A bootable antivirus can help you if there is no alternative to traditional antivirus software.
Bootable antivirus tools can be effective in a number of serious situations. Although in most cases traditional antivirus software is sufficient to scan your computer, its functionality depends on the system. If the decay is so severe that you can’t log in or log on to your device, what about some particularly naughty viruses? This is where a bootable antivirus tool comes in. It can run on a system that has become so corrupt that it no longer works.
In general, to use one of these tools, you must first download a file from the supplier’s website and copy it to a removable device (usually a CD or USB stick) using a third-party program. If your system does not boot completely, you will need to use another device to do so. You should then insert the removable device into the malicious computer and be able to start the rescue tool program, allowing you to run the scan. Note that you need to change the boot order of your system in the BIOS, which we will discuss further at the end of this post.
The best free bootable antivirus tool
Thanks, these tools will not break the bank. In fact, there are many free solutions out there. Here, we reveal the top options available. If you don’t have time to read the entire list, we’ve included a summary of each below. Just scroll down to find out more about each tool.
The best bootable antivirus tool
Here is a list of our best free bootable antivirus tools.
ESET Cicero Live
If you are looking for a customizable solution then ESET Cicero Live is a great choice. It can be installed on a CD, USB key, or DVD and provides easy navigating GUI (no text-only option for any other device).
ESET provides you with a desktop environment similar to that used by most Windows users. Two types of scans are available. Smart scans enable you to limit your scans to areas of the system that may contain malware. Custom scans allow you to run in-depth scans of specific areas of the entire computer’s drive. And there are many other ways to customize. For example, you can scan without cleaning and have control over individual items.
Kaspersky Rescue Disc
Kaspersky Rescue Disk is the most customizable tool on this list. It has many options, including allowing you to scan specific folders, specific boot sectors (especially useful for finding well-hidden malware), inanimate objects, or entire drives. You can also scan files with specific extensions and specify exceptions.
Sophos bootable antivirus
Sophos Bootable Anti-Virus provides a text-only interface and lacks a lot of customization, which can be a turn-off for some users. However, these factors do not mean that the file size in this list is small enough to be around 360MB, so you can get up and move very fast.
Avast Rescue Disk
The Avast Rescue Disk can only be made from other Avast products. Fortunately, the company provides Avast Free Antivirus which means you don’t have to pay a single penny. Already have Avast installed?
Avira Rescue System
The Avira Rescue System is very easy to install on a CD or USB stick and comes with additional tools including a web browser, disk partitioning tools, and a registry editor. The GUI is easy to navigate, but there are no text-only options that might miss anything.
This tool does not list any of the other customization features, such as the option to scan specific files; You can only scan an entire partition. That said, it can be good for beginners because running a full scan every time helps ensure you don’t miss anything.
Komodo rescue disc
In addition to regular, installable Komodo antivirus software, Komodo also has a free bootable antivirus program.
There are three separate scans you can start with Comodo Rescue Disk: Smart Scan, Full Scan, or Custom Scan.
Checks smart scans for viruses and rootkits in other areas such as memory, boot sector, autorun entries, and registry and system folders. A custom scan lets you choose individual files and folders to scan instead of the entire drive.
BitDefender Rescue CD
Bitdefender’s Rescue CD has not been updated with the new definition, but it is included in this list due to its popularity among some users. BitDefender provides powerful antivirus products and has a great reputation in the industry, which probably explains the uninterrupted use of this tool.
If you do not want to confuse these options, then the standard scan is most suitable.
Read More: How We Collect Malware for Hands-On Antivirus Testing?