FREE MALWARE REMOVERS
& ANTI VIRUS SOFTWARE &
COMPUTER VIRUS PROTECTION REVIEWS
If you would like to learn what Malware is and about different types of Malware, including worms, viruses and spyware you can read a comprehensive guide at: What is a Computer Virus & Types of Malware.
If you are on the Internet, then you need to make sure your laptop is protected from Malware. Anti Virus and Malware protection holds its biggest value in the peace of mind you will have knowing that your laptop is protected. Several programs are available to protect computers from all types of Malware. Many free and effective Malware/anti-virus removers are available.
This guide to the best anti virus software and free Malware removal programs compares virus protection and includes reviews, features and details and our best picks of Malware and anti-virus software.
One thing to keep in mind is that only one anti-virus can run on a computer at one time or else they conflict and will not run properly. However, you can run several spyware programs in combination with anti-virus protection and there are several programs (as noted below) that does not conflict with other security suites. Something to consider is a combination of programs such as a firewall, anti-virus and spyware in order to achieve maximum security and peace of mind.
ANTI-VIRUS TYPE MALWARE REMOVERS
Limited version - Free
Extended Full Version - $29.95
PC Tools is an Industry leader in Internet Security with several award winning programs including both a free and paid version that delivers excellent Malware protection.
The Free anti-virus software includes:
* Anti-virus protection, including viruses, trojans and worms.
* Detection & removal
* IntelliGuard™ Protection - "real-time" protection blocks and alerts users to dangerous sites
* Automatic updates
* File and Email Guard
Paid Version Includes:
All same features as the free version, plus
* High speed updates
* 24/7 tech phone support
* Phone support
For safe download and to learn more please visit:
PC Tools Anti-Virus
PC TOOLS SPYWARE DOCTOR
Extended Version - $29.95 for up to 3 computers
Extended Version with Anti Virus - $39.95
PC
Magazine 2008 Editor's Choice and winner of PC World Superior Product 2007 this
award-winning spyware protection delivers comprehensive and superb
security for laptop computers.
Extended Paid Version Highlights:
* Removal, detection of all spyware, including adware, spyware Trojans, keyloggers, spy bots,identity theft, hijackers, tracking threats, unwanted software, phishing, pop-ups and bad websites.
* Real-time blocking of harmful sites
* Automatic Updates
Extended Version with Anti Virus Includes:
* All features of the extended paid version described above
* Detection & removal of all worms and viruses
Spyware Doctor is a very effective and very user-friendly malware/spyware remover.
Comprehensive user customization features and peace of mind real time protection during web surfing with alerts and blocks of bad sites.
Also, the anti-virus does not conflict with other anti-virus software, as is usually the case and so Spyware Doctor w/Anti-Virus can be used with other Anti-Virus software that is running on the same laptop computer.
For safe download and to learn more please visit:
PC Tools Spyware DoctorExtended Paid Version Highlights:
* Removal, detection of all spyware, including adware, spyware Trojans, keyloggers, spy bots,identity theft, hijackers, tracking threats, unwanted software, phishing, pop-ups and bad websites.
* Real-time blocking of harmful sites
* Automatic Updates
Extended Version with Anti Virus Includes:
* All features of the extended paid version described above
plus
Spyware Doctor is a very effective and very user-friendly malware/spyware remover. Comprehensive user customization features and peace of mind real time protection during web surfing with alerts and blocks of bad sites.
Also, the anti-virus does not conflict with other anti-virus software, as is usually the case and so Spyware Doctor w/Anti-Virus can be used with other Anti-Virus software that is running on the same laptop computer.
For safe download and to learn more please visit:
PC Tools Spyware Doctor with Anti Virus
AVG 8.0 ANTI-VIRUS
Basic Anti Virus - Free
Complete Version - Internet Security - $54.99
* Email Security
* Detection & removal of all Malware
* Safe surf, browse and search with "drive-by" protection
* Safe Downloading
The free version of AVG Anti-Virus 8 is a solid program which excels in identifying and removing all forms of Malware as well as identifying web threats during surfing. The "anti-drive-by" download protection program scans and approves or denies links and websites during browsing and search results to ensure you visit safe sites and prevent visits to bad sites.
Here is a screenshot which displays this function. See the check mark which indicates site is ok. If a site is not ok you will see a red X instead.
We recommend this program for its detection accuracy and removal performance, even though it lacks the real time protection available on the paid version it is a good free security program.
Also since the free AVG does not include a firewall please read the firewall section below to add a free firewall to your system that will go with the AVG free anti-virus.
You can learn more about AVG or safely download a free or paid version at: AVG Official Website
SuperAntiSpyware 4.1
Limited Version - Free
Full Professional Version - $29.95
Full Version Highlights:
* Quick, complete and custom scanning
* Detection & removal of all Malware, including viruses, worms, spyware, rootkits and more.
* Full user customization of scan settings
* Multi-Dimensional scanning detects existing threats as well as threats of the future by analyzing threat characteristics in addition to code patterns.
* Repair broken Internet connections
* Real time Malware blocking protection from harmful sites
* First Chance Prevention - examines over 50 critical points of your system each time your system starts up and shuts down to eliminate threats before they have a chance to infect and infiltrate your system.
* Process Interrogation Technology - allows threats to be detected no matter where they are hiding on your system.
* Automatic Updates
Free Version Includes:
* Quick, Complete and Custom Scanning
* Detection & removal of all Malware, including viruses, worms, spyware, rootkits and more.
* Full user customization of scan settings
* Manual Updates
* Limited repair of broken Internet connections
SuperAntiSpyware is an excellent product which provides a comprehensive list of features at a very low price. The best part about SuperAntiSPyware is that with all the features and tools, it is incredibly light on system resources and does not slow down laptops. The free version, while limited in its features, provides accurate detection and removal of spyware. Note: It is best to run this software in conjunction with an anti-virus software.
You can learn more and safely download both the free and paid version of SuperAntiSpyware 4.1 at: SuperAntiSpyware 4.1 Official Website.
KASPERSKY ANTI-VIRUS 7
$54.95 - $59.99
Kaspersky has been around for along time and has one of the most comprehensive and effective Anti-Malware programs available. The only negative is the higher price tags than that of other effective security softwares.
Highlights:
* Detection & removal of all Malware
* Anti-Phishing
* Rootkit protection
* Excellent tech support
* Email Security
You can learn more about Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 or safely download the software at: Kaspersky Official Website
MALWAREBYTES - Malware Remover
Limited Version - Free
Full Version - $24.95
Full Paid Version Includes:
* Full Malware detection with super fast scanning
* Removal and quarantine with a hold and a restore option
* Ability to perform full scans for all drives
* Real Time Protection while surfing the web (with paid version)
* Automatic updates
* Use ignore settings and customization for both scanner and real time protection
* Settings to enhance Anti-Malware performance
* Small list of extra utilities to help remove malware manually
* Works together with other anti-malware utilities
Free Limited Version Includes:
* All above features except real time protection
You can learn more about Malwarebytes Malware Remover and safely download both the free and paid version of the software at: Malwarebytes Official Website
ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 7$54.95 - $59.99
Kaspersky has been around for along time and has one of the most comprehensive and effective Anti-Malware programs available. The only negative is the higher price tags than that of other effective security softwares.
Highlights:
* Detection & removal of all Malware
* Anti-Phishing
* Rootkit protection
* Excellent tech support
* Email Security
You can learn more about Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7 or safely download the software at: Kaspersky Official Website
MALWAREBYTES - Malware Remover
Limited Version - Free
Full Version - $24.95
Full Paid Version Includes:
* Full Malware detection with super fast scanning
* Removal and quarantine with a hold and a restore option
* Ability to perform full scans for all drives
* Real Time Protection while surfing the web (with paid version)
* Automatic updates
* Use ignore settings and customization for both scanner and real time protection
* Settings to enhance Anti-Malware performance
* Small list of extra utilities to help remove malware manually
* Works together with other anti-malware utilities
Free Limited Version Includes:
* All above features except real time protection
You can learn more about Malwarebytes Malware Remover and safely download both the free and paid version of the software at: Malwarebytes Official Website
$49.95
Highlights:
* Detection and removal of all Malware
* Anti-Spam & Anti-Phishing
* Identity theft protection
* Network & program firewall
* Additional operating system firewall (OSFirewall™)
* SmartDefense™ service provides your laptop with real-time security updates
* Spy Site Blocking -blocks visits to or redirection to spyware distribution sites
* Parental Control Features
ZoneAlarm
includes Kaspersky anti-virus, MailFrontier Anti-Spam and works well
with other installed security applications. Overall ZoneAlarm is a very
comprehensive and feature packed security suite.The downside is that there is no backup or file recovery feature.
ZoneAlarm stands out due to its ability of being very light on system resources.
You can learn more about ZoneAlarm Malware Remover and safely download the software at: ZoneAlarm Official Website
AVAST ANTI-VIRUS 4.7
Free for Personal Home Use
Highlights:
* Detection & removal of all Malware
* Rootkit detection
* Simple and User Friendly
* Automatic Updates
One downside is it
requires registration for use. Overall Avast Antivirus 4.7 Home edition
is a good free
anti virus software. It has a comprehensive virus catalog, is very easy
to use and supports more Windows Operating Systems than any other free Malware remover from Windows 95 toVista 64 Bit.You can learn more about Avast Free Anti Software and safely download it at: AVAST FREE ANTI VIRUS SOFTWARE OFFICIAL WEBSITE
FREE FIREWALLS
COMODO PERSONAL FIREWALL
Free for home use
Highlights:
* Detects and prevents intrusions
* Blocks Access Attempts
* Identity Theft Protection against hackers, scripts and Malware
* Blocks installation of Malware
* Full user customization blocked/approved sites
* Malware scan checks for infections prior to install of the firewall
The Comodo firewall is our pick as the best of the bunch, delivering an excellent wall of protection with advanced customization features.
You can learn more and safely download the free Comodo Firewall at: Comodo Firewall Official Website
ZONE ALARM FIREWALL
Free
ZoneAlarm Free Firewall blocks hackers from infiltrating your laptop by hiding your computer from unsolicited network traffic.
Highlights:
* Detects and prevents intrusions
* Detects and prevents hacking
* Blocks Access Attempts
* Online Invisibility
* Light on System Resources
You can learn more and safely download the free ZoneAlarm Firewall at: ZoneAlarm Official Website
PC TOOLS FIREWALL
Free
Highlights:
* Smart automatic protection
* User-friendly
* Designed for both, novice & expert users
* Advanced rules to protect your PC against common attacks
* User defined settings options
PC Tools Firewall Plus is a powerful personal firewall for Windows that protects your computer from intruders and controls the network traffic in and out of your laptop.
You can learn more about the PC Tools Firewall and safely download the free software at: PC TOOLS OFFICIAL WEBSITE
OTHER TYPES OF MALWARE PROTECTORS
SpywareBlaster 4.0 - Free Full Blocking Program
Full Version for personal use - Free
Highlights:
* Automatically restricts access to harmful sites from an extensive database of known bad sites.
* Prevents installation of ActiveX based spyware, adware, browser hijackers, dialers and all other unwanted software looking for a host
* Blocks tracking cookies in Firefox and Explorer
* User customization to select which sites to restrict.
* Does not conflict with other anti-malware software
This Spyware program is different. SpywareBlaster is an innovative and comprehensive virus/spyware protection program, that does not scan or remove but automatically blocks known harmful sites (from an extensive database within the program) while surfing the net where malicious code is present . The user can also edit the settings by allowing sites they trust from the control panel.
SpywareBlaster is very easy on system resources and does NOT run in the background which can cause laptop slow downs. It does not conflict with other anti-malware removers running on your system.
This free software is highly recommended and really an essential security asset and will give unsurpassed peace of mind while surfing, browsing and searching on the Internet.
You can learn more about SuperSpyware Blaster and safely download it for free at: SuperSpyware Blaster Official Website.
WinPatrol 2008
Basic - Free
WinPatrol Plus - $29.95
This is multi award winning system status software and is recommended by PC Magazine and also by us. Can be used in conjunction with any and all other anti-virus and Malware protection softwares.
WinPatrol also does not not scan but it takes snapshots of your critical system resources and alerts you to any changes that may occur without your knowledge. WinPatrol Plus uses their exclusive, patent pending RIP Technology and will alert you to hijckings, Malware attacks and critical changes made to your computer without your permission, screens will come up that will ask your permission prior to allowing any such changes. Plus you get several other features that in general optimize computer performance (see highlights below).
An important feature on WinPatrol is that it examines undocumented or hidden registry start up keys where Trojans and other Malware can hide. WinPatrol detects and alerts users to such changes.
WinPatrol Plus (paid version) includes:
* Real-time Infiltration Detection
* Detect new undocumented or hidden registry startup keys
* 24/7 Access to WinPatrol Plus knowledgebase
* Manage all programs in Auto-Startup
* Delay Auto-Startup for quick boot up
* Auto disable re-occuring startup programs
* Manage scheduled tasks
* Monitor creation of scheduled tasks
* Manage Window Services
* Complete user management of all cookies
* Monitor IE home and search pages
* Detect and view hidden files
WinPatrol Basic (free):
Includes everything above except:
* Real-time Infiltration Detection
* Detect new undocumented or hidden registry startup keys
* 24/7 Access to WinPatrol Plus knowledgebase
With everything you get on WinPatrol it is completely light on system resources and will not slow down computers. Also compatible on on all Windows OS, from Win 95 to Vista.
You can safely download WinPatrol or learn more at: WinPatrol Official Website.
If you have all ready been seriously infected and need assistance with removal of Malware or maybe you have other technical problems or questions about laptops here is a link to a fantastic forum where experts answer your questions on all topics computer FORUMS at TECH GUY.