Smadav, Antivirus to Protect Flash Drives and USB Sticks

One of the problems that we find every time we connect to the Internet is the proliferation of all kinds of viruses that can end up contaminating our PC. To avoid this, it is important that we are connected safely through the use of an antivirus, regardless of the operating system that we use. Viruses are becoming more complex and dangerous threats, and they not only affect the operating system, but can also attack connected peripherals such as flash drives and pen drives. To avoid scares, we can opt for an antivirus like Smadav that we are going to talk about.

It is true that, if we use Windows as an operating system, we automatically have Windows Defender as antivirus and Firewall, not by option but by default. In this way, Microsoft ensures that we can have a minimum of protection, even if we are inexperienced users, against malware and hackers. But this option may not be enough and we look for extra protection, something that we can achieve with this new proposal.

Smadav

Smadav is the extra protection for our PC

Smadav is an antivirus that is responsible for complementing and other antivirus that we could have installed, working as additional protection. This program offers us a second layer of specialized protection to protect USB sticks, memory cards and flash drives from all kinds of viruses and malware.

This antivirus has its own way of detecting and cleaning viruses so that we have greater security when using the PC. It consumes very few resources so it does not negatively affect the use of the computer and allows it to be complemented with another antivirus that we may have installed, since its use as the main solution against virus infection is not indicated.

Smadav’s efforts focus its efforts on the anticipation of one of the most important means for the spread of viruses, such as flash drives and USB memory sticks. It has the ability to detect new viruses in these drives, even if its database is not found. It is capable of cleaning viruses that have infected files, as well as restoring those that have been hidden by the virus. In addition, it is capable of repairing the registry of our PC in case it has been damaged or modified by a virus.

The main tools that this antivirus has are:

  • One-Virus By-User – To add virus files and clean them manually
  • Process Manager: to manage the processes and programs that run on the PC.
  • System Editor – to repair virus-modified system settings.
  • Win-Force: to open a system administrator program in Windows.
  • Smad-Lock – to strengthen the defense of the computer unit against virus infection.

Companion Antivirus for USB Drives

Once we run the application, its main menu appears with an interface that lacks any visual and functional appeal. It is not translated into Spanish, so we can only see it in English whose translation is not perfect or in Indonesian, which we doubt is the best option for a program of this type.

Smadav interfaz

If we look at its interface in the left column we have its functions available such as Scanner, Protect, Tools, Settings and Pro. Of these functions we can only use the scan and settings within its free version. We must bear in mind that this application only detects a virus if we decide to scan the files, so it will not notify us in case we download a file with a virus or even if we execute it, so it does not have real-time protection .

Smadav virus detectados

Within the Scanner option we can choose whether to choose to scan a specific part of our hard drive, as well as external drives and areas of the system in search of viruses. On the right side we can activate a box called “Higher detection rate with Smadav-AI (Expert Mode)”. This function comes to be a kind of “expert mode” using artificial intelligence. If we activate it, a warning sign appears informing us that this feature detects more viruses … but at the same time it can also detect more false options … Given this, it is better not to look at it.

Smadav advertencia modo experto

Once we click on “Scan”, the program will proceed to scan the selected units. During the process we will be able to see the total number of files reviewed, the number of viruses detected and possible errors that it may find in the registry. The scan time is not too long, although it will depend on the size of the drives and the number of files they have. Once finished, a window will appear showing us the results. By means of the button “Fix All” we will be able to eliminate the found files.

Smadav virus borrado

Free Download Smadav

If we want to download Smadav to protect our USB devices and flash memory from viruses, we must know that we can download a free version from its website . It is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10 in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. For its installation we will just need 20 MB of storage on our hard drive. Its current version is 14.6 released on January 21, 2021 , so it has good support from its developers.

Differences between the Free version and the Pro version

This antivirus has both a free and a paid version, so that we can choose the one that best suits our use and needs. The free version is fully functional, offering the possibility of searching for viruses and eliminating them if necessary. Although the appearance of windows is annoying constantly, prompting us to switch to the Pro version.

However, the free version does not allow automatic updates, nor the creation of the exception list, nor maximization or resizing of the interface. It also does not allow us to set an administrator password. Likewise, the Protect and Tools sections of the application are blocked. The price for the Pro version is $ 2.40 for 1 PC, $ 4 for 3 computers and $ 8 for 6 computers. The validity is 1 year in all cases.

Smadav Free or Smadav Pro Which one to choose?

Well, if we want to test this antivirus, the best way to do it and find out if it fits what we need. That is why the first thing is to download the free version and see how it works, because given the low quality of its interface and its unattractiveness, it may throw us back at the first change.

In the event that we like how it works and want to take full advantage of the functions it incorporates, it is not a bad idea to opt for the Pro version given its low price. In addition, if we use many USB devices or memory cards to a large extent for work or study, it may be interesting to bet on this option.

Alternatives to Smadav

If we are looking for an antivirus to protect our PC from any malware when browsing the Internet, we propose these alternatives to Smadav:

Adaware Antivirus

It is a free antivirus that is. will be in charge of detecting and eliminating any type of virus, malware, spyware or Trojan horse from our computer, in real time. It offers us several types of analysis on demand such as fast, complete or custom mode. We can download it from this link.

Avast Free Antivirus

This well-known antivirus offers us protection against viruses completely free and in the cloud so we will not have problems with the storage of our hard drive. It offers real-time protection by scanning unknown files before we can use them. We can download it from this link .