Free Malware Removal Tools to Assist You in Removing Malware from an Infected Computer

Unfortunately for some of us (especially for those who are somewhat careless), the Internet will never be a buffet of secure open-source software and Bollywood musicals that we can all just simply download. There are individuals and even organizations who want nothing better than delight in stealing your personal data and money or hijacking your computer using malicious software. So, for your protection, let’s highlight some of the best free tools for removing malware from your PC.

Spybot Search and Destroy

Spybot Search and Destroy has made quite a name for itself over the years, earning accolades from both general and computer-focused publications. Spybot Search and Destroy is the highest ranked freeware tool at 2Spyware.com, a website that ranks malware removal tools. In addition to scanning for malware, Spybot Search and Destroy also has a variety of additional functionality, including a botnet scanner, hosts-file modification (to keep malware from calling home), a secure file shredder, and a dummy code feature, replacing malicious or questionable adware modules with inert code so the dependent program will keep functioning. As an added bonus, Spybot Search and Destroy is compatible with every version of Windows.

ComboFix

ComboFix is every bit as Spartan once you open it and see it. You download ComboFix, run it, and it takes care of the rest. The basic ComboFix process looks like this: It backs up your registry, checks to see if you have Windows Recovery Console installed, and then it does the job on your system scanning away through 40+ stages. When it’s done, ComboFix spits out a log file and lists all the malware it found, which ones it was able to remove, and which ones you’ll have to use Google to look up how to remove manually. It isn’t fancy, but it gets the job done and gives you a detailed report at the end to take to security forums for help if you need it.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

At least the free version, since the Anti-Malware Pro sells for $25, Malwarebytes’ flagship application Anti-Malware is a shareware malware-removal tool. The principle difference between the free and premium version of the application is real-time monitoring. If you don’t need active scanning against threats, the free version uses the same database and does an admirable job ferreting out infections. Anti-Malware was, for example, one of the few malware removal tools that could detect and remove the Antivirus XP 2008, a spyware application that masqueraded as an antivirus app. The Anti-Malware installation includes another application from Malwarebytes called FileASSASSIN, a helpful tool for deleting files locked by Windows.

There are other malware removal tools you can check out on the Internet, but just make sure to check out the reviews first before downloading anything. A few malware tools tend to be unbiased and will register even legal operating files as tampered by malware, and you may delete these by mistake. But in the end, the best malware tool is always “prevention” and to err on the side of caution and not always click on everything, especially if looking suspicious.