Virus rescue disks can be used in situations when your antivirus program has stopped working. They’re available for a number of antivirus companies and are easy to use, providing users a range of customizable options in regards to how they want the program to scan the system.
Some provide a more familiar desktop environment, while others provide users with a variety of bonus tools. For instance, Kaspersky’s Rescue disk is powered by the Xfce Linux desktop and features Firefox, Thumar File Manager and a few other apps that can be used for different functions. This rescue disk comes with a feature that allows you to select specific files to be scanned by the service, or indicate if would like it to skip files with a certain size.
Other rescue disks don’t have sophisticated interfaces, for instance Trend Micro’s. It doesn’t use an interactive user interface and navigates using arrow keys. This basic rescue disc makes up for the lack of features through its size and displaying a solid track record of finding malware during AVComparatives’ real-world protection testing.
If you’re looking for a more user-friendly option should consider ESET’s SysRescue Live which has one of the most refined and well-rounded interfaces on this list. It’s based on the exact antivirus engine that is used in the company’s full-featured program, and its user-friendly interface provides numerous customization options to choose from, including a smart or custom scan, setting exclusions and deciding whether to run a deep or quick scan.