- Live antivirus allows scanning without starting Windows, ideal after serious infections.
- Many of these tools are based on Linux and are executed from USB or bootable CDs.
- Firms such as Kaspersky, ESET, Avira, and AVG offer highly effective free solutions.
- They are essential when normal antiviruses do not detect malware loaded before the system.
When the operating system refuses to boot or your computer displays strange behavior such as random errors, unauthorized configuration changes, or disappearance of important files, you may be facing a virus infection. serious malwareIn such cases, traditional antivirus software installed on the operating system is no longer useful, as the malware may have loaded before they did. This is where antivirus software comes into play. Live antivirus or rescue disks.
This type of antivirus runs independently of the operating system., directly from a USB drive or CD/DVD. They are capable of loading their own environment, usually based on Linux, to thoroughly analyze the disk without interference from any malware that may be present. If you've never heard of them or don't know which one to choose, in this article we show you a comprehensive selection of the best. best antivirus to run in Live mode.
What is a Live or Rescue Antivirus?
A Live antivirus is a security solution designed to run before the operating system loadsThis means it runs directly from external media and doesn't depend on what you have installed on your computer. Therefore, it's perfect for removing malware that runs in memory before traditional antivirus software and is nearly impossible to detect once the system has booted.
These tools work by loading a stripped-down version of Linux prepared with the drivers The most common ones are a file explorer and the antivirus engine. They are very effective at removing rootkits, ransomware, bootkits and other types of persistent threats.
Advantages of Live Antivirus:
- They work without needing to access Windows or another installed operating system.
- They do not consume host system resources and cannot be manipulated by local viruses.
- They allow access to an infected system to recover files or completely disinfect it.
- They are free in most cases.
How to use a Live antivirus correctly
Using an antivirus Live CD or USB is simple, but there are important steps you shouldn't skip. To create the rescue media, you'll need to download the ISO image from the manufacturer's website and then transfer it to a USB drive or CD. To do this, you can use tools such as Rufus, UNetbootin, ImgBurn or Etcher.
Once the media is created, connect the drive to your computer, access the BIOS or menu Boot (usually with the DEL, F2, F10, or F12 keys) and select the external drive as the boot priority. Booting from this media will load an antivirus interface with various options for scanning, updating virus definitions, and cleaning the system.
Best free live antivirus for Windows and other systems
Next, we review the Most recommended free rescue disks, based on their features, ease of use, and malware detection capabilities. Some offer modern graphical interfaces, while others operate in text mode, which doesn't compromise their performance.
ESET SysRescue Live
ESET offers one of the most complete and up-to-date solutions in Live format. It can be downloaded in .ISO or .IMG formats and easily transferred to a USB or CD. Once launched, it allows for on-demand, smart, or custom scans. graphical interface is very friendly even for users with little technical experience.
It doesn't update automatically at startup, so it's recommended that you connect to the Internet and update definitions manually from its interface. Compatible con Windows y Linux, offers support to both individual customers and business systems.
Kaspersky Rescue Disk
One of the oldest and most powerful rescue disks, although its interface hasn't been updated for some time. Based on Gentoo Linux, offers a powerful scanning engine that detects persistent threats and allows you to repair severely compromised systems. It requires downloading an ISO image, which you can then burn to a USB drive or CD.
Upon startup, it updates its virus database (if an internet connection is available) and allows you to scan entire disks, selected drives, or specific folders. It is ideal for somewhat more technical users, although it also allows automatic scans.
AVG Rescue CD
Another solid and completely free solution. It stands out for offering two versions of its ISO image, one for burning to CD and the other for USB, making it easy to use depending on the available media. Its interface is text-based, very similar to a BIOS, but it's functional and effective.
Among its features are several types of analysis: complete, quick, by routes, as well as functions for view network connections, update the database or review logs from previous scans.
Trend Micro Rescue Disk
Trend Micro also offers a free rescue antivirus. The disk creation process is very simple, as you download an executable that burns the image to the external media. Its interface is the most minimalist on the list., completely in text mode, but it perfectly serves its purpose.
Allows you to choose from several types of scans, including hidden file scanning, system driver scanning, and system driver scanning. MBR (master boot record). The antivirus starts without having to load operating system data, making it ideal for combating infections that affect the boot system.
Norton Bootable Recovery Tool (NBRT)
Developed by Symantec, NBRT provides a rescue environment with simple and easy-to-use graphical interfaceUnlike others, it allows you to create a boot disk without additional software once you download the Norton tool. The analysis focuses on basic cleanup and system scanning, without many advanced options.
It's especially useful in situations where we want to quickly clean up a computer without digging too deep into settings. It also includes automatic update of the signature database.
Avira Rescue System
Avira offers a free option with intuitive graphical interface, based on Linux. While it doesn't boast a wealth of advanced features, it's effective at what matters most: updating virus definitions and scanning the entire system to detect and neutralize threats.
This system remains functional despite not receiving frequent updates. Perfect for those looking for a simple and quick solution.
Panda SafeDisk (Panda SafeCD)
Panda also has its Live version, known as SafeDisk. Although its interface may look somewhat outdated, it's simple to use. Upon startup, the system loads a wizard that automatically detects available signatures, and after clicking "Start," a full system scan is launched.
It supports both FAT and .NET file systems. NTFS and allows you to choose which units you want to analyze.
Other useful Live CDs for malware removal
In addition to the antivirus programs mentioned above, there are other, more specialized tools. Some useful examples (although in some cases they are no longer updated regularly) are:
- Dr.Web LiveDisk: good detection, simple interface and continuous monitoring.
- Comodo Rescue Disk: It was powerful, although it has not received updates for a while.
- GData BootMedium: very effective, but requires a product license to update.
- Hitman Pro Kickstart: designed to combat ransomware.
- AntiSMS / AntiWinlocker: Russian tools specifically created for ransomware-type malware and screen lockers.
There are also custom PE and Linux disks with tools like Spybot BootCD, RogueKiller PE or OTL PE which allow for more surgical treatment of advanced infections, although their use may be more complex for users without technical experience.
Live antiviruses are essential tools for system maintenance and recovery. Not only are they useful when everything goes wrong, but they can also be used proactively to detect malware that isn't obvious. They also allow you to recover valuable files on systems that won't boot and disinfect computers with serious infections without putting other devices at risk. Having one or more ready on a USB flash drive can make a huge difference when you're not expecting it.
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