Since the advent of Windows operating systemstheir users are haunted by viruses of all kinds, which can often steal personal data and disable the entire computer system. Thus, security issues, especially with the current almost uncontrolled access to the Internet, should be given priority to any user. On how to check your computer for viruses, and further proposed to talk. But first, let's find out which means for this can be used and what, in fact, the threats need to be found and neutralized.
How to scan your computer for viruses: options for action
So, today specializedsoftware, whose task is to protect computer systems from all sorts of threats or neutralize them when they penetrate computers, quite a lot has been developed. Every user knows that it is mandatory to install third-party anti-virus programs for Windows, since the system’s own means, no matter how praised, to put it mildly, are no good. This is especially true of installing software, which, from the point of view of the same Defender, is undesirable or potentially dangerous, although in fact it is not.
However, let's see how to scan a computer for viruses using several basic methods. Among all possible decisions, it is considered to be the basic ones to consider such tools:
- regular antiviruses;
- portable treating utilities;
- portable online scanners;
- anti-virus Internet resources;
- disk utilities with built-in loaders;
- tools for checking network and remote computers.
What are we looking for when checking?
С основными методиками и инструментами sorted out. Let us leave for the time being the consideration of each course of action for later, but for now let's see which threats will have to be paid attention to (the choice of the preferred scan tool will depend on this to a very high degree).
Paramount attention by all knownAntivirus software focuses on threats of a destructive and spyware nature, although spyware belonging to the class of Spyware viruses, both regular and portable scanners are not always determined.
The same goes for ad viruses,united in a group of hijackers. Most of these threats penetrate computer systems under the guise of official (most often partner) software that has trusted status. And some applets even have certificates and digital signatures. That is why many protective equipment and miss them. Accordingly, to detect such viruses, which for the most part are represented by browser hijackers, it is necessary to use either specially designed utilities for this, or search for them in the system yourself.
Check by regular antiviruses
It is easiest to check the computer for viruses with a regular type of antivirus (installed in the system). To do this, simply open the main scanner window and run an on-demand scan.
Практически во всех программах имеется несколько scan types (deep check, scan of selected partitions, S.M.A.R.T.-test with the use of boot sectors and records, etc.). The disadvantage becomes quite obvious in case the regular scanner has already missed the threat. It is possible that the scanner will be able to determine it during the verification process, but it will not be able to isolate or neutralize it. Sometimes it is possible to observe situations when a regular program notifies that a threat is detected even at the stage of its penetration into the system does not issue it, but determines it only when the user initiates an on-demand scan.
How to scan your computer for viruses without installing antivirus: treating utilities
If installed antiviruses for anyreasons, their direct responsibilities for the integrated protection of the system do not cope, portable programs come to the rescue. Check your computer for viruses without installing scanning software can be quite elementary. Practically all such utilities are represented by a single executable file for launching and by a virus signature database, which, when the portable application starts, it is desirable to immediately update it.
Perfect for detecting common threats.programs like Dr. Web CureIt !, KVRT and the like. To neutralize spyware or adware modules, it is better to use Malwarebytes software (for example, AdwCleaner).
Online scanners
In principle, in a similar way work andSpecial portable applications that are programs that initially communicate with the developer's website, on the server of which there is both the main anti-virus database and the scan tool. In a sense, this is similar to the functioning of cloud services, and the programs launched on a computer serve only as a kind of shells and redirection tools to a server on the Internet.
Among the utilities of this type are very popularuse ESET Online Scanner, Panda Cloud Cleaner, F-Secure Online Scanner, HouseCall, Microsoft Safety Scanner, Kaspersky Security Scan, McAfee Security Scan Plus, etc.
Scanning files for infection via the Internet
Если говорить о том, как проверить компьютер на viruses using Internet technologies, you can give preference and specially designed for this service. They can be divided into two broad categories.
Some allow you to upload to your own resource.user files followed by verification, others work like online scanners, but only through a web browser with direct access to service sites (Google's Virustotal, Kaspersky VirusDesk, etc.).
Disk utilities
Now let's see how to check the computerfor viruses with the help of disk programs that absolutely rightly can be called unique developments. All of them are generally called Rescue Disk. The essence of their use is to write program files to removable media, boot from it, setting the appropriate boot priority in the parameters of the primary BIOS / UEFI input / output systems, and check the computer system for viruses even before the operating system starts. And such utilities can both identify and destroy threats of any type, even those that have firmly established themselves not even on a hard disk or in its hidden sections, but in RAM.
Optimizers
Sometimes verification issuescomputer systems for viruses can be solved through the use of optimizing general-purpose software packages. Some of them (for example, the Advanced SystemCare program) have built-in anti-spyware or anti-adware modules that can be involved in the quick scan process. And some optimizers even contain full-fledged anti-virus scanners, the quality of which, however, raises legitimate doubts.
Remote Verification Tools
Finally, let's see how to check for viruses.remote computer. In the simplest case, if there is a connection to a remote “Desktop” of another terminal, and an anti-virus program is installed on it, you can simply launch it on a child’s computer from your own.
В случае с локальными сетями лучше отдать Preference for programs like Kaspersky Small Office Security, which were originally designed for local networks and installed on a central server as a main package, and on child network terminals as client modules.
What is not recommended to use?
Finally it remains to add that under anythe pretext is not recommended to install applications like SpyHunter so widely advertised on the Internet, since the definition of the real threats in them looks very doubtful, they do not eliminate the threat key (there is no trial period) and get rid of the antivirus programs of this type by completely removing not so easy.
