Free Anti-Malware scanners

something daft already!! · 13 Jan 2017 at 15:12

I am looking for an alternative to Spybot as it seems to have become rather bloated and not very good at finding Malware. I currently use MBAM and SuperAntiSpyware and in a pinch, ESET online scanner. I am looking for a forth backup option when SAS and MBAM have failed to remove all.

Can anyone recommend a free Anti-Malware (Not anti-virus) scanner other than ESET, MBAM, SAS, MSE, any Norton rubbish, AVG (not strictly anti-malware but some may mention it) and Spybot?

AHarvey · 13 Jan 2017 at 15:19

Malwarebytes

demonix · 13 Jan 2017 at 16:46

AHarvey said:
Malwarebytes

MBAM = Malwarebytes

However, I wouldn't even recommend then now after they started classing basic tools like auslogics disc defrag as potentially unwanted programmes (plus I can't get the malwarebytes service to stop, so it's turned into malware with version 3 in my opinion).

scrivz69 · 13 Jan 2017 at 16:47

adwcleaner https://www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner/

KIA · 13 Jan 2017 at 18:14

demonix said:
MBAM = Malwarebytes

However, I wouldn't even recommend then now after they started classing basic tools like auslogics disc defrag as potentially unwanted programmes.

The installer or an installed file?
Which file is it flagging?

stewski · 13 Jan 2017 at 18:26

Out of interest, why not just use windows defender/security essentials if you are on windows?

Spooter · 13 Jan 2017 at 20:07

Honest answer. If those have failed then personally I would re-install.

A rootkit scanner is also worthwhile.

You can also use Sophos or McAfee Stinger. An offline scan is also an option.

There's also plenty of linux live distro's which have malware scanners installed to offline scan. Remember to suspend Bitlocker if you've encrypted your drive.

linktoinsanity · 13 Jan 2017 at 21:56

stewski said:
Out of interest, why not just use windows defender/security essentials if you are on windows?

Because the detention rates of it are comparatively weak.

PapaLazaru · 13 Jan 2017 at 22:15

Windows Defender plus Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit Free, is perfectly acceptable with a bit of sense.

Why would one need to search for malware? Just stop getting infected with poor browsing habits?

something daft already!! · 13 Jan 2017 at 23:26

PapaLazaru said:
Windows Defender plus Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit Free, is perfectly acceptable with a bit of sense.

Why would one need to search for malware? Just stop getting infected with poor browsing habits?

At no point did I say I have infected my machine. I know better than that.

I have to deal with people who have little or no sense!

Thanks for all the replies.

scrivz69 said:
adwcleaner https://www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner/

Hey old chap! Isn't that just MBAM light?

demonix · 14 Jan 2017 at 16:05

KIA said:
The installer or an installed file?
Which file is it flagging?

Installed files, and is was flagging and removing almost everything it could (I only found out it had done it (after having to run the ninite (that doesn't seem to list auslogics disc defrag anymore) installer after finding several files were missing) after going through the logs and there was at least 15 or so files flagged).

They've also admitted on their own blog that they're taking a harder stance on so called potentially unwanted programs (also after I uninstalled MBAM 3.0, it left a rouge MBAMService file running that can't be killed since it's considered as not actually running even though it's in task manager).