Key Details of HitmanPro (64-bit)
- Rescue your computer from viruses and malware
- Last updated on 04/06/20
- There has been 1 update within the past 6 months
- The current version has 0 flags on VirusTotal
HitmanPro 3 (64-bit) doesn’t claim to be the primary solution for your PC security needs, but it does add another layer of malware protection. The publishers describe it as a “second opinion” tool to check if your computer is infected and help you remove any unwanted files.
It plays nicely with other software, as HitmanPro 3 doesn’t need to be installed to work. Even when we opted for installation, there were no issues with our current antivirus program. The initial scan took less than three minutes, and although scan times will vary from PC to PC, that’s a quick turnaround.
One of HitmanPro’s standout features is its behavioral analysis capability. Instead of relying solely on signature-based detection, it examines the behavior of files and programs to identify malicious activity, even if the malware signature is not present.
The software utilizes a cloud-based scanning mechanism, leveraging malware databases from multiple security laboratories, including SophosLabs. When a suspicious file is detected, HitmanPro uploads it to the cloud for further analysis, ensuring that the latest threat intelligence is applied.
HitmanPro is designed to work alongside existing security programs without conflicts. It can be run directly from a USB flash drive, CD/DVD, or local/network-attached hard drive, making it a portable solution for malware scanning and removal.
The user interface of HitmanPro is straightforward and user-friendly. Upon launching the program, users are presented with options to perform a quick scan or a full system scan. The quick scan is notably fast, often completing in under five minutes, which is advantageous for users seeking immediate insights into their system’s health.
In addition to malware detection and removal, HitmanPro offers features like Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA) removal, targeting benign apps that may mask spyware, adware, trojans, and other malicious programs.
For users seeking real-time protection, Sophos offers HitmanPro.Alert, an advanced version that includes features like real-time malware detection, ransomware protection, web protection, password dumping protection, remote session protection, and webcam protection.
One downside is that as soon as you open HitmanPro, there’s a Next button that immediately starts the scan. You need to adjust any default settings before pressing that button because there’s no way to change the settings once the scan starts. It’s not a major drawback, but some software allows you to decide whether to automatically upload files to the cloud or schedule daily scans before the first scan begins.
HitmanPro is lightweight and does not significantly impact system resources. This efficiency is achieved through its cloud-based scanning approach and the use of multi-threading for read/write/verify operations, bringing out the best speed of devices. It supports UNICODE and over MAX_PATH (260 characters) file pathnames, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of files.
Bottom Line
For users seeking alternatives to HitmanPro, several options provide robust malware detection and removal features. Malwarebytes is a highly regarded tool that offers both on-demand scanning and real-time protection against malware, ransomware, and potentially unwanted programs. Emsisoft Emergency Kit is another portable malware scanner that excels in detecting and removing threats without installation, making it ideal for IT professionals. AdwCleaner, also by Malwarebytes, specializes in removing adware and unwanted browser extensions that can slow down your system.
There’s nothing wrong with checking up on your antivirus software, and HitmanPro makes it easy. You’ll have 30 days to evaluate the software with full functionality (scan and remove), after which it only allows you to scan.
What’s new in version 3.8.16.310
- ADDED: Black certificate serial support to remnants
- ADDED: Sophos AV icon to SurfRight vendor
- ADDED: HitmanPro icon to HitmanPro vendor
- FIXED: Freezing problem on Windows 10 while HitmanPro was scanning
- FIXED: Rare BSOD in HitmanPro driver
- FIXED: Blacklisted DNS lookups
- IMPROVED: Hardening of HitmanPro driver
Full Specifications
- GENERAL
- Release
- April 6, 2020
- Latest update
- November 15, 2024
- Version
- 3.8.16.310
- OPERATING SYSTEMS
- Platform
- Windows
- Operating System
- Windows 7
- Windows Server
- Windows 10
- Windows 8
- Windows 2000
- Windows XP
- Windows Vista
- Additional Requirements
- None
- POPULARITY
- Total Downloads
- 879,885
- Downloads Last Week
- 39
