In today’s digital age, ensuring your computer’s security is paramount. While robust antivirus software is essential for comprehensive protection, sometimes you need a quick checkup without the commitment of a full installation. That’s where online virus scanners come in handy. However, finding a reliable online scanner can be tricky. Many claim to be online scanners but are often trial versions of paid software or, worse, phishing scams designed to steal your data.
Fortunately, there are genuinely useful online scanning tools available. After extensive research and testing, we’ve identified the top online virus scanners that offer effective ways to check your system for infections or vulnerabilities. Keep in mind that these tools are not substitutes for premium antivirus software like Norton 360, which provides far superior protection, malware removal, and a suite of extra security features. Let’s explore the best options to scan your computer online effectively.
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Top Online Virus Scanners for 2025
🥇 1. SafetyDetectives Known Vulnerabilities Scanner — Best Overall Online System Vulnerability Scanner
The SafetyDetectives Known Vulnerabilities Scanner stands out as a truly online tool for quickly scanning your device. It doesn’t require any downloads and allows you to check for insecure programs or software needing security updates. While it doesn’t scan for viruses directly, it’s crucial to understand that hackers and malware often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software. By scanning for outdated software and system vulnerabilities, and keeping your software up to date, you take a significant step in preventing cyberattacks.
This scanner utilizes the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures database, the world’s largest cybersecurity threat database, to pinpoint vulnerabilities or insecure programs on your device. This database is constantly updated by IT professionals who discover and fix vulnerabilities in programs.
During testing, the Known Vulnerabilities Scanner accurately detected 100% of the vulnerabilities on our test computer. Its user-friendliness is a major plus – the scan starts automatically upon visiting the website, making it incredibly easy for even non-technical users. The user interface is also available in multiple languages. While customization options and deeper scans aren’t available, the scan process is remarkably fast, taking only seconds. The scanner is also cross-platform, automatically detecting your device type. Once the scan is complete, the Known Vulnerabilities Scanner provides helpful advice on how to fix the security issues it finds.
Being purely online, this scanner cannot remove malware. It’s an excellent tool for quick checks, but it’s not a replacement for dedicated antivirus software. For malware removal and comprehensive protection, a premium antivirus like Norton 360 is recommended.
Bottom Line:
SafetyDetectives’ Known Vulnerabilities Scanner is the best truly online scanner. It requires no installation, works in seconds, uses the largest database of known cybersecurity threats, and is completely free. While it lacks virus removal capabilities, it offers a convenient way to quickly check for system issues on almost any device and provides helpful remediation advice.
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🥈 2. VirusTotal — Compares Results from 70+ Antivirus Scanners to Scan Individual Files
VirusTotal is a web-based service for scanning files and URLs for security threats. It provides detailed scans, analyzing files using engines from over 70 different antivirus scanners, including industry leaders like Bitdefender, Malwarebytes, and Avira.
As a purely web-based tool, VirusTotal cannot scan your entire device. However, it’s incredibly useful for analyzing specific files or URLs you suspect might be malicious. Simply upload a file or paste a URL into the online portal on the VirusTotal homepage to initiate a scan.
Scans are very fast and deliver impressive detail, showing results from each of the antivirus engines used. In tests, VirusTotal effectively identified all malware samples submitted. Furthermore, detected issues are shared with the VirusTotal community, benefiting other users.
VirusTotal is strictly an online virus scanner, lacking virus removal tools. Unlike the top pick, SafetyDetectives Known Vulnerabilities Scanner, it cannot scan computer software and running programs, only individual files and URLs. Nevertheless, VirusTotal is straightforward, user-friendly, and completely free, making it an excellent choice for scanning suspicious files.
Bottom Line:
VirusTotal is an exceptional online-only scanner for quickly analyzing files or URLs using over 70 antivirus engines. This simple yet effective scanner requires no downloads or installations. While it doesn’t offer full system scans, VirusTotal is a great option when you need to thoroughly scan a file or website you suspect might be harmful.
🥉 3. Norton Power Eraser — A Basic Version of a Market-Leading Antivirus
Norton Power Eraser is a simplified, Windows-only version of Norton antivirus, featuring a virus scanner and removal tool. This free tool is easy to use and successfully detected all hidden malware samples on our test PC.
Unlike the SafetyDetectives Known Vulnerabilities Scanner, Norton Power Eraser requires a small download. Installation is quick and takes only seconds. However, if you’re specifically seeking a download-free online virus scanner, SafetyDetectives Known Vulnerabilities Scanner is the better option.
Once installed, Norton Power Eraser offers four scan options:
- Full System Scan.
- Unwanted Application Scan.
- Scan Files.
- Scan Folders.
A full rootkit scan option is also available in the Settings menu. This deep scan takes around 60 minutes to complete and effectively detected all malware on the test PC. All scans are user-friendly and require no technical expertise.
Unlike the first two scanners on this list, Norton Power Eraser includes threat removal capabilities. If viruses are detected, you can actually address them. However, despite being more effective at threat removal than truly online scanners, Norton Power Eraser still isn’t a substitute for a complete antivirus package. Without the real-time protection offered by premium antivirus bundles like Norton 360, you remain essentially unprotected from malware.
For more than occasional scans, consider Norton 360 packages. Norton Antivirus Plus starts at just £19.99 / year and includes Norton’s excellent scanner, real-time protection, a firewall, password manager, and 2 GB of secure file storage for 1 device. The Norton 360 Deluxe plan is highly recommended, covering up to 5 Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS devices and adding a VPN with unlimited data, parental controls, dark web monitoring, 50 GB cloud storage, and more, for £19.99 / year. All Norton plans come with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Norton Power Eraser is a free, Windows-specific scanner with threat removal tools, utilizing the same high-quality scanning engine as the full Norton antivirus. While it requires a download, it is lightweight and provides full system scans, which website-based scanners cannot offer. However, if you’re considering Power Eraser, the enhanced security features of a full Norton 360 antivirus, such as real-time protection and scheduled scans, are worth exploring.
4. ESET Online Scanner — Highly Thorough Full System Scan
ESET Online Scanner is a free, Windows-only online virus scanner that provides in-depth and customizable system scans. This scanner is a streamlined version of ESET’s premium antivirus and offers excellent malware detection rates. Like Norton Power Eraser, it uses anti-stealth technology to help detect deeply embedded rootkits.
ESET Online Scanner can quarantine or delete infections found during scans, unlike web-based scanners. It requires a small download but is lightweight. After downloading and installing, you’re presented with 3 scan options: Full Scan, Quick Scan, and Custom Scan.
A full scan took about 30 minutes in testing. The scanner thoroughly examined every part of the system within that time frame. Quick scans take only a few minutes, providing a basic check of critical PC areas. Custom scans of specific folders, files, or removable media are also possible. However, it lacks an “Unwanted Application Scan” option like Norton Power Eraser.
A notable feature of ESET Scanner is its monthly scheduled scan option, which can automatically run scans monthly if enabled. It’s the only product on this list to offer this feature (besides the bonus premium picks, Norton and Bitdefender, which offer extensive scheduling options).
ESET’s cheapest paid plan is Essential Security at £40.31 / year. Besides the scanner, it adds anti-phishing protection and a gamer mode for PCs, and also works on Mac and Android. However, ESET’s offerings are quite basic compared to Norton and Bitdefender entry-level plans, which provide a wider range of extra features. Nonetheless, ESET is a solid choice if you prioritize a lightweight scanner and good virus protection, and its premium plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
ESET Online Scanner is a high-quality, lightweight scanner requiring only a small download. Its full scan takes just 30 minutes, detected all malware on our test PC, and is very thorough. ESET also offers the option to run automatic monthly scans, a useful bonus.
5. Bitdefender Virus Scanner for Mac — Best Lightweight Scanner for Mac Users
Bitdefender Virus Scanner for Mac is the only scanner on this list (besides our bonus premium pick Norton) that can perform full scans on your Mac. This scanner utilizes Bitdefender’s cloud-based scanning engine to check for viruses and other malware on your machine and is completely free to use.
This virus scanner does require a small download, but this allows it to remove threats as well as detect them. Downloading and installing the scanner is quick and easy, and the interface is exceptionally user-friendly. It offers 3 scan options: Deep System Scan, Critical Locations Scan, and Custom Location Scan.
A Deep System Scan took about 30 minutes and successfully detected 100% of the test malware on a MacBook. The scan’s thoroughness is impressive, and the results are presented clearly, detailing the threat name, action taken by Bitdefender, and path to the infected file.
Bitdefender Virus Scanner for Mac is a fast and reliable tool for identifying infections, but it’s just a scanner, not a full antivirus. It lacks real-time protection, firewalls, system optimization tools, or other features needed for comprehensive online protection. If you like Bitdefender but want more than one-off scans, Bitdefender Total Security is a much better choice.
Bottom Line:
Bitdefender Virus Scanner for Mac is a great free tool for checking your Mac for infections and safely removing them. It offers 3 scan types, including a Deep System Scan, Critical Locations Scan, and Custom Location Scan, and is very easy to use. Bitdefender’s full scan takes just 30 minutes and successfully found 100% of test malware on a MacBook.
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Bonus. Norton 360 — Best Overall Antivirus for 2025
Norton 360 is the best antivirus on the market for 2025, with a flawless scanner and a wealth of extra security features. Unlike its more basic version, Norton Power Eraser, it works across all operating systems and does much more than just scan and remove viruses. For example, its excellent real-time protection blocks malware and removes it automatically before it can harm your device.
In testing, Norton’s scanner detected 100% of the malware samples introduced to our test computer, including viruses, worms, keyloggers, rootkits, and more. A full scan takes around 40 minutes, and you can continue using your computer as usual during the scan. Quick scans and custom scans of specific folders and locations are also available. Norton Insight even flags suspicious files for custom scanning.
Norton offers a wide range of additional features to protect you from viruses and other online threats, including:
- Ransomware protection.
- Anti-phishing protection.
- Secure firewall.
- Dark web monitoring.
- VPN (unlimited data).
- Parental controls.
- And much more…
Norton’s 360 plans start at £19.99 / year, but the best-value plan is 360 Deluxe, which includes real-time threat protection, Norton’s quality scanner, a firewall, VPN with unlimited data, 50 GB cloud storage, parental controls, dark web monitoring, and more. It costs £19.99 / year and provides coverage for up to 5 devices across all major operating systems. All Norton plans are backed by a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Norton is the best antivirus on the market, with a perfect malware scanner and a robust suite of cybersecurity tools. It does everything the best online virus scanners do and much more, providing 100% threat detection rates, real-time protection, and extra security features like a VPN and anti-phishing protection. You can try Norton’s paid plans risk-free with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Norton review here
Bonus. Bitdefender Total Security — Advanced Features & Excellent Real-Time Protection
Bitdefender Total Security provides a highly customizable and advanced malware scanner along with excellent internet security tools. Like Norton antivirus, you can run full, quick, or custom scans to detect and remove threats from your devices.
Bitdefender’s scanner operates in the cloud, making it less likely to slow down your system compared to some other antiviruses. In testing, it detected 100% of the malware samples on our test PC. Full system scans took just over an hour, slightly longer than Norton. However, this is not a major issue as scans are very light, allowing you to use your computer as normal during scans.
Bitdefender’s real-time protection (Bitdefender Shield) is highly praised, actively scanning all your files and email attachments and blocking malware before it can infect your system. More advanced users can even customize real-time settings to include scanning of archives and scripts. Overall, Bitdefender has the most customizable scanner on the market.
Extra features offered by Bitdefender include:
- Web protection.
- Ransomware protection.
- VPN (200 MB/day).
- Password manager.
- System optimization.
- Parental controls.
- And more…
Bitdefender’s OneClick Optimizer is impressive, cleaning up almost 2 GB of junk files from our test PC. It’s a basic but effective and user-friendly tool, and a noticeable improvement in PC speed was observed after cleaning.
A drawback is that Bitdefender’s VPN is limited to 200 MB per day on all but the most expensive plan — barely enough for light browsing. Norton offers unlimited VPN data on all paid plans. However, a fast and torrent-friendly unlimited VPN is available if you’re willing to pay extra for Bitdefender’s premium VPN.
Total Security is Bitdefender’s best-value plan — priced at £37.50 / year, it includes all Bitdefender’s features, covers up to 5 devices, and is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Bitdefender offers a cloud-based scanner that detects 100% of malware and has highly customizable real-time protection. It also includes great extra features like system optimization, a VPN, parental controls, and a password manager. You can try Bitdefender risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Bitdefender review here
Best Online Virus Scanners for 2025 — Comparison
| Online Virus Scanner | Truly Online, No Download? | Removes Viruses? | Full System Scan? | Detects Software Vulnerabilities? | Real-Time Malware Protection? | Customizable Scans? | Extra Online Security Features? | Operating Systems? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.🥇SafetyDetectives Known Vulnerabilities Scanner | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Cross-platform |
| 2.🥈VirusTotal | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Cross-platform |
| 3.🥉Norton Power Eraser | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | Windows |
| 4. ESET Online Scanner | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | Windows |
| 5. Bitdefender Virus Scanner for Mac | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | macOS |
| Bonus. Norton 360 | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Bonus: Bitdefender Total Security | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
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How to Choose the Best Online Virus Scanner for 2025
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Top Brands That Didn’t Make the List
- Comodo. Comodo provides a free virus scanner that requires a small download. Unfortunately, it underperformed in testing. Scans were slow, and results had to be emailed rather than displayed on screen. Despite requiring a download, it didn’t offer virus removal.
- Trend Micro. Trend Micro’s free HouseCall scanner is thorough and requires only a small download. However, scans are slower than others on this list. For a robust Windows scanner with a small download and much faster scans, Norton Power Eraser is recommended.
- Fortinet. During testing, FortiGuard scans were fast and detected all malware samples. It’s also a truly online scanner with no download. The biggest issue is a very small 10 MB file size limit per scan, which is highly restrictive. VirusTotal is the only scanner on this list with a maximum file size limit, and it’s 650 MB per file.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do online virus scanners do?
Online virus scanners scan your files from a remote server and detect viruses. While they can’t scan your entire computer system, they can be useful for detecting threats in individual files. If you don’t have antivirus software and suspect a file is infected, an online virus scanner can quickly identify the threat. Some downloadable scanners, like Norton Power Eraser, offer threat removal, but purely online scanners cannot remove viruses or malware from your device. They can only inform you of the issue and offer advice on how to resolve it yourself.
However, online scanners are not a replacement for dedicated antivirus software. For full system protection from malware and other online threats, installing antivirus software like Norton or Bitdefender is essential.
Do I need to pay for an online virus scanner?
There are several good free online virus scanners available, but they will never provide as much protection as a premium antivirus program like Norton 360. Truly online scanners lack virus removal tools, and even free downloadable scanners that can remove malware don’t offer real-time protection. However, if you just want to run a quick scan because you suspect your device might be infected, a free virus scanner is a reasonable option.
It’s also important to be aware that many fake cybersecurity companies offer ‘free’ scanners that steal data while scanning your device. We’ve ensured to only include genuinely trustworthy scanners in our list.
Will an online virus scanner remove viruses from my computer?
No — the most an online scanner can do is scan files or running programs on your device, flag malware, and provide advice on how to handle it yourself. Some scanners on this list, like Norton Power Eraser and Bitdefender Virus Scanner for Mac, have malware and virus removal capabilities, but this functionality always requires a download.
As a general rule, if a website claims to remove viruses from your computer, it’s a lie. Purely online scanners simply cannot access your system in that way.
Do I need an online virus scanner if I have good antivirus software?
The short answer is no, but they can still be a useful tool if you’re looking for a second opinion on a file — though at that point, a better antivirus is recommended. Good antivirus software does everything an online scanner can do, and much more.
With a premium antivirus package like Norton 360, you get a capable virus scanner, threat removal tools, and real-time protection from viruses before they become a problem. Norton also offers a host of useful extra features like parental controls, a VPN, password manager, and dark web monitoring, and you can try it risk-free with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Here are the Best Antivirus Programs of 2025:
| Rank | Provider | Overall Score | Best Deal | |
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| 1 | 9.8 | Save 77% | Visit Website | |
| 2 | 9.6 | Save 51% | Visit Website | |
| 3 | 9.4 | Save 70.00% | Visit Website | |
| 4 | 9.4 | Save 81% | Visit Website | |
| 5 | 9.4 | Save 65% | Visit Website |
Editor’s Note: Intego and SafetyDetectives are owned by the same parent company.
