If malware hampers your ability to run standard antivirus software Bootable rescue disks can assist. These tools let you scan your computer without Windows and are often able to locate files that antivirus software could miss. Certain tools can scan the Master Boot Record of the hard drive. This is a feature that is particularly beneficial to eliminate persistent or difficult-to clean threats.
These bootable tools typically offer a basic text interface, however they do come with customization options so that you can select to scan specific folders or files, or only sizes or types of files, and more. The best of these tools have a graphical interface and support for more sophisticated threats, like rootkits, and other varieties of ransomware.
AVG Rescue CD, which has a simple but extensive GUI, and many scanning options, is an excellent example. It is also one of few programs capable of performing an entire MBR scanning, which is normally impossible with a non-bootable application. However it’s not the most efficient on this list, and its interface that is text-only isn’t for everyone.
Kaspersky Rescue Disk is another great option that is fast and well-designed user interface. It also supports more advanced malware. It includes features that you’ll rarely see in other bootable antivirus programs, such as the ability to scan boot sectors and hidden startup objects as well as fileless files and the entire hard drive. You can also block files to cut down on the time spent on scanning. It detected all the malware we sent, even those that were undetected by other antivirus software.