HitmanPro
A screenshot of HitmanPro version 3.8.0 Build 295, running on Windows 10.
Developer(s)SurfRight B.V.
Stable release
Operating systemWindows XP and later
Available in25 languages
English, Bengali, Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Catalan, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Czech, Estonian, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Macedonian, Polish, Portuguese (Brasil), Russian, Swedish, Turkish, Serbian, Slovak
TypeAntivirus
LicenseTrialware
Websitewww.hitmanpro.com

HitmanPro (formerly Hitman Pro) is a portable antimalware program, which aims to detect and (if found) remove malicious files and registry entries related to rootkits, trojans, viruses, worms, spyware, adware, rogue antivirus programs, ransomware, and other malware from infected computers.

The HitmanPro client uses a Behavioral Scan to identify common characteristics of virus activity or suspicious files. The tool reports back to a Scan Cloud that determines if the files are safe, malicious, or unknown. In the event that HitmanPro by Sophos detects an unknown, the client uploads the file to the Scan Cloud. HitmanPro cleans malware, viruses, trojans, keyloggers, rootkits, trackers, ransomware and spyware while HitmanPro.Alert provides continuous scanning in real time. Hitman Pro is a second opinion scanner, designed to rescue your computer from malware (viruses, trojans, rootkits, etc.) that have infected your computer despite all the security measures you have. HitmanPro is a Anti-Spyware application like UnHackMe, Comodo Clean, and Safety Scanner from Sophos Ltd. It has a simple and basic user interface, and most importantly, it is free to download. HitmanPro is an efficient software that is recommended by many Windows PC users. The Hitman Pro download is tiny and the installation process takes a few minutes max, after which the software boots up and automatically sets up a scan. Hitman Pro’s user interface was once a little on the rudimentary and uninspiring side.

Suspicious objects are analyzed across an internet connection using a range of online malware detection services (see multiscanning), and can be removed by HitmanPro if confirmed. Latest Version 3.7.9 uses Bitdefender and Kaspersky Lab as in-cloud technology partners.[2] There is a very low system load because the virus definitions are not installed and tested in depth on the computer in question; rather they are analyzed remotely.

Hitman Pro Review

The company behind HitmanPro, Surfright, was acquired by Sophos in December 2015.[3]

Scan types[edit]

Version 3 of HitmanPro has three different types of antimalware scans: Default Scan, Quick Scan, and Early Score Warning. The Default Scan will check the entire computer and will send suspicious files to the cloud. The Quick Scan will scan only common parts of infections and will send unknown files to the cloud. The Early Score Warning will scan the entire computer and examine each and every file with advanced heuristics and check for common symptoms of malware, including if it was recently installed on the computer, if it starts automatically when windows boots, if it is impersonating a common system file, and even if it has a tray icon in the taskbar.[4]

Previous versions[edit]

HitmanPro 3 is a completely different design than earlier versions of Hitman Pro that was developed by Mark Loman in the Netherlands. The previous versions, version 1 and 2, automatically download, install and run third party anti-spyware and anti-adware programs that are freely available on the Internet:

  • Webroot Spy Sweeper (trial, expires in 7 days)
  • PC Tools Spyware Doctor (demo, will not clean anything)
  • ESET NOD32 (trial, expires in 30 days)
  • Lavasoft AdAware SE (freeware)
  • Safer Networking Spybot - Search & Destroy (freeware)
  • TrendMicro CWShredder (freeware)
  • JavaCool Software SpywareBlaster (freeware)
  • McAfee VirusScan SuperDAT (virus signature definition updates, McAfee PrimeSupport license required for qualifying product)
  • Ewido Micro Scanner (freeware)

References[edit]

  1. ^'HitmanPro Release History'. Surfright.nl. Retrieved 2016-05-11.
  2. ^'HitmanPro 3 - SurfRight'. Surfright.nl. Retrieved 2016-02-22.
  3. ^Jan Willem Aldershoff (14 December 2015). 'Company behind anti-malware software HitmanPro sold to Sophos for €30 million'. MYCE.
  4. ^'HitmanPro 3 - SurfRight'. Surfright.nl. Retrieved 2016-02-22.

External links[edit]

Hitman Pro
  • Official website
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HitmanPro&oldid=1026892433'

BleepingComputer Review:

HitmanPro is an anti-virus program that describes itself as a second opinion scanner that should be used in conjunction with another anti-virus program that you may already have installed. If malware slips past your anti-virus software, HitmanPro will then step in to detect it. Though SurfRite bills themselves as a second opinion scanner that does not mean that you cannot use the program as your primary anti-virus product. This is because its scanning technology not only incorporates its own virus definitions but also has the ability to scan files on your computer with the definitions of 5 other anti-virus vendors.

A strong feature of HitmanPro is its Scan Cloud feature. This feature comes into play when HitmanPro detects a suspicious file that they are unsure of. When a suspicious file is detected, HitmanPro will upload the file to their cloud where it will then be scanned by 5 other anti-virus vendors. Using the scan results from these vendors, HitmanPro will then decide when or not that file should be classified as malware and removed. This approach is very effective as it allows a more thorough approach to detecting new malware.

Hitman Pro

Hitman Providence

HitmanPro also includes the ability to create a bootable USB drive that contains HitmanPro.Kickstart. Kickstart is a full featured version of HitmanPro that can be run directly from the bootable USB drive. This makes it very useful for removing stubborn infections, such as Ransomware, that corrupt Windows Safe Mode or disable your ability to access the Windows Desktop.

Hitman Pro

Company's Description:

Hitman Pro Review

HitmanPro is a second opinion scanner, designed to rescue your computer from malware (viruses, trojans, rootkits, etc.) that have infected your computer despite all the security measures you have taken (such as anti virus software, firewalls, etc.).
Research shows that computers are still run a chance of getting infected because the existing anti virus program is not giving you a 100% protection. '32% of computers infected, despite presence of anti virus program.' Read more...
Just relying on a single vendor is not sufficient to completely protect you. You do need a second source to make sure you are secure. But in most cases, installing a second anti virus program is not a viable solution. Two programs are effecting the performance of the computer dramatically, and sometimes even conflict causing the computer to crash.
HitmanPro is designed to work alongside existing security programs without any conflicts. It scans the computer quickly (less than 5 minutes) and does not slow down the computer (except for the few minutes it is scanning). HitmanPro does not need to be installed. It can be run straight from a USB flash drive, a CD/DVD, local or network attached hard drive.
HitmanPro offers you a Free Scan for a second opinion. It is designed to check if your security measures work. If nothing is found (and we sincerely hope so), then you will never need a license. When a virus is found, then you will receive a free 30-day license to remove the threat.