Building and managing a website is easier than ever before. But no matter what, you will always have to deal with malware now and then.
Even if your website remains unaffected, it is a good idea to regularly scan for malware to make sure your website does not get blacklisted by security solutions and other services.
But, what are some effective malware scanners to quickly check if your website is clean? Here, we'll look at a list of malware scanners and explain why you might need to use them.
Should You Use an External or Server-Side Malware Scanner?
External malware scanners focus on checking the source code of your website, links, and a few more things to detect malware. However, without access to your server and the files, an advanced scan of your files and monitoring changes to the code is not possible.
Hence, a server-side malware scanner is only effective if you want an advanced scan looking for hidden malware. But, it requires significant server resources to run a deep scan.
So, if you do not have enough server resources, the website performance will be affected, and you will end up facing a disruption in your service.
This is where online (or external) malware scanners come in. External malware scanners do not require access to your server resources and can still find several kinds of problems, if there are any.
And, most of them are free for basic checks. So, if you are starting out and not ready to invest much in a malware scanner, it could also prove to be an ideal choice.
Here, we look at some of the most popular security solutions that should help you with both types of scanning as per your preferences.
Best Malware Scanners to Scan Your Website
Note that all the external malware scanners are free but offer premium plans for server-side scanning and various other features. If you require advanced scanning and options, you should explore the premium offerings for the same.
1. Sucuri
Sucuri is a popular malware scanner that looks for affected files and scans for several security issues on your website. It offers a free SiteCheck tool for external scans.
Sucuri's automated scan detects malware, injected spam, defacements, internal server errors, and several other things from various angles. Also, it does not take a lot of time to complete the basic website malware analysis.
In addition to the malware scan, it also checks if your website has been blacklisted anywhere for any security reasons. If you haven't set up any website monitoring or firewalls, it will inform you about that.
Most importantly, it also gives suggestions to strengthen the security of our website. Some of the tips could be technical, so you may want to consult your website developer to apply those suggestions.
The premium subscription for Sucuri can help you perform deep scans, enforce a firewall, monitor your site, and provide free malware removal services.
2. Astra Security
Astra Security is a website security solution that offers a firewall, malware scans, security audits, and more.
Astra Security's free website scanner can check for blacklists, SEO spam, and malware. You can scan various sites powered by some of the most popular Content Management Systems (CMSs) like WordPress, Joomla, etc.
Astra Security may provide you with more suggestions for free when it comes to security suggestions. So, if you want a free malware scan with good security enhancement suggestions, you can't go wrong with Astra Security.
3. Quttera
Quttera is a simple and effective malware scanner that supports external and internal scans. If you have a WordPress website, you can easily install the free plugin and scan your website using cloud technology without consuming any server resources.
You can also use it for Joomla, Drupal, Magento, and a variety of other platforms for malware scanning.
It also provides a free malware scanner tool that you can try without signing up. However, you will find a queue system for URL scanning if you do not create an account, unlike other options. So, if you find it good enough for your use case, you can opt for its premium anti-malware services.
4. SiteLock
SiteLock malware scanner is yet another popular option compatible with all kinds of websites.
SiteLock's free website malware scanner lets you perform basic scans without providing any unique hardening suggestions. And if you opt for its premium plan, it provides a web application firewall, automatic patching for popular CMSs, and backup options as well.
5. Comodo cWatch
cWatch by Comodo is a website security service that offers a variety of premium options and a free website scanner. Without any subscription, cWatch's free website scanning service provides a ton of details compared to others. However, you will have to enter your personal/work details to get your report for the first scan. Ranging from website reputation, malware to blacklists, it categorizes the data to make it easy to understand.
It is one of the most affordable options compared to most malware scanning solutions mentioned above. The premium features may not be enough for an enterprise website, but this could be a good pick if you have a personal website or a small business.
6. Malcare
Malcare is an affordable premium website security service tailored for WordPress websites. It focuses on finding malware and removing it without affecting your site's performance.
Unfortunately, it does not offer a free site scanner similar to others, but you can use its malware scanner plugin for free on your website. It does not feature advanced options without a premium subscription, but the basic malware scan works well.
Malware Scanners Make Things Easy for Website Administrators
It can be overwhelming to manage all the security measures for a website without a dedicated team.
Thankfully, website malware scanners automate the process of finding and removing malware. To unlock the full potential of these services, you should opt for a premium plan to protect your site from malware actively.
However, if you are new to managing and building sites, the free external malware scanners should give you plenty of insights into your website's security state.