6 Best Portable Antivirus Software for Windows in 2019

Antivirus applications are considered as one of the “must have” programs for any computer. They help in securing your PC (and the data on it) against all kinds of viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. Now, if you have a capable antivirus program installed on your computer, then there’s nothing to worry about. But what if you are work on another PC (e.g. a computer in a public library), that doesn’t have antivirus software installed? Well, that’s where the portable antivirus software comes into the picture.

Like most portable apps, these antivirus programs don’t need to be installed in your PC. You can carry them anywhere in, say, USB drives, and make sure that your systems are safe. Today, we will be taking a look at 6 best portable antivirus software that you can rely on.

Best Portable Antivirus Software in 2019

Before we get into the list, let’s discuss a couple of key points that you should keep in mind before depending on the portable antivirus software.

• A majority of programs mentioned in our list comes with updated malware definitions database. But for others, you’ll have to update the database manually.
• Portable antivirus software is not a replacement for your licensed anti-malware product. For all-around, real-time protection, you’ll still have to rely on full-fledged antivirus products.
• Since portable antivirus software doesn’t have “real-time” scanning, you’ll have to scan files and folders manually every time.

Now, that we’ve learned about the portable antivirus software, let’s take a look at the best portable antivirus software you can use in 2019.

Best Portable Antivirus Software for Windows

1. Microsoft Safety Scanner

Microsoft security scanner is a scanning tool that’s designed to provide on-demand scanning to help remove spyware, viruses, and other bad stuff. Unlike a traditional program that’s installed on your computer, the Microsoft Safety Scanner is just an executable file that you can load in your USB drive. Microsoft Safety Scanner works with your existing antivirus software, and it comes with an update malware definition database. It is, however, worth pointing out that this particular scanner expires 10 days after being downloaded. Hence, it is advised that you download a new one and run the scan again to ensure your safety.

Download Microsoft Safety Scanner (Free)

2. Norton Power Eraser

Norton, as you all know, is a popular name when it comes to antivirus software, and the Norton Power Eraser is no exception. It’s a lightweight, standalone utility that can quickly detect and remove even the most aggressive of the viruses. In addition, it can get rid of unwanted applications of root-kits. But perhaps the most unique feature of Norton Power Eraser is Reputation Scan, which can be used to send a specified file/folder to a Symantec server so it can be scanned by signature-based detection engines. You can even configure it to scan a particular OS if your PC has more than one Operating System installed.

Download Norton Power Eraser (Free)

3. Comodo Cleaning Essentials

Looking for a powerhouse anti-malware application for using on the go? Comodo Cleaning Essentials is all you need. It can scan (and remove) everything from viruses to bad registry keys to root-kits, and integrates with Comodo’s cloud scanners to provide real-time safety reports about unknown processes. It also has a KillSwitch sub-module, which lets you analyze running programs and network connections for malware, and force terminate them, if they are affected. Then there’s the Autorun Analyzer, which can be used to handle services & programs that are loaded at system startup.

• Download Comodo Cleaning Essentials – 32-bit (Free)
• Download Comodo Cleaning Essentials – 64-bit (Free)

4. McAfee Stinger

McAfee Stinger is a simple yet powerful tool that can scan (and remove) root-kits, registry modules, boot sectors and a lot more. The standalone program can be configured to execute different actions (remove, repair etc.), as required. McAfee Stinger also integrates Global Threat Intelligence, a cloud-based service that enables threat prediction based on activity from numerous sensors worldwide, and an extensive research team. It can even be used to detect a specified list of malware. Oh, and here’s a really interesting fact – It comes from Intel Security, the world’s largest dedicated security technology company.

Download McAfee Stinger (Free)

5. Emsisoft Emergency Kit

It’s not the lightest thing out there, but Emsisoft Emergency Kit packs in some serious punch for removing all kind of viruses, key-loggers etc. from any computer. Unlike other scanners in the list, this one requires a quick installation, as it extracts from program files. Once done, you can quickly jump into the scanning process.  Emsisoft Emergency Kit has an easy to use interface, where all the options are neatly listed out in the overview screen. It also includes a command line scanner (with support for all standard features like Direct Disk Access), which is perfect for running batch scan jobs.

Download Emsisoft Emergency Kit (Free)

6. Dr. Web CureIt!

The lightweight and portable version of Dr. Web CureIt antivirus software weighs around 175MB, and it is yet another tool that’s worth checking out. Despite its size, you don’t have to go through any installation process with Dr. Web CureIt, unlike Emsisoft Emergency Kit. You can click the downloaded file and get started with the scan. Dr. Web CureIt! runs an express scan to find different kinds of viruses, adware, and more. Once the scanning is done, Dr. Web CureIt! also gives you an option to “Neutralize” the threats, which is really handy as it eliminates the need to delete the files manually.

Download Dr. Web CureIt! (Free)

SEE ALSO: 12 Best Backup Software for Windows PC in 2019

Secure data against malware when on the go

Given how valuable digital data is, it’s imperative that it’s protected against viruses, spyware etc. at all times. And the portable antivirus software discussed above ensure just that, even when you have to work on PCs that don’t have any anti-malware programs installed. Give these a shot, and let us know your favorite(s) in the comments below.