How to scan and clean a computer with Emsisoft Emergency Kit

Table of Contents

1. Introduction


2. Setup


3. Download Updates


4. Running a Full Scan


5. What to do if Malware is Found


6. Section Overview


7. Other Emergency Kit Goodies


8. Additional Recommendations

Introduction

The Emsisoft Emergency Kit is a bundle of 3 malware removal programs: Emsisoft Emergency Scanner, Emsisoft Commandline Scanner, and Emsisoft BlitzBlank. The free kit is meant to be used in emergency situations; for example, if you are disconnected from the Internet and need to run a malware scan, or if you have run a malware scan with another product and want a second opinion.

This tutorial provides step-by-step instructions on how to scan and clean your computer with the Emsisoft Emergency Scanner. It also provides a brief introduction to the Emsisoft Commandline Scanner and Emsisoft BlitzBlank.

Emsisoft Emergency Scanner Setup

If you have reached this tutorial through Emsisoft Emergency Scanner’s help link, the program is already setup and you may skip to Step 2.

Download:

If you don’t yet have the Emsisoft Emergency Kit, download it here.

Extract:

Once the kit has downloaded, open it. It will then automatically extract its contents to c:\eek\ and place a shortcut on your Desktop.

Run:

After extraction, simply double-click the Emsisoft Emergency Kit shortcut that appears on your Desktop, and select the Emsisoft Emergency Kit Scanner. If Windows issues an alert and asks for your permission to run the program, allow it to run.

Note: By downloading and extracting these files, you have not installed anything on your computer. If you wish to remove the Emsisoft Emergency Kit, simply delete its files and shortcut, and all traces of the program will be erased.

Download Updates

If you are connected to the Internet, you should update Emsisoft Emergency Scanner’s malware signatures before running a scan. In fact, if you’re opening the program for the very first time, it will prompt you to do so.

Select Yes, and the program will update when it launches. Next, you will be asked if you’d like to detect potentially unwanted programs, or PUPs. We recommend that you select Yes. For more on PUPs, see our knowledgebase article: What is a PUP.

You will now need to wait a few moments, while the updates download.

Once updating is complete, click the Scan tab in the Menu bar.

Run a Full Scan

Now you are ready to run a scan. Within the scan section, you will see 4 options: Quick Scan, Smart Scan, Full Scan, and Custom Scan. You’ll see that the program recommends running a Smart Scan, which is optimized to scan locations where malware typically infects. Smart Scans are good for most users, and they typically do not miss malware; however, if you want to be absolutely thorough you should run a Full Scan.

A Full Scan will take longer, but if this is the first time you are scanning your computer for malware it is the best option.

What to do if Malware is Found

The Full Scan will take some time. Hopefully when it is done, it will not have found any malware. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

If malware is found during the scan, all detected files will be displayed and preselected in the results screen. At this point, you will be given the option to Quarantine Selected or Delete Selected. We recommend you select Quarantine Selected.

Quarantining the malware will completely disable it by wrapping it in an encrypted container. This will render the malware harmless, while allowing it to be analyzed by one of our technicians if needed or restored in the off chance it is a false positive. If you opt to Delete Selected, you will instead irreversibly delete the detected files – so only do this if you are absolutely certain they are malicious!

Very rarely, a scan may also detect a rootkit that cannot be automatically removed without damaging your system. If this occurs, you will be prompted to contact one of our malware removal experts in the Emsisoft support forum.

Section Overview

Once you have Quarantined any files detected by a Full Scan, your computer will be malware-free. Now you can explore the Emsisoft Emergency Kit Scanner in full, to become more familiar with the program.

Overview Screen

The Overview screen can be reached from any section, by clicking the Overview tab in the program Menu bar. Overview is Emsisoft Emergency Scanner’s “home base,” and it’s where all the magic begins.

Scan Screen

If you’ve gone through the tutorial, you’ll already be familiar with this one. You can access the Scan screen by clicking the Scan panel in the Overview screen or the Scan tab in the program Menu bar. In addition to a Full Scan, Emsisoft Emergency Scanner can run a Quick Scan, a Smart Scan, and a Custom Scan on specific files. See each scan’s description to figure out what you need.

Quarantine Screen

If you quarantine detected files after running a scan, you can safely access them from the Quarantine Screen. Access Quarantine by clicking the Quarantine panel in the Overview screen or the Quarantine tab in the program Menu bar. In Quarantine, you can re-scan files, save copies of files, submit files to Emsisoft for analysis, restore files, delete files, manually quarantine suspicious files, and save quarantine lists.

Logs Screen

Emsisoft Emergency Kit Scanner keeps Quarantine logs, Scan logs, and Update logs. All of this information is accessible through the Logs screen, which can be reach by clicking the Logs panel in the Overview screen or the Logs tab in the program Menu bar. Logs are good for personal reference (if you’re feeling geeky) and helpful to our analysts if you ever encounter a complication.

Settings Screen

Finally, we have the settings screen – accessible from the Settings panel in the Overview screen or the Settings tab in the program Menu bar. The Settings screen lets you define how the Emsisoft Emergency Kit Scanner will operate. Of particular note are Privacy Settings. Here you can opt-in to the Emsisoft Anti-Malware Network, which will give the program permission to collect anonymous information about malware it finds on your computer. Joining the network is completely optional, but it can help improve our products’ overall malware detection capabilities.

Other Emergency Kit Goodies

Emsisoft Commandline Scanner

The Emsisoft Emergency Kit also includes the Emsisoft Commandline Scanner,  a console application for professionals who don’t need a setup or graphical user interface. Emsisoft Commandline Scanner features are nearly identical to those of the graphical Emsisoft Emergency Kit Scanner, and experts have called its latest incarnation “one of the most sophisticated command line scanners around.” Emsisoft Commandline Scanner makes all features of the Windows scanner available at the command line, perfect for use in automated batch scripts. For more information, see product details.

 

Emsisoft BlitzBlank

Last but not least, all Emsisoft Emergency Kit downloads also include Emsisoft BlitzBlank, a small but effective tool that can completely remove malware files that actively oppose deletion. Emsisoft BlitzBlank is made for experienced users who deal with malware on a daily basis. It can delete files, Registry entries and drivers before Windows and all other programs are loaded. For more information, see product details.

 

Additional Recommendations

Copy onto a USB stick

If after cleanup and exploration you decide to keep the Emsisoft Emergency Kit around, we recommend copying the program onto a USB stick. This will ensure that the kit is fully accessible in any malware emergency. Placing the kit on a USB stick will also make it easier to share with friends.

Professional Licensing

The Emsisoft Emergency Kit is now also available for PROs!

PRO licensing starts at $99 per year, for up to 250 scanned PCs and includes a high-quality aluminum 16 GB USB flash drive, a free Emsisoft Anti-Malware license for 1 PC/1 year and free shipping. Larger license packages for 500, 1000, 2000 and more PCs per year are also available. See product details and purchase options.

Have a Great (Malware-Free) Day!

 

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How to scan and clean a computer with Emsisoft Emergency Kit