Virus removal tools may not come equipped with a real-time guard to protect computers from incoming threats, but they're great for those critical scenarios when the system is crawling with viruses, Trojans, worms, spyware, adware, and other dangerous items.
In our software travels we came across HitmanPro, an attractive and simple-to-use program made to find and eliminate malicious files. It does not integrate a real-time guard, but it can be used as a second line of defense against malware. The utility is assisted by the Bitdefender and Kaspersky virus signature databases via cloud, in order to detect the newest infections on the market, the so-called zero-day threats.
The trial version of HitmanPro is able to run an unlimited number of scans. However, it can only remove viruses for 30 days after activating a one-time free license key via email (confirmation is not necessary). Once this month expires, users can resume to only scanning the PC. To continue using the full unrestricted package, they can purchase HitmanPro for $24.95 / €19.95 (includes a 1-year license for 1 PC).
Unlike most setup packs, users shouldn't rush through HitmanPro's installation stages. The tool can be run once or be installed to frequently launch malware scans. If installed, it can also integrate a shell extension into the Windows Explorer context menu to allow users to quickly scan custom files and folders.
HitmanPro automatically uploads unknown and suspicious files to the scan cloud for further investigation, compresses the items beforehand and uses a secure connection (SSL), creates a system restore point in case Windows starts experiencing stability issues afterward, as well as browses the hard drive for malware remnants, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), and tracking cookies. Any of these options may be disabled and reset to default later. PUPs can be ignored or deleted by the app, depending on the user's preferences.
The software application can be asked to regularly run scan jobs at every Windows startup, daily, or only on a specific day of the week at an exact time. It does not run if users are working with full-screen apps (like video games) at that time, and the task is postponed until the next system reboot when the hard disk activity is near idle. These two options can be deactivated, though.
It is possible to apply a proxy configuration for connecting to the Internet to benefit from the cloud assistance and check for software updates, toggle between direct and compatible disk access, as well as upload and scan files or URLs with the help of VirusTotal.
During scan tasks, HitmanPro populates a list with any dangerous or suspicious files, revealing their full path on the disk, risk type, and course of action. Users have the possibility to delete or ignore threats, visit their location in Windows Explorer, examine additional information (such as SHA-256 checksum), verify them via VirusTotal, or report them as safe.
An action can be applied to the current item only, or to everything from the list. Meanwhile, the scan results can be saved to a log file (LOG or TXT format) for further analysis. A system reboot may be required to complete the virus removal procedure. Before removing malware, HitmanPro creates file copies and places them in a quarantine that can be inspected at any time to remove or restore items.
License type and installation
The trial version of HitmanPro is able to run an unlimited number of scans. However, it can only remove viruses for 30 days after activating a one-time free license key via email (confirmation is not necessary). Once this month expires, users can resume to only scanning the PC. To continue using the full unrestricted package, they can purchase HitmanPro for $24.95 / €19.95 (includes a 1-year license for 1 PC).
Unlike most setup packs, users shouldn't rush through HitmanPro's installation stages. The tool can be run once or be installed to frequently launch malware scans. If installed, it can also integrate a shell extension into the Windows Explorer context menu to allow users to quickly scan custom files and folders.
Browse the computer for malware and eliminate it
Customizable scan settings
HitmanPro automatically uploads unknown and suspicious files to the scan cloud for further investigation, compresses the items beforehand and uses a secure connection (SSL), creates a system restore point in case Windows starts experiencing stability issues afterward, as well as browses the hard drive for malware remnants, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), and tracking cookies. Any of these options may be disabled and reset to default later. PUPs can be ignored or deleted by the app, depending on the user's preferences.
Scheduled scans and advanced tools
The software application can be asked to regularly run scan jobs at every Windows startup, daily, or only on a specific day of the week at an exact time. It does not run if users are working with full-screen apps (like video games) at that time, and the task is postponed until the next system reboot when the hard disk activity is near idle. These two options can be deactivated, though.
It is possible to apply a proxy configuration for connecting to the Internet to benefit from the cloud assistance and check for software updates, toggle between direct and compatible disk access, as well as upload and scan files or URLs with the help of VirusTotal.
View scan results and remove infected files
During scan tasks, HitmanPro populates a list with any dangerous or suspicious files, revealing their full path on the disk, risk type, and course of action. Users have the possibility to delete or ignore threats, visit their location in Windows Explorer, examine additional information (such as SHA-256 checksum), verify them via VirusTotal, or report them as safe.
View and eliminate malware
An action can be applied to the current item only, or to everything from the list. Meanwhile, the scan results can be saved to a log file (LOG or TXT format) for further analysis. A system reboot may be required to complete the virus removal procedure. Before removing malware, HitmanPro creates file copies and places them in a quarantine that can be inspected at any time to remove or restore items.
The Good
The application worked smoothly on Windows 8.1 Pro during our tests, without causing the operating system to hang, crash or show error messages. It carried out scan jobs very fast, thanks to cloud assistance, and it was able to remove all detected threats in our tests. CPU and RAM consumption was normal.
It supports multiple UI languages and is wrapped in an attractive and easy-to-navigate interface. First-time users may proceed with the default configuration to run scans, while those more experienced can customize options when it comes to scheduled scans, quarantine manager, log files, and Windows Explorer shell integration.
The Bad
The tool does not come equipped with some advanced virus removal settings, such as multiple scan jobs.
The Truth
By combining HitmanPro with a powerful real-time protection module against incoming threats, users can ensure an extra security level to their computers. It is simple to use and delivers great results.
