ClamWin Portable for Windows

Used ClamWin Portable for Windows?

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffApril 30, 2013

ClamWin Portable is a fully functional, fully portable version of ClamWin Free Antivirus. Like the installed software, ClamWin Portable is capable of scanning all your drives for viruses and spyware, but it's not a primary antivirus solution. It's a fast, lightweight tool for spot-checking newly acquired files before transferring them to a USB drive and then to your PC. Since it runs on any compatible Windows PC without having to be installed or uninstalled, ClamWin Portable is ideally suited for the job.

Pros

Free, open source, compact: ClamWin Portable offers most of the advantages of the installed program, like being completely free (and ad-free) with the support of an open source project community. It doesn't take up much space on a portable drive, and it launches quickly.

Portable protection: You can run ClamWin Portable from your USB drive on host machines and scan files for infection before copying them to the drive.

Memory scan: ClamWin Portable also finds and zaps the nasty bugs that hide in system memory.

Cons

Manual only: ClamWin lacks an on-access real-time scanning capability. Files and folders must be scanned manually to detect viruses.

Slow on big scans: Lightweight ClamWin Portable performs well when scanning individual files and folders, but definition updates and larger system scans can take a long time. ClamWin Portable also lacked permission to open and scan many system directories.

Bottom Line

ClamWin Portable isn't the comprehensive antivirus solution your PC requires, but it's an excellent auxiliary tool for spot-checking files and folders for infection.

ClamWin Portable for Windows

Used ClamWin Portable for Windows?

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: April 30, 2013

Latest update: April 30, 2013

Version: 0.97.8

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows 2000
Windows 10
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 8
Windows XP

Additional Requirements: None

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 81,374

Downloads Last Week: 1

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Last Updated

User Reviews

3.7/5

22 User Votes

Worth every penny
daveyadamsMay 9, 2013
Pros
FREE and finds many results
Cons
Very slow and many false positives
Summary
good demand scanner for system check
ChoiceVoiceMay 5, 2013
Pros
-open source -portable -second check demand scanner -easy to use -so so detections (not great, but better than many) - good for older malware. good for a second opinion. considering the volume of malware, it's a good idea to use an unobtrusive, friendly scanner to take a looksy. -incremental updates (do not like when you have to redownload entire virus data base each time like in malwarebytes). -no tricks, no hidden running processes, no startup entries, no ask tool bar etc. -scan drives or running processes. -scan all files, not just `unmodified' ones. -small program comparatively.
Cons
-detection ratings are lower than the big boys of freeware. -not sure about clean up. but suspect its ok also.
Summary
i use this on my i7 desktop and my netbook atom processor. contrary to what some comments suggest, i do not consider this a slow scanner. perhaps if you compare it to scanners that do not rescan files that haven't been modified, it might seem slow in-comparison. however, clamwin scans all the files. it seems to me that clever malware could mask itself as not being modified and avoid a viral scanner. i prefer all files to be scanned (unless i'm doing a quick check). furthermore, some scanners just scan running processes. clamwin can be selected to scan in this way also and is quick at it.
best for extra
computerTHEkidMarch 12, 2012
Pros
it works, it's free, it can scan memory
Cons
-doesn't have auto-detection like some -can't scan particular files -take a super long time
Summary
in general it works and it's free. It's not ideal to use this as your only defense, you sould include some others and use this as an extra scan to see if your other scan missed something, however remember to set out some time because it will take a hell of a long time.
Too sloooooow
BabarBaigDecember 22, 2011
Pros
Freeeeeeeee
Cons
Set-aside plenty of time before running this antivirus. Or better, let it run overnight. Anything this slow can't really be taken seriously.
Summary
Better than nothing for $0.
Slow but still works with WinMe
pr3ssur3December 21, 2011
Pros
Works on WinMe (with KernelEx). Allows checking individual downloaded files for viruses. Scans memory too. Portable.
Cons
Slow to scan entire system. Awful graphics. I would prefer a simple progress bar.
Summary
Good for scanning a few files and memory. Slow when scanning entire system.
as always clamwin is awesome
trowlands007December 20, 2011
Pros
it works great
Cons
there aren't any
Summary
it's awesome
Free, can't complain about that.
Nicholas53December 13, 2011
Pros
None that I can determine, because I could not use it from my flashdrive(see cons)
Cons
Every time I want to run the program it must update first otherwise it will not run. The internet is not allways available to update therefore program is not workable for me.
Summary
The program should run regardless if database is updated or not.
It works and on a variety of Windows OS's
LincNebDecember 5, 2011
Pros
Free, Portable, versatile
Cons
It gives a new meaning to the word, "slow." It erased some features to a Bible program, so I couldn't add updates to it. Always set it to either just report or save the files that are bad, so if they aren't you can put them back
Summary
GOOD ANTIVIRUS SCANNER
capitanfloriusNovember 4, 2011
Pros
It does not work in real time but you need to make scans of control.
Cons
The software is quite slow and doing a complete scan takes a long time
Summary
Great product!
ladychevelle69May 18, 2011
Pros
Does what it claims. I like that.
Cons
no cons at this time.
Summary

Developer’s Description

Take your antivirus with you to scan files on the go.

ClamWin Portable is the popular ClamWin antivirus packaged as a portable application, so you can take your antivirus with you to scan files on the go. You can place it on your USB flash drive, iPod, portable hard drive or a CD and use it on any computer, without leaving any personal information behind. Features: high detection rates for viruses and spyware, regular virus database updates. ClamAV team regularly updates virus databases to include a new virus/variant immediately after it appears, standalone virus Scanner.