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2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44
There is no need to purchase and install a full-fledged antivirus.
Cloud services to check your computer
Unfortunately, you cannot check your computer for viruses using only one website opened in a browser. The fact is that for security reasons, web services do not have access to local files and programs on the PC.
But there are cloud antiviruses that can check the system without full installation and registration. To use one of them, you just need to download a small client and run it. After that, you can scan the entire computer or select partitions for a partial scan. In the process, the program will download the data it needs from the cloud. If viruses are found, the service will offer to remove them.
If you want to scan your computer with a cloud antivirus, try these services. All of them are products of well-known companies and work in a similar way - according to the scheme described above. Therefore, you can choose any of them.
1. ESET's Free Online Scanner
A tool from one of the most popular antivirus programs. Works without installation, but does not start checking until it downloads its signature database. Allows you to choose between full, fast or custom scan. Found malicious files can be quarantined or automatically deleted.
ESET's Free Online Scanner →
2. Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool
Unlike the previous antivirus, this one comes with a built-in database, so, strictly speaking, it does not work online. Choose the places worth scanning - RAM, autorun, bootloader and Windows partition are available - and click "Start Scan".
Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool →
3. Dr. Web CureIt
The analogue of Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool from Dr. Web is perhaps even more popular. Also one-time - as it becomes obsolete, you have to re-download the program.
Dr. Web CureIt! →
4. Norton Power Eraser
The program promises to eliminate "deeply rooted rogue programs" and uses "aggressive scanning technologies." In practice, this means that Norton Power Eraser compares found files with a list of trusted and malicious applications in the cloud. If the program is not sure that the file is dangerous, it will offer to send it to Symantec servers for a more thorough scan.
Norton Power Eraser →
5. F-Secure's Online Scanner
The fastest of the listed scanners. There are no settings, so you don't choose which files to check. Only the Windows system folder is scanned.
F-Secure's Online Scanner →
6. Panda Cloud Cleaner
This is the only scanner listed that requires installation. However, it weighs only about 30 MB. Suspicious files found by the program are automatically sent to the cloud for verification. In addition to removing malicious applications, it can also clear browser history and temporary files.
Panda Cloud Cleaner →
7. Trend Micro HouseCall
The program offers to perform a quick, full or custom (only in the folders you specified) scan. Detects malware and spyware based on signatures. In addition to the Windows version, Trend Micro provides a Mac version as well as a tool to scan your home network for vulnerabilities.
Trend Micro HouseCall →
Web services for checking individual files
If you want to scan a small file or archive for viruses, you can do it completely online, without installing any programs at all. You just need to go to any of the resources listed below, upload a suspicious file from your computer to the server and click on the check button.
1. VirusTotal
One of the oldest and most popular services of this kind. You can say their progenitor. Checks downloaded files and links using as many as 58 antiviruses at once. The best choice when you need to quickly check a file.
VirusTotal →
2. Kaspersky Threat Intelligence Portal
Analogue of VirusTotal from Kaspersky Lab. Like the aforementioned service, Kaspersky Threat Intelligence Portal can scan files, search results, and links.
Kaspersky Threat Intelligence Portal →
3. Dr. Web Online
Two services from Dr. Web - the first scans downloaded files for viruses, the second is used to check sites, distinguishing between malicious and fraudulent resources. You can not only manually copy links to the submission form, but also scan sites using the proprietary Dr. Web Link Checker extension for Chrome, Firefox, Opera and Microsoft Edge.
Dr. Web Online for checking files →
Dr. Web Online to check links →
4. MetaDefender
The service uses three types of file scanning: multiscanning with 37 antiviruses at the same time, dynamic analysis in the sandbox and reconciliation against the reputation database compiled by users.
MetaDefender →
5. VirScan
The service checks downloaded files with 49 antiviruses at once. He has a special application - a file uploader to the cloud in case your browser for some reason cannot download the file being scanned.
VirScan →
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