Short on time?
Being fully online, theKnown Vulnerabilities Scannercant offer any tools to remove malware.
Id suggest choosing a premium antivirus likeNorton360to remove malware and keep your gear fully protected.
Bottom Line:
The SafetyDetectivesKnown Vulnerabilities Scanneris the best truly online scanner around.
Because its fully web-based, VirusTotal cant scan your entire unit.
VirusTotal is an online virus scanner only, so it doesnt have the tools to remove viruses.
Obviously this is very limiting, since viruses can infect files with sensitive info as well.
Scan results, too, are shared with the VirusTotal community.
The scanner is simple but effective and requires no downloads or installations.
you’ve got the option to submit files up to a maximum size of 256 MB for analysis.
This data is used to improve detection services and process user requests.
All obtained data is stored securely and deleted according to specified retention periods.
When submitting your file, youll have the option to make the results of your scan private.
To do this, just tick the box next to Private submission.
Both times, it took the scanner a few minutes to upload the files and analyze them.
The platform is accessible via desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.
The platform uses a variety of sophisticated technologies when scanning files.
It also includes a sandbox that detonates files in a controlled environment to expose malicious behavior.
Unlike Kasperskys sandbox, this feature of MetaDefender is not hidden behind a paywall.
Its very open about what data it collects and how it processes and stores it.
Like VirusTotal, it warns you upfront not to upload any personal information.
MetaDefender Cloud operates under a trust no file philosophy, assuming that all files are potentially malicious.
The platform offers a range of free and premium services.
That said, the lack of advanced features makes Jotti the easiest scanner to use on this list.
It even offers its interface in 10 languages.
Its user-friendly and was able to detect all the malware samples hidden on my PC.
Unlike theSafetyDetectivesKnown Vulnerabilities Scanner, NortonPower Eraserrequires a small download.
All the scans are super simple to run, with no tech expertise required.
Besides, you’re able to only use NortonPower Eraseron Windows computers.
If youre looking for more than a one-time scan, I recommend checking out one ofNortons low-cost plans.
My favorite plan is Norton360 Deluxe, though.
All of Nortons plans come with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Its a simplified version ofESETs premium antivirusand offers a great malware detection rate.
LikeNortonPower Eraser, it uses anti-stealth technology to help detect rootkits buried deep in your system.
The ESETOnline Scannercan quarantine or delete infections it finds during the scan (unlike a web-based scanner).
It does require a small download, but its very lightweight.
When I tested the full scan, it took about 30 minutes to complete.
I was impressed with how thoroughly the scanner searched every part of my system in that time.
However, there isnt an Unwanted app scan like NortonPower Eraseroffers.
Its the only product on my list to offer this feature.
The cheapest paid ESET plan isEssential Security, which costs $38.56 / year.
The ESETOnline Scanneris a quality lightweight scanner that only requires a small download.
ESET also gives you the option to run automatic monthly scans, which is a useful extra.
It requires a small download, but this means it can remove threats as well as detect them.
Downloading and installing the scanner is very quick and simple, and the interface is extremely user-friendly.
There are 3 scan options, including Deep System Scan, Critical Locations Scan, and Custom Location Scan.
The Deep System Scan took around 30 minutes and detected 100% of the test malware on my MacBook.
BitdefenderVirus Scanner for Macis a great free tool to check for infections on your Mac and safely remove them.
One of the primary privacy risks associated with online virus scanners is data collection and transmission.
Another concern is third-party access.
This could lead to the unintended exposure of your personal information.
An online virus scanner simply scans your files from a remote server and detects viruses for you.
However, online scanners cant completely replace a full antivirus software.
Do I need to pay for an online virus scanner?
I made sure to only include truly reputable scannerson my list.
Will an online virus scanner remove a virus from my computer?
A purely online scanner is simply not capable of accessing your system in that way.
Do I need an online virus scanner if I have a good antivirus?
A decent antivirus does everything an online scanner can do, and so much more.
How do I submit a file for scanning?
In most cases, the scan will begin automatically.
Can I submit a ZIP file or multiple files for scanning?
It depends on the scanner.
Can an online scanner help me pick up on false positives my antivirus might have flagged?
Online scanners likethe ones on my listallow you to upload a file and scan it using multiple antivirus engines.
