Free antiviruses
If you follow safety rules when using the internet on your computer or mobile device, you're protected from most internet threats.
Urgent help
If you need to quickly check your computer for viruses, you can use these free tools:
There are no similar utilities for mobile devices. Make sure you follow internet safety rules and install an antivirus to protect your device.
Free antiviruses
To ensure constant protection of your computer and mobile devices, install an antivirus with regular updates of virus databases. It's best to configure the antivirus so that it constantly monitors programs running on your device.
If you can't install a paid antivirus, use one of the free programs listed below. Most of them are trial versions of paid antiviruses and have limited functionality. But even a trial version with reduced features can protect you when you're surfing the internet.
Computer
Android
Note
The path may differ depending on the device model.
Antivirus software for mobile devices has limited functionality. It's important that you follow safety rules when using the internet on a mobile device and download software from official sources.
You can also install Google Play Protect, which regularly checks your apps and the device for security threats:
- Go to Settings → Google → Security → Google Play Protect.
- Enable the Scan device for security threats option.
Install an antivirus on your mobile device. You can find the full list of free antiviruses on Google Play. Here are some of the most popular antiviruses available in English:
iOS
It's believed that the built-in security on iOS devices is so good that you don't need to install additional antivirus software: you just can't download any malicious apps via the App Store.
Alert
Your device is more vulnerable if it has undergone a jailbreak. You must choose an application to protect your data.
However, your device may need additional protection from other threats, such as phishing, spam, and data interception. Here's what you can use:
- AdGuard: Blocks ads.
- Healbot: Protects your data.
- Mobile Security by Kaspersky: Protects your data and privacy.
- McAfee’s Mobile Security: Provides mobile protection and a VPN network.
If the virus completely blocks the computer
If an virus completely blocks the operating system, you can use a startup disk image with an antivirus scanner:
To scan the computer using a startup disk:
- Download the disk image to a non-infected computer.
- Save it on a CD, DVD, or flash drive.
- Insert the disk or flash drive to the infected computer and restart it.
- Enter BIOS while your computer is booting. To access BIOS, you need to press a certain key repeatedly. It's usually F2, Del, or Esc. You can find out the exact key during the reboot: you'll see a message at the bottom of the screen, for example, “Press F2 to run SETUP”.
- Configure the Boot Sequence so that the computer first boots up from the medium you prepared.
- Restart your computer again. This time, it will boot from your medium and run the antivirus.
- Run the scan and wait until the antivirus checks the system completely and removes the detected viruses.
- Remove the startup disk and restart the computer. Return the Boot Sequence settings to their original state.
- After cleaning the computer, install an antivirus before you do anything else.
Ad malware removal programs
In the browser
Yandex Browser blocks shocking and intrusive ads. If you're seeing intrusive or shocking ads in your browser, along with pop-up ad tabs and unwanted websites, scan your operating system with an anti-adware tool to remove the malicious ads:
Windows
MacOS
In mobile apps
If you're suddenly seeing pop-up ads on your mobile device, it could be infected with a virus. Try to find the app that caused the problem. Remove the apps one by one and check whether unwanted ads disappear.