

When manually invoked, there's no way to have it run in the background. See More

Top Con

Runs only once a month

The tool automatically runs after each "Patch Tuesday" patch has been installed. And there's no way to have in scheduled to run more often. To run it at any other time it has to be done manually. See More

See All

score 48 · Answer 9

8 Options Considered

My Recommendation for Malwarebytes

My Recommendation for Malwarebytes

Simple setup

Limited free version

Light resource usage

Not compatible for Linux

Achieved a perfect score in a test performed by AV-TEST

Free 30-days trial

Free for manual scans

Free version lacks scan scheduling

Doesn't ignore adware and toolbars

Aggressive defending

Antimalware

My Recommendation for Bitdefender

My Recommendation for Bitdefender

Excellent firewall protection and deep scanning

Easy to use

Great prices for multiple devices

My Recommendation for Spybot

My Recommendation for Spybot

Free for personal use

Bad malware detection

Has a portable version

Bad at removing found malware, especially rootkits

Can be installed in safe mode without issues

Free version lacks scan scheduling

Awkward interface elements

My Recommendation for RogueKiller Free

My Recommendation for RogueKiller Free

Aggressive cleaning engine

Complicated initial configuration

Better than Malwarebytes

My Recommendation for ADWCleaner

My Recommendation for ADWCleaner

Fast

Lightweight

My Recommendation for super antispyware

My Recommendation for super antispyware

Freemium

My Recommendation for MalwareBuster AntiMalware for Windows

My Recommendation for MalwareBuster AntiMalware for Windows

recovered a PC that had gotten ramsomware

My Recommendation for Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool

My Recommendation for Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool

Doesn't scan the whole system

Comes bundled with all Windows versions by default

Can't scan in the background

Runs only once a month

Don't see your favorite option? Add it.

My Recommendation for MalwareFox Anti-Malware

My Recommendation for MalwareFox Anti-Malware

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