Maintaining security when browsing the Internet is essential. There are many threats on the web and we must always detect viruses, Trojans and any malware that could threaten our privacy and security. In this article we are going to talk about checking your system for viruses with an online scanner , without having to install anything on your computer. An alternative to traditional antivirus.
Why use a virus scanner on the Internet
We generally use antivirus that we install on the computer or that may even come with the system, as is the case with Windows Defender. It is a program like any other, which allows you to analyze the system and search for possible threats in order to subsequently eliminate them and avoid data theft or something going wrong.
However we have the alternative of using an online virus scanner . Basically it is a service that we can use without having to install anything and that will also help us detect possible threats. Its mission is to analyze the equipment, such as a Windows computer, and detect threats that must be eliminated.
The positive thing about this option is that we will not have to install anything . You will only have to enter the page of that online antivirus and start the scanning process. It is very useful if you do not have an antivirus installed and you need to scan the system because you suspect that it may be infected. Also if you are using someone else’s computer or a public computer and want to make sure there are no security issues.
They can even serve as a complement to other security programs that you have installed. If you are not sure if your antivirus is working well or has been able to miss a threat, it is one more option that you will have available to make sure that your system is protected. Also, these tools are usually free.
Online antivirus
We are going to show some online security scanners . They are free services that you can use from the browser Chrome, Firefox or the one you have installed. You will be able to scan your system to detect threats. Of course, you should know that although they are very useful tools, they should not be a substitute for the traditional antivirus that we install and that are more complete.
ESET
The first online antivirus that we want to show is the one from ESET . It is completely free and quite simple to use . You have to go to their website and there you will see different options. One of them is Analyze Now. This performs a scan on the computer to detect possible security threats that may exist.
Once you hit the button, you have to fill in some data and download a file to the system, which will allow you to analyze the computer. It is very useful for a punctual analysis , to be able to eliminate malware quickly. It focuses only on those files and folders where viruses are most likely to be present.
Keep in mind that it is fully compatible with other security programs that you have installed. Therefore, there will be no conflict at the software level and you will be able to use it without problems in Windows even if you already have some program installed.
Main features:
- quick analysis
- Focuses on the most risky files and folders
- You have to download a file
- Easy to use
F Secure
F-Secure online antivirus is another alternative that you can use for free. It acts in a similar way to the previous one and it is also necessary to download a file from its web page b. From there, it will start to quickly scan the system to detect possible malicious files that may be present.
One of the most interesting positive points is that it is very fast . Although it focuses only on files and folders where there may be more viruses, this causes the process to end quickly. You will be able to see an image like the one below in case your system is clean.
It is very simple to use and it should be noted that there is no problem with having another security program installed. It is perfect for a quick analysis and to be able to increase the guarantees that your computer does not have viruses.
Main features:
- quick analysis
- Easy to use
- You have to download a file
- Focuses on the most risky files and folders
TrendMicro
Trend Micro has the HouseCall tool, which is an online antivirus that allows you to scan your system for threats. You can use it through its web page , where you will have to select the version of the operating system and download a small file to be able to work.
From there, it will perform an analysis on the computer to detect possible security threats that may exist. You can select the type of analysis to make it simpler and faster or more complete. There are no conflict issues with other security programs that may be installed.
Main features:
- Select the type of analysis
- Easy to use
- You have to download a file
Chrome Online Anti-Virus
Google Chrome itself also has a function to be able to scan the system online and search for possible security threats. It is very useful, since it is not necessary to install anything additional. To do this you have to go to the menu at the top right, enter Advanced settings, Recover settings and clean.
Once there you have to click on Clean computer . A new window will appear as you see in the image below and you have to give Search, so that the process of analyzing the computer to detect possible malware begins.
From there it will start looking for possible malicious files on the computer. It is a simple process and it will also not influence other programs that you may have installed to protect the security of the computer.
Main features:
- No need to download or install anything
- Very easy to use
- Function in the browser itself
VirusTotal
One more option to analyze online security is VirusTotal. In this case, it is a different tool from the previous ones, since it will allow you to scan a specific file or a URL that could be dangerous. It is very easy to use and you will not need to install or download anything on your computer.
To use it you have to go to their website. There you will see different options to analyze a specific file, a URL or even search for a domain or IP to see if it could be a danger. Not only does it have the ability to tell if a file, such as an image, is a virus; It will also indicate if an address can be false and be Phishing.
Therefore, VirusTotal is a very interesting complement to a conventional antivirus and also to the online virus scanners that we have seen previously. It works very well, is simple and offers additional information to detect viruses in files or through fraudulent links.
Main features:
- Allows you to analyze files
- No need to install or download anything
- It’s easy to use
In short, these are some options that you can find to analyze your system online beyond the traditional antivirus that you can install. The objective is to detect security threats that can compromise your data and the proper functioning of the computer. You can also combine them with other tools.
