Dr.Web CureIt! vs Malwarebytes AdwCleaner

Dr.Web CureIt! is a Windows utility for scanning and curing malware on infected workstations. It is suited to on-demand checks rather than ongoing protection: the free version supports one-time scans, and the program does not provide real-time virus protection. A download includes current virus definitions, but there is no automatic update feature, so home users need to download it again for a current scan. The free version cannot select particular scan objects or use command-line parameters. Dr.Web CureIt! Pro adds selective scanning of files, folders, drives, virtual drives, network resources, and individual processes, plus command-line use in scripts and scheduled or automated IT systems. Pro also includes quarantine management with export, import, and cleaning. During free scans, the utility sends scanning statistics and system information to Doctor Web; the company says it does not transmit personal information that reveals identity. Sending statistics is optional in the paid version. The free plan is free for one-time scanning; the Pro plan is listed for five or ten days, with no price listed.

Malwarebytes AdwCleaner is a free Windows utility for detecting and removing adware, potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers. It can also find unwanted software preinstalled on Windows computers. After scanning, you choose detections to quarantine and disable, then restart to finish cleanup; results also let you delete or restore items. The command-line interface can scan and list detections, scan and quarantine them, or uninstall AdwCleaner. Malwarebytes positions it for home users and technicians and distinguishes its focus from Malwarebytes Free, which also removes viruses, trojans, botnets and ransomware. Supported systems are Windows 11, Windows 10 and Windows 8.1; Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8 are unsupported. Minimum requirements list an 800 MHz SSE2 CPU, 512 MB RAM and 10 MB free disk space. With a firewall, outbound port 443 access is required to three listed Malwarebytes or AdwCleaner service addresses. Suspected false positives can be submitted from scan results for specialist review. The Free plan is free.