AdwCleaner: 3 strong alternatives in comparison
Tools such as adwcleaner and its alternatives are enjoying increasing popularity in view of the constantly growing number of malware, adware and "toolbars". We present 3 other powerful malware removal tools.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
The de facto standard Malwarebytes anti-malware among the pest control is available for Windows, Mac OS X, Android and Kindle. The program is distributed under the freemium license model: There is a fully functional free version and a full version with additional features.
- Pros: Fast scan, frequent updates available, very easy to use.
- Disadvantages: High memory requirements, real-time protection with limited functionality, for example for malicious URLs
Spybot - Search & Destroy
Spybot is one of the forefathers in this category and is still very popular. The program is free for private users, companies choose either the "Corporate Edition" or the variant for small and medium-sized companies
- Advantages: Extensive privacy protection, improved browser security, removal of registry entries, extensive subscription and license models
- Disadvantages: Virus protection only in the paid + AV variant, program not quite as new despite many updates.
herd protect
Cloud-based protection for Windows-based PCs: New programs are checked online by up to 68 different malware scanners. HerdProtect thereby achieves an unmatched detection rate, albeit at the expense of privacy. Because information about newly installed programs and system changes are regularly transmitted to heardprotect.
- Advantages: Detects far more viruses, Trojans, root kits than locally installed antivirus programs, fast real-time scan, free of charge
- Disadvantages: Requires online access, limited to Windows, sends data to a cloud
