X-Sec Malware Scanner (formerly X-Sec Antivirus)

Whether they want to gain personal information through ransomware-based programs or they simply wish to cause chaos, ill-willed actors can hide their system-compromising viruses in files that you least expect to cause problems. For that purpose, a constantly evolving database of contaminated samples in the form of an antivirus program the likes of X-Sec Malware Scanner may be the right solution.

Most online forums usually recommend sticking with Microsoft’s default Defender utility and using common sense when handling downloaded content from seemingly insecure sources whose offers sound too good to be true.

However, not all users are experienced enough to recognize malware-filled utilities whose file sizes are too small to possess the advertised content, such as only a few hundred megabytes worth of 4K movies. Certain types of viruses can cause false-positives in Windows’ built-in antivirus, which is where the tool at hand comes into play.

Once installed, the app boots to an elegantly-designed interface featuring a dual-pane layout adorned with minimalist icons that make the user experience more palatable. An already infested system has a chance of being cleaned through the “full scan” method that performs an in-depth analysis of all local files and folders.

For a small batch of freshly downloaded files that feel suspicious from various points of view, the custom scan allowing users to pick the desired directory should save time and processing power in a pinch. When it comes to beginner developers whose program installation packages are wrongly detected, the app also provides a setting to ignore certain files through the use of a “trust list”.

If you are on the lookout for a portable Windows Defender counterpart whose virus database contains less false-positives, X-Sec Malware Scanner’s ease-of-use and non-existent price tag may come in handy.