Scan Computer for Malware your Antivirus Missed

By / Anti Virus, Windows 10, Windows 11 / 6 minutes of reading

Scan your computer for malware using Malwarebytes as an on demand scanner. Whether you’re using a third party antivirus like Norton, McAfee, Avast, Bitdefender etc, or simply relying on good old Windows Defender, they can and will miss some malware.

Malware evolves so quickly that no single antivirus can keep up. Something will always slip through the net. Which is why you need to scan your PC for malware that might have been missed by your antivirus program.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to use Malwarebytes as an “on demand” scanner for virus and malware that you can run alongside your regular AV program.

Table Of Contents
  1. Second Opinion Malware Scanner
  2. Use Malwarebytes as an "On Demand" Malware Scanner
  3. Setting up Malwarebytes as an On Demand Malware Scanner
  4. Scanning PC for Malware
  5. Summary

Second Opinion Malware Scanner

Rather than relying totally on just a single antivirus program to keep your PC clean, it’s a good idea to have a second opinion. To scan for malware that could have got on to your PC without being detected. The problem is that you can’t install more than one antivirus program onto your computer.

Seriously, never have two antivirus programs on your computer at the same time.

Use Malwarebytes as an “On Demand” Malware Scanner

Malwarebytes is a well respected anti virus program in its own right. As its name suggests it’s terrific at picking up on malware that has been missed by your regular antivirus.

When you install Malwarebytes, it’ll install as a full time antivirus program. You’ll get a 14 day trial.

It’s important the you turn off the real time protection from Malwarebytes. If you don’t turn it off, you’ll run into problems with your regular antivirus program.

Download And install Malwarebytes

You can download Malwarebytes from here – https://www.malwarebytes.com/

Click the Free Download button for Home use. Then run the installer (MBSetup.exe).

Free Download button marked.
Click the Free Download button for Home users.
Installing Malwarebytes.
Then run the setup program.

There’s not much to note about installing Malwarebytes other than skipping the Browser Guard option.

  1. Click the Install button.
  2. Since this is for use on your hoe computer, select Personal and then click Next.
  3. On the Browser Guard option screen, click Skip this for now.
  4. And finally, click on Open Malwarebytes.
The Install button is marked.
Click the Install button.
Setup for Personal use selected.
Select Personal use.
Skip for now is indicated.
Skip the Browser Guard installation.
Launching Malwarebytes.
And finally Open Malwarebytes.

After installation is complete you’ll probably be offered the premium version.

If you’re not interested, click Maybe Later.

Maybe Later option is indicated.
Click Maybe Later.

Setting up Malwarebytes as an On Demand Malware Scanner

We want to use Malwarebytes as an “on demand” malware scanner. That’s to say it only runs when we initiate a malware scan. But currently it’ll be working as a full time antivirus. That’s going to cause issues with the antivirus that’s already installed.

In the example below, you can see that I’ve got Malwarebytes and Avast running on my test computer. That’s not good.

And on the Malwarebytes Dashboard, you can see that Real-Time Protection is enabled.

We need to turn off the real time protection of Malwarebytes. Doing that will stop it from scanning for malware until we start it up.

Hidden Icons area of Windows is open. Shows both Malwarebytes and Avast are running.
Opening the Hidden Icons area of Windows reveals that both Malwarebytes and Avast are enabled.
Real time protection is on in Malwarebytes.
That’s because we have real time protection enabled in Malwarebytes.

Turn Off Malwarebytes Real Time Protection

To turn off the real time protection module of Malwarebytes and use it solely as a second opinion malware scanner, click your account icon in the top right hand corner of the Dashboard. On the menu, click My Subscription.

Then click the Deactivate Trial button.

My Subscription is indicated.
Click My Subscriptions.
Deactivate Trial button is marked.
Then Deactivate Trial.

When you return to the Malwarebytes dashboard, you’ll see that the real time protection is now inactive.

That’ll prevent Malwarebytes from interfering with the normal processes of your regular antivirus.

Having two antivirus programs running at the same time will cause more problems than it’ll solve.

Real time protection is shown as disabled.
That’s better. With real time protection turned off in Malwarebytes, you’ll have your regular antivirus working.

Stop Malwarebytes from Starting with Windows

Since you’re only going to be using Malwarebytes as a second opinion antivirus scanner, it’s a good idea to prevent it from starting up with Windows.

Click the Settings icon (the gear wheel) in the left hand panel.

Then turn off the the option to “Launch Malwarebytes in the background when Windows starts”.

Settings highlighted in Malwarebytes dashboard.
Click the Settings icon.
Start with Windows has been deselected.
Then deselect Start with Windows.

Scanning PC for Malware

So now you’ve successfully set Malwarebytes up as an on demand virus scanner to scan your computer for anything that your regular antivirus might have missed.

From the Malwarebytes Dashboard, click on the 3 vertical dots beside the Scan button. On the menu, click Settings.

Then on the Scan & Detections screen, enable Scan for Rootkits.

With that done, click Dashboard in the left hand panel.

Scan settings indicated.
Click the 3 vertical dots and then Settings.
Scan for rootkits enabled in Malwarebytes.
Select the option Scan for Rootkits.

Start a Malware Scan

You’re all setup now. Click the the Scan button to start a malware scan of your computer.

Scan button marked.
Start a second opinion malware scan.

Scanning for Malware

Malwarebytes will scan your computer for ant malware that was missed by your regular antivirus.

When it’s finished, it’ll present a report of its findings. Hopefully you’ll get the all clear.

Malwarebytes scan progress.
Second opinion scan in progress.
Scan finished.
All’s good, nothing found.

Notice.

If It does find anything suspicious, then Malwarebytes will offer to remove it for you. Simply select everything that has been found and click the Remove button.

Summary.

No antivirus program is infallible. So having an on demand malware scanner like this, set up and ready to go whenever you need it is a must.

Use Malwarebytes as an on demand scanner whenever you think you may have visited a website or webpage that made you suspicious.

Or use it as a second opinion scanner to run after your regular antivirus scan has finished.

Related Posts.

How To Scan Your Computer With Avast Free Antivirus 2024.

How To Scan PC With AVG Free Antivirus 2024.

How To Use Microsoft Windows Security Anti-Virus.

6 Most Common Reasons For Virus Scans Taking Too Long.

Summary

No antivirus program is infallible. So having an on demand malware scanner like this, set up and ready to go whenever you need it is a must.

Use Malwarebytes as an on demand scanner whenever you think you may have visited a website or webpage that made you suspicious. Or use it as a second opinion scanner to run after your regular antivirus scan has finished.

Related Posts

How To Scan PC With AVG Free Antivirus 2024.
AVG is still one of the most popular of the free AV programs.

How To Use Microsoft Windows Security Anti-Virus.
In my opinion, most people don’t need to use a third party antivirus at all. Windows built in security option works.

6 Most Common Reasons For Virus Scans Taking Too Long.
Here are the most common reasons your scan never seem to finish.

Beware of Device Encryption on Windows 11 Home

Device Encryption is silently being enabled on all Windows 10 and Windows 11 Home editions that meet the hardware requirements and you’re signed in with a Microsoft account.

It’s very important that you check whether or not device encryption is enabled on your computer and if it is, then you MUST either disable it or find your recovery key. I’ll show you how to do both.

Device Encryption
Device Encryption on Windows Home editions

You can find this and other related step by step guides in – At Home Computer Security Guides

At Home Computer Step By Step Guides

At home computer website logo. Easy to follow tutorials for users of Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers.

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