Malwarebytes

Having a great security scanner is a must, and some primary antivirus tools simply fail to provide sufficient protection when an infection slips through. Malwarebytes provides several layers of protection, but it is widely known as a very efficient malware scanner with an excellent database.

Trialing the Premium features

After you download and install the free version of the tool, you are greeted with a 14-day trial of the Premium tier. Once this period expires, you lose access to the real-time protection modules, which consist of Web, Exploit, Malware, and Ransomware defenses.

Advanced threat recognition

Even after the trial ends, you still have a powerful scanner capable of hunting down malware already present on your machine. The software relies heavily on machine learning as a primary function, rather than just checking for known virus signatures, making Malwarebytes one of the most advanced tools for recognizing emerging threats.

A capable secondary defense

An amazing thing about Malwarebytes Free is that its scans are quick and efficient. While built-in OS security tools have improved their technologies over the years, having a dedicated on-demand scanner remains highly relevant. Its lack of real-time protection means the free version shouldn't act as a replacement for your current primary antivirus, but it is definitely a tool worth keeping on your computer.

The ultimate backup scanner

Downloading the Free version with the included Premium trial is arguably the best way to get rid of a virus infestation that has gotten past your main antivirus. It remains a highly effective cleanup tool and definitely still lives up to its long-standing reputation.