If malware is preventing you from being able to run standard antivirus software bootable rescue disks could assist. These disks let you scan your computer without having to run Windows, and they can often locate malware that antivirus software may overlook. Certain tools can scan for the Master Boot Record of the hard drive. This is a function that is particularly useful to remove persistent or difficult-to clean threats.
These bootable why not check here tools tend to have a rudimentary text interface, however they do offer customization options so that you can select to scan specific folders or files, only file types or sizes, and more. The best of these tools have a graphical interface and support for more sophisticated threats, including rootkits as well as some kinds of ransomware.
AVG Rescue CD, with its easy but extensive GUI, and many scanning options, is an excellent example. It’s also among the few programs that provide the full MBR scan which is normally impossible to accomplish with an unbootable program. It’s not the most efficient program on this list, and its text-only user interface isn’t suitable for everyone.
Kaspersky Rescue Disk is another great option, is fast and has a well designed UI. It also supports more advanced viruses. It offers features that you’ll rarely see in other bootable antivirus programs that include the ability to scan boot sectors, hidden startup objects and fileless files and the entire hard drive. You can also set exclusions to decrease the time required to check for malware. In our tests, it identified all malware samples we had sent it, including some that evaded detection by other antivirus programs.
