NoVirusThanks Malware Remover - Free Malware Scan & Removal

A Swift Alternative to Malwarebytes: NoVirusThanks Malware Remover

Many users, myself included, frequently utilize Malwarebytes for system cleaning. On average, I employ it several times daily to remediate infected machines where existing antivirus solutions have either failed or are outdated.

While highly effective, a notable drawback of Malwarebytes is the considerable time required for a comprehensive system scan. I've begun incorporating NoVirusThanks into my workflow prior to running Malwarebytes, and have found it to be remarkably quick while still identifying a substantial number of infections.

Getting Started with NoVirusThanks

The process begins with downloading the free malware remover from its official source. The download file is relatively small, approximately 1.2MB, and completes rapidly.

The application has a system requirement: Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5. Ensure this framework is installed before proceeding; it can be obtained from the Microsoft website if necessary. Following a straightforward installation, launch the application from your system's start menu.

The developers characterize their free malware remover as follows:

NoVirusThanks Malware Remover is an application engineered to detect and eliminate specific malware, trojans, worms, and other harmful threats that could compromise your computer. It also provides capabilities for removing unwanted software, spyware, and adware. Scan times are exceptionally fast, and the application requires minimal system resources even when other demanding programs are running.

Configuring NoVirusThanks for Optimal Performance

Upon launching, you'll encounter a scanning interface resembling those of traditional antivirus programs. Before initiating a scan, let's explore the application's configuration and update options. Click the settings tab, located in the upper-left corner of the window, to access the settings page.

The general tab presents three options. Selecting the option to reduce application memory usage will conserve resources, but will extend scan duration. This is particularly beneficial for older, less powerful computers. Enabling Work in background minimizes the application to the system tray. Finally, I strongly recommend enabling Auto update database before scan, which automatically downloads the latest definitions before each scan.

The scan tab offers further customization. I suggest leaving the scan type set to 'quick scan' for routine checks. A full scan is more thorough but significantly longer. Adjusting the file size and file extension limits can accelerate scans, but may compromise detection accuracy.

The Paranoid scan option, found at the bottom of the settings, initiates a comprehensive scan of all files, consuming considerable time. Consider using this option if the machine will be idle for an extended period, such as overnight.

The report settings allow you to save scan reports upon completion. The backup tab provides options to back up files before deletion and to alert you if a backup fails; these options are enabled by default and should remain so.

Within the delete settings, two options are initially disabled. Use aggressive deletion forces the removal of files even if they are in use or protected, useful for persistent infections. I recommend enabling create a system restore point before deleting files as a precautionary measure.

If you haven't enabled automatic database updates, navigate to the update tab to manually update the definitions.

The language tab allows you to modify the interface's language.

Running a Scan and Interpreting Results

With the settings configured, return to the scan tab and press the scan button.

The interface will display the scan's progress. If automatic database updates are enabled, this process will occur first.

As the scan progresses, any detected suspicious files will be listed in the grid.

Upon completion, if your system is clean, proceed with your normal activities. If infections are detected, click the remove button to initiate the removal process. On a 200GB SATA drive, a scan completed in approximately 27 minutes – a commendable speed. I've successfully used it on heavily infected systems with positive results.

Final Thoughts

What are your impressions of NoVirusThanks? Are there other free malware removers that you find particularly effective? Share your experiences in the comments below.