List of 26 bootable antivirus CDs for offline scanning

A rescue CD is a useful additional tool provided by antivirus companies to assist in removing difficult malware without booting into Windows.

This is especially useful when the computer is very infected with viruses that Windows cannot boot, either running too slowly and you can hardly use any diagnostic tool inside Windows to investigate and clean the virus.

A huge advantage in using rescue CDs compared to antivirus software installed on your computer is the opportunity to remove them with a much higher success rate because malware will not work. action when we have not started Windows.

Unlike when a virus is activated on the system, it can turn on and prevent any security tools running, even those who have experience in removing them will meet a lot. hard.

Rescue CD primarily as an ISO image file can be burned to a CD (CD) or installed to a USB flash drive which is then used to boot the computer running the operating system directly in memory. .

Most rescue CDs are provided by free antivirus companies while there are a few that are exclusive only for their paying customers. Here is a complete list of 26 rescue CD capabilities that can be downloaded and used for free.

1. ArcaNix

Price: Free
Operating system : Linux
Capacity : 262MB
Format : ISO
Signature method updated : Not available
Default action (s) for detected items : Action required
Last released : Updated daily
Some other information : There is basic and advanced mode. The basic mode requires a good number of questions, an advanced level that gives you complete control over the configuration. Testing showed that the scanning process was very slow and we even missed a sample of malware released publicly when copied into the system.

2. AVG Rescue CD

Price: Free
Operating system: Linux
Capacity: 85.9MB
Format: ISO and EXE (install to USB)
Signature method is updated: Online (automatic) , Offline and download (manually) .
Default action (s) for detected items: Prompt for action (Heal, Rename, Delete, Report)
Last released : November 22, 2012
Some other information: Use the selection menu based on desktop environment and not graphics. Comes with extra utilities like Midnight Commander, TrueCrypt, Registry Editor, TestDisk, smartctl, PhotoRec, Ping and links. It allows you to install on a possibility when booting a USB flash drive from the main menu.

Download AVG Rescue CD

3. Avira AntiVir Rescue System

Price: Free
Operating system : Linux
Capacity : 262MB
Format: ISO and EXE (burn to CD and save to ISO)
Signature method updated: online
Default action (s) for detected items: Correct, rename the file to * .vir format in case it cannot fix the infected file
Last released : Updated daily
Other information : Press Alt + F7 to return to the graphical user interface if you accidentally end up in command line shell mode. You can launch Midnight Commander , a file manager to assist in backing up files by pressing Alt + F5 only from the shell.

Download Avira AntiVir Rescue System

4. Bitdefender Rescue CD

Price: Free
Operating system: Linux
Capacity: 379MB
Format : ISO
Update signature method : Automatically update online at startup.
Default action (s) for detected items: Prompt for action (Disinfect , Rename, Delete)
Last released: July 6, 2012
Some other information: Can be installed on USB using UNetbootin. Comes with additional utilities like GParted, TestDisk, Thunar file manager, Firefox web browser and Foxit PDF reader.

Download Bitdefender Rescue CD

5. Comodo Rescue Disk

Price: Free
Operating system: Linux
Capacity : 50.5MB
Format : ISO
Signature method updated: Online and Offline
Default action (s) for detected items: Prompt for action with clean option ( quarantine ) choose as default.
Last released : December 25, 2012
Some other information : Requires more than 100MB download of definition files before you can start scanning. Allows you to boot into graphics or text mode. Comes with PCMan file manager, Midori web browser and screen capture tool.

Download Comodo Rescue Disk

6. Dr.Web LiveCD

Price: Free
Operating system: Linux
Capacity: 234MB
Format: ISO
Signature method updated : online
Default action (s) for items detected : Try to cure, and move to quarantine when failure to cure.
Last released: February 4, 2013
Other information : You can create a LiveUSB by running the shortcuts found on the desktop after booting with the CD or downloading the independent LiveUSB installer. Comes with a Sylpheed mail, Midnight Commander file manager, ePDFViewer, Firefox, and CureRegistry to fix the registry damage caused by viruses.

Download Dr.Web LiveCD

7. eScan Rescue Disk

Price: Free
Operating system: Windows PE
Capacity: 325MB
Format : ISO
Signature method updated : Online
Default action (s) for detected items : Rename the infected file by adding the MWt extension .
Last released : October 8, 2012
Some other information : Some scanning options like startup folders, registry and spyware are disabled. The ability to boot a prompt from the AntiVirus Toolkit program eScanAV command.

Download eScan Rescue Disk

8. ESET SysRescue

Price: only available for ESET users (paid and trial)
Operating system : Windows PE
Capacity : 183MB (ISO)
Format : ISO, burn to CD / DVD, install to USB
Signature method updated : online
Default action (s) for detected items : Automatically quarantine ( delete ) detected files.
Final release : Not applicable
Other information : ESET SysRescue can only be created from their secure security software or NOD32. It requires the Windows Installation Auto Kit ( WAIK) to be 1.7 GB in size installed on the computer to create a rescue disk.

Download ESET

9. F-Secure Rescue CD

Price: Free
Operating system: Linux
Capacity: 140MB
Format : ISO
Updated signature method: Automatically update online before scanning and streaming method when the definition file is stored in USB.
Default action (s) for detected items : Automatically disinfect and rename a file can not be disinfected.
Last released : June 29, 2012
Some other information : Can be installed on USB using UNetbootin. The official manual has detailed instructions on how to download hidden virus files from USB drives. It can also automate the scanning process without user intervention by downloading virus definitions and creating a configuration file.

Download F-Secure Rescue CD

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10. G Data Boot-CD 2013

Price: Only G uses data (paid and trial)
Operating system: Linux
Capacity : 264MB (ISO)
Format: Burn to CD / DVD, save according to ISO standard
Signature method updated : Online
Default action (s) for detected items : Immediately request action when the virus is found.
Final release : Not applicable
Other information : G Data BootCD is a multi-use antivirus tool avast! and BitDefender. The BootCD can be created by clicking " More " at the top right of the program and selecting " Create Boot CD ", or run " Create G Data BootCD " shortcut from the start menu.

Download G Data

11. Kaspersky Rescue Disk

Price: Free
Operating system : Linux
Capacity : 282MB
Format : ISO
Updated signature method : Online or Offline by adding a local source from the Settings area.
Default action (s) for detected items : Prompt for action when scanning is completed.
Last released : Updated daily
Some other information : Allows you to boot into graphics or text mode and see hardware information. Kaspersky Rescue Disk comes with Dolphin, Kaspersky Registry Editor and Konqueror web browser. Can be installed into USB using Kaspersky USB Rescue tool for their disk review ( rescue2usb.exe ). Sometimes the scan progress is stuck at 99%. Please note that ZoneAlarm uses an old build of Kaspersky Rescue Disk.

Download Kaspersky Rescue Disk

12. Norton Bootable Recovery Tool

Price : Requires Norton main product
Operating system : Windows PE
Capacity : 628MB (ISO)
Format: A (.exe) downloader tool can install to CD / DVD, USB and create ISO.
Updated signature method : Automatically update online before the scan is run.
Default action (s) for detected items : Prompt for action after scanning is complete ( repair or skip ). The repair action will remove the detected file from the original location, encrypt it and store it in C: NBRT folder to restore the file.
Last released : August 22, 2012
Other information : Installation programs allow you to burn to CD / DVD, create ISO files, install on USB drives, update USB definitions and add third party drivers. The installer will also automatically download the latest updates that are added to the boot recovery tools. Do note that a valid Norton product key is entered before you can scan. After further testing, we found that Norton bootable recovery tool even accepts expired and inactive product keys dating as far back as 2008.

Download Norton Bootable Recovery Tool

13. Panda SafeCD

Price: Free
Operating system: Linux
Capacity: 245MB
Format: ISO
Signature method updated : Online or Offline
Default action (s) for detected items : Automatically delete infected files.
Last released : April 3, 2012
Some other information : Old build but virus can still be updated.

Download Panda SafeCD

14. PC Tools Alternate Operating System Scanner

Price: Free
Operating system : Linux
Capacity : 234MB
Format : ISO
Signature method updated : Not available
Default action (s) for detected items : Confirm the detected file for repair after scanning. Fixed files are renamed by adding AOSS extensions .
Last released : Updated daily
Other information : Comes with additional utilities like file recovery, file management and disk detonator (wipe).

Download PC Tools

15. Quick Heal Emergency Disk

Price: Available only for users of Quick Heal (pay and trial)
Operating system : Windows PE
Capacity : 314MB for Quick Heal AntiVirus Pro 2013 + 124MB emgpkg32 zip
Format: burn to CD / DVD, install to USB
Signature method updated : Not available
Default action (s) for detected items : Automatically delete the detection
Final release : Not applicable
Some other information: You can create a free Quick Heal emergency disc from any of their desktop security products like Quick Heal AntiVirus Pro 2013 . After downloading, installing and activating the test, go to Tools > and click " Create Disk Emergency ". Requesting to download emergency disk packages according to your Windows system architecture appears, extract it and provide the extract folder path package in the emergency disk creation wizard.

16. Rising Antivirus Rescue CD

Price: Free
Operating system: Linux
Capacity : 86.9MB
Format : ISO
Signature method updated : From USB created with " VirusLib Backup to U disk " in Antivirus Rising . Refer to the official instructions for step-by-step instructions.
Default action (s) for detected items : Requires action at the end of the scan.
Last released : December 30, 2010
Some other information : Both Antivirus Rising Linux software and hard-coded definitions into ISO rescue disks are very old. Updating the definitions is possible by downloading them from USB which is quite troublesome to create.

17. Sophos Bootable Anti-Virus

Price: Free
Operating system : Linux
Capacity : 136MB
Format: ISO
Signature method updated : Not available
Default action (s) for detected items : The " Introducing Scan " reminder option to confirm the renaming of infected files when detected.
Last released : October 26, 2012
Some other information : Requires several steps to create ISO image file including using command prompt. Detailed instructions can be found on this page.

Download Sophos Anti-Viruts

18. Trend Micro Rescue Disk

Price : Free
Operating system : Linux
Capacity : 55.6MB
Format: Installation can burn to disk or install to USB
Signature method updated : Not available
Default action (s) for detected items : Automatically move the detected file into C: TMRescueDisk Session directory.
Last released : September 26, 2012
Other information : Running the installer will first download the latest virus definition files around 13MB to embed in the rescue disks.

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19. TrustPort System Rescue Disk

Price: Available only to TrustPort users (pay and trial)
Operating system: BartPE and Windows PE
Capacity: 241MB ( ISO Windows PE )
Format : BartPE Plugin files and ISO for Windows PE
Signature method updated : Online
Default action (s) for detected items : Automatically rename the extension file by replacing the first character of the extension with 0. For example, exe . Turn into 0.0 cars
Final release : Not applicable
Some other information : TrustPort is a multi-engine antivirus that uses a combination of AVG and BitDefender tools. Windows PE will be a better choice than BartPE because of the support for newer and easier hardware to create by simply installing Windows AIK. The only drawback is downloading huge 1.7 GB Windows AIK files according to ISO standards, extracting and installing it. After installing WAIK, click on Antivirus > Function > Prepare Windows PE CD.

Download TrustPort Antiviruts

20. VBA32 Rescue

Price : Free
Operating system: Linux
Capacity: 130MB
Format: ISO
Signature method updated : Online
Default action (s) for detected items : Try to cure and will delete if left untreated.
Last released : Updated daily
Other information : There are 2 ways to create a bootable USB for VBA32 rescue. The first method is to use their vba32rescue2usb tool which will write the ISO to the USB and make it boot and the second method is from the VBA32 rescue environment by selecting " Create bootable drive "options from the menu.

Download VBA32 Rescue

21.  VirusBuster Rescue CD

Price: Free
Operating system: Linux
Capacity : 143 MB (ISO)
Format : ISO
Signature method updated : Online
Default action (s) for detected items : The detected product moved to the selected location and the file name will be renamed to random characters without an extension.
Last released : Updated daily
Other information : VirusBuster has been recalled and Agnitum has acquired their antivirus technology. Strangely, their rescue CDs are being recompiled daily including the latest virus definitions. In addition to scanning and cleaning the virus, it comes with Midnight Commander file manager and the ability to restore Windows MBR.

22. Windows Defender Offline

Price: Free
Operating system: Windows PE
Capacity: 282MB (ISO)
Format : A ( .exe ) downloader tool can install to CD, DVD, USB and create ISO.
Signature method updated : Online
Default action (s) for detected items : Clicking the Clean PC button will delete the detected files.
Last released : September 13, 2012
Other information : Using the downloader tool to create CDs, DVDs, USB or ISO will automatically download and include the latest virus definitions. Windows Defender routes the dependency architecture, which means that if you're trying to boot a 32-bit Windows operating system, you'll need a 32-bit version of Windows Defender offline instead of 64-bit.

Download Windows Defender Offline

23. Zillya! LiveCD

Price: Free
Operating system: Linux
Capacity : 538MB
Format : ISO
Signature method updated : Not available
Default action (s) for detected items : Prompt for action at the end of the scan and only provide to delete.
Last released : Updated weekly
Some other information : Running on Windows Zillya! Scanners in Linux use Wine. There is a FAR file manager and MBR recovery tool to repair a faulty master boot record.

Download Zillya! LiveCD

24. Trinity Rescue Kit

Price : Free
Operating system : Linux
Capacity : 151MB
Format : ISO
Signature method updated : Online
Last released : April 12, 2011
Other information : Trinity Rescue Kit is a rescue disk that comes with a lot of useful utilities to help restore and save a Windows system. It includes 5 different antiviruses that are Clam AV, F-Prot, Bitdefender, Vexira (not working) and Avast. Clam AV is free to use while F-Prot and BitDefender run on the trial license. Like Avast, it requires a license key to run. Do note that computers must be connected to the Internet because every latest antivirus software and definitions will only be downloaded when selected from the menu.

25. Anvi Rescue Disk

Price: Free
Operating system: Linux
Capacity: 109MB
Format : ISO
Signature method updated: Not applicable
Last released : January 4, 2013
Some other information : Rescue disk is not a virus but it aims to remove ransomware and boot sector viruses that are preventing you from booting into Windows. There are 3 scan modes and a registered fixer from the repair tab can be recovered with a click. The ZIP archive also comes with a BootUsb.exe that allows you to install Anvi Rescue Disk to the USB port.

Download Anvi Rescue Disk

26. HitmanPro.Kickstart

Price : Free to scan. Remove items that detect software activation requests (pay or trial )
Operating system: Run on your Windows operating system
Capacity : 131MB
Format : ISO
Signature method updated : Not applicable
Default action (s) for detected items : Plant quarantine (Delete)
Last released : December 19, 2012
Other information : HitmanPro.Kickstart USB can be created from HitmanPro programs or simply downloaded providing ISO image files to burn to CD. It is designed to remove ransomware but can also remove any malware detected on your system by uploading suspicious files to your cloud servers to scan with 5 tools Different antivirus ( Bitdefender, Emsisoft, G Data, Dr.Web and Ikarus ). HitmanPro.Kickstart is quite unique compared to the rest of the rescue disk because it runs on your Windows operating system even if the malware is preventing you from accessing it.

Download HitmanPro

Note to editors : avast! A rescue disk is a shareware that costs $ 9.99. Please note that it may take 10-15 days when mailed in EU and US while other countries will take 15-25 days. McAfee also has its rescue disk called CleanBoot running on Windows PE. However, it can only be downloaded with some appropriate levels provided by McAfee's technical support.

If you are looking to combine multiple antivirus rescue discs and install a multi-boot USB flash drive, SARDU is a great tool to help you get there.