Best Trojan removers in 2024
To introduce independent antivirus software reviews that are free from undue influence or bias, we conduct thorough in-house tests and analysis. Our final assessments are based on objective criteria and empirical evidence.
We frequently repeat our tests, evaluate new features, and perform reassessments to make sure our reviews are accurate and up to date.
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Deimantė Karaciejūtė
Senior Copywriter
Trojan viruses are perhaps the most common type of malware you might encounter, but they’re also one of the least detectable. Aptly named Trojans disguise themselves as legitimate programs or even antiviruses. And once they're inside your system, they can either lay inactive or immediately wreck your device.
Because Trojans seem innocent, especially if they’re rogue security software, not all antivirus programs can detect them. And the longer they sit in your device unrecognized, the likelier it is for other malware to piggyback off them into your system. So, choosing a reliable antivirus is essential to prevent the damage Trojans can cause. After testing multiple options, we found 5 best Trojan scanners that can effectively detect and remove malware.
Top 5 Trojan removers to protect your devices
- Bitdefender – the best overall antivirus to remove Trojan malware
- Norton – well-rounded antivirus with 100% confirmed Trojan detection
- TotalAV – excellent antivirus for dealing with various threats, including Trojan
- Surfshark Antivirus – an excellent antivirus with included top-notch VPN
- NordVPN Threat Protection – a great VPN with tools to remove Trojan malware
Is Windows Defender effective against Trojans?
Yes and no. While Windows Defender performs relatively well AV-TEST in independent tests, it has some glitches. For example, Microsoft's online inquiry page has several questions related to false threat alerts or other issues.
False threat alerts aren’t just intimidating. They can mislead you into considering legitimate programs to be Trojans. While the antivirus itself wouldn’t take action against programs that are safe, simply getting a false alert is enough for the user to take unnecessary precautions, like uninstalling the program.
So, while Windows Defender is quite good at dealing with various threats, it has its setbacks. It might be worth opting for another antivirus, as some offer free versions anyway. This way, you would avoid issues that some users complain about and would be able to use an antivirus on other operating systems.
The best Trojan protection tools in 2024
It’s not difficult to find a reliable antivirus, especially if you’re already familiar with some of the notable providers. Finding one that excels in a specific area is less simple. We tested multiple options to present you with 5 antiviruses that excelled in Trojan protection.
1. Bitdefender – the best Trojan malware protection
| Max devices covered | 15 |
| Free version | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux |
| Current deal | Get Bitdefender for up to 78% OFF! |
Bitdefender stands out among its competitors for providing top-notch protection against trojans, thanks to its advanced security features, available even in the free version. With the help of real-time malware detection, it efficiently blocked planted Trojans and performed great in our in-house test.
Test results. Bitdefender had a success rate of 100% in detecting Trojans. With initiated Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUA), command lines, and scripts scanned, it found all the planted Trojans. Bitdefender may not have any specific Trojan-related features, but the ones it has effectively identified the threats and neutralized them. Bitdefender also performed exceptionally well in independent AV tests, so its reliability and effectiveness are undeniable.
Security features. Bitdefender has an extensive list of security features. It has multiple different scan types, real-time monitoring, several web protection tools, and ransomware remediation. The latter is particularly useful to those who have been affected by Trojans, as Bitdefender not only reverses the damage done by ransomware but also restores encrypted files. Additional features include anti-spam, a password manager, a VPN, parental controls, and more.
In our antivirus review, we have tested Bitdefender’s ability to deal with malware, and it performed exceptionally well.
Price. Bitdefender has a free plan with basic antivirus protection but also multiple paid ones to choose from. The most expensive is the Family pack, but if you don’t have over ten devices that need coverage, then far more affordable plans are available. The cheapest paid subscription starts at $9.99/month, which really isn’t a lot for such a high level of security. Its premium plans are also available for a 30-day free trial, so you can test Bitdefender’s features yourself without spending a penny.
2. Norton 360 – extensive antivirus software with proven Trojan detection
| Max devices covered | 10 |
| Free version | No |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Current deal | Get up to 58% OFF Norton Antivirus |
Norton is another great antivirus for dealing with Trojans. While it doesn’t have Trojan-specific features, its malware detection and removal proved to be watertight in our test.
Test results. Norton, just like Bitdefender, had no issue finding all planted Trojan viruses, putting its success rate at 100%. It also managed to completely resolve them and even quarantined some programs as a security measure. Overall, Norton proved to be a reliable Trojan detector.
Security features. Depending on which plan you choose, you should get thorough protection. Even the most basic plan has full security coverage, 2GB of cloud backup, and a password manager. Additional features available with slightly pricier subscription plans include a VPN, Dark Web monitoring, and parental controls. The most advanced plan, LifeLock, has special identity theft protection software. We thoroughly reviewed Norton antivirus and its features if you want to read more about it.
Price. Norton is not the cheapest AV, but it’s not terribly expensive either. Norton Antivirus Plus – their cheapest plan – costs around $29.99/month, especially if you can get it on offer. Other ones, particularly the most extensive Norton 360 with LifeLock, are quite pricey, starting at $99.99/month. But they’re not necessary to get. You can certainly get a good level of protection with just the basic package.
While the most affordable Norton’s plans are cheaper than Bitdefender’s, Norton does not have a free version. Additionally, its cheapest plans offer significantly fewer features than Bitdefender’s. With Norton 360, you’d have to pay more to get an equal set of security features. So, while they both performed equally well in our Trojan test, Bitdefender’s better value for money caused it to rank higher than Norton.
3. TotalAV – tested and thorough Trojan malware remover
| Max devices covered | 8 |
| Free version | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Current deal | Get TotalAV, now 80% OFF! |
TotalAV offers total protection in most situations, but it stumbled a bit during our Trojan testing. Nevertheless, it would be unfair to rate it lower due to price and other security features.
Test results. Overall, TotalAV did not perform too badly. It detected most of our planted Trojans, missing only one, putting its success rate at 80%. However, it does not specify that it offers Trojan detection, so it was just the service’s basic malware protection that spotted threats. If anything, the result proves how sneaky Trojans can be when avoiding detection.
Security features. TotalAV is great software for regular day-to-day use. If you don’t usually visit particularly dodgy sites and know not to click any links that your “distant royal cousin” might send, then TotalAV can confidently handle the rest. Just like Bitdefender, TotalAV offers a free antivirus as well. The free version offers basic internet and malware protection, while three paid versions have significantly more features. We have evaluated TotalAV’s ability to deal with malware threats, and it performed really well.
Price. Depending on the features that you need and your budget, you can choose from four versions, one of which is free. The paid versions are subscription-based with a single yearly payment starting from $19.00/month. So, it’s apparent that TotalAV is comparatively one of the cheapest options there is.
4. Surfshark Antivirus – a well-rounded antivirus with an included VPN
| Max devices covered | 5 |
| Free version | No |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Android |
| Current deal | Get Surfshark Antivirus - 79% OFF + 3 months FREE! |
Surfshark is better known as a VPN, but its antivirus definitely deserves a special mention. It performed fairly well in our antivirus test and really excelled in detecting Trojans.
Test results. Surfshark had a success rate of 100%, detecting all the planted Trojans during our latest tests—outperforming more established antivirus programs like TotalAV. This result is a significant improvement compared to our previous evaluation of Surfshark Antivirus. Furthermore, this strong performance aligns with the recent recognition Surfshark received from AV-TEST, where it earned the "Top Product" award for its exceptional protection, performance, and usability.
Security features. Surshark One has an antivirus, data breach alerts, and a private, ad-free web search function. One+ comes with an additional Incogni feature, which removes the data various companies collected about you. Both of these plans include a VPN and Alternative ID – a way to completely mask your digital identity by having a duplicate email and other identity protection tools. And while the features that it does have do not seem as extensive as those of our top-ranking antiviruses, overall, Surfshark has great tools to protect your data and identity.
Price. There is no free version of Surfshark antivirus. In fact, out of three subscription plans that Surshark offers, only One and One+ have an antivirus at all. The difference between these is minor. Opting for One+ would grant you just one additional, albeit excellent, feature. Price difference is also not severe. One costs $2.69/month while One+ costs $4.29/month.
5. NordVPN Threat Protection – a VPN and Trojan malware protection in one
| Max devices covered | 10 |
| Free version | No |
| Platforms | Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows |
| Current deal | Get NordVPN Antivirus with 74% OFF + 3 months for free! |
NordVPN also offers its own security features. They are available with all platforms and subscription plans, so you can get basic protection no matter how much you spend. Most importantly, NordVPN Threat Protection successfully proved its antivirus capabilities in our in-house test.
Test results. Despite Threat Protection being just one of NordVPN’s features, it did not disappoint. With a success rate of 100%, NordVPN Threat Protection detected and eliminated all Trojan malware. So, it’s fair to say that both regular Threat Protection (for Windows and MacOS) and, to a lesser extent, Lite version (for Android and iOS) are enough to protect your device.
Security features. All NordVPN packs include a secure VPN, malware protection, and ad-blocker. With pricier plans you could get a data breach scanner and even cyber insurance. NordVPN Threat Protection offers real-time web, file, and vulnerability monitoring. And if you already have NordVPN, but didn’t know that this feature is accessible to you, our team wrote more about NordVPN Threat Protection and how to activate it on your device.
Comparatively, NordVPN Threat Protection does not have as many security features as, for example, Bitdefender. But its success in our Trojan malware test, general features, and market-leading VPN still make it one of the best options for your device.
Price. NordVPN Threat Protection is not free. You need to have a NordVPN paid subscription to access it. NordVPN is also slightly pricier than, for example, Surfshark, but even with the cheapest plan, costing $3.09/month, you could get decent malware protection. However, you could test it out for 30 days and get your money back if you’re not satisfied.
How we tested Trojan protection tools
We tested 10 popular antivirus systems and selected 5 that were the best at detecting and removing Trojan viruses. Our hands-on experience with these programs allowed us to observe each antivirus software’s user interface, speed, and effectiveness in dealing with Trojan threats. Overall, these five antiviruses excelled in the following categories:
- Trojan detection. Not all antivirus software is equally effective. We turned-off real-time protection and planted five Trojan files in our Virtual VM with Windows 11 installed on a Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen2 laptop. We then used different antivirus providers to scan the system for malware. We rated their effectiveness depending on how many they detected and ranked them accordingly.
- Malware removal. Detection isn’t everything. If the antivirus not only detected but also deleted malware, mainly our planted Trojans, then it naturally ranked higher. For example, Bitdefender was able to delete the Trojans and reverse the damage done by malware, and Norton quarantined additional programs, which might’ve posed additional risks.
- General antivirus features. The more security guarantees an antivirus offers, the higher we rate it. We ensured that the antiviruses we included on our list didn’t detect any false positives, that the detected files’ names matched the ones we planted, and if the antivirus had any additional security measures included, like a VPN. We also took into consideration additional tests that our team or independent researchers completed.
- Pricing. We compared the subscription costs of all antiviruses, making sure that mainly the ones that offer the best value for money make it into our final list. For example, McAfee performed well in our test but was more expensive than our top picks, so it didn't make it to our list.
Comparison of the best Trojan remover tools
| Brand | Rating | Trojan detection | Free version | Subscription price | Max devices covered | Platforms supported |
| Bitdefender | 100% | ✅ | From $9.99/year | 15 | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux | |
| Norton 360 | 100% | ❌ | From $29.99/year | 10 | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | |
| TotalAV | 80% | ✅ | From $19.00/year | 8 | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | |
| Surfshark | 100% | ❌ | From $50.85/year | 5 | Windows, macOS, Android | |
| NordVPN | 100% | ❌ | From $3.99/month | 10 | Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows |
How to remove Trojan viruses from your devices
Once a Trojan virus is in your device, it can be really difficult to remove it. The malware's ability to mask itself as a safe program makes it difficult to remove trojan spyware from your device. If you notice that your device started behaving strangely, if things seem different than they usually are, it’s likely that it’s infected with Trojan malware.
Fortunately, there are some basic things you could do to fix this. You should disable all programs that are from less trustworthy sources. Anything you might have downloaded recently could be infected.
Just like in biology, a digital virus might try to preserve itself. Reboot your device into safe mode before you attempt to change anything. And make sure you don’t remove any programs that your device actually needs to function.
Once you've cleaned your device, it’s no time to relax. You might get targeted with ransomware or other viruses. That’s why you should get a reliable antivirus, like Bitdefender. Only a trustworthy and tested security system can detect and remove malware, protecting your device and the data in it.
How to prevent Trojan malware?
Trojans may be very common, but if you take certain precautions, they can be entirely avoidable. There are several actions you can take to protect your device from Trojans:
- Install a reliable antivirus and keep it up to date. This way, you will protect your device from all types of malware, even if you were to accidentally get it. You should select an antivirus that offers real-time protection, like Bitdefender.
- Contact the sender before opening any links. A funny video sent by your friend, a work email from a trusted colleague, or a parcel tracking link from your local post office – all of these could be infected with malware. Ask your friend if they sent you anything and what it is about, contact your colleague through other channels to confirm the email, and double-check the contacts of organizations on their official websites.
- Get a VPN when connecting to a public network. It’s best to assume that all public Wi-Fi is risky to use. To prevent Trojans, other malware, or data leaks, use a reliable VPN to protect your private information. Some antivirus subscriptions also include a VPN, so make sure you remember to use it.
- Do not visit lesser-known websites unless absolutely necessary. Do not download any files from untrustworthy sources, and stick to reputable websites and secure connections (HTTPS).
- Update your device. Smartphones and computers regularly conduct system updates. Those come with patches and security fixes that make your device more resistant to various threats.
Can a free antivirus protect my device against Trojans?
Only a reliable free antivirus can protect your device from Trojans. A free version of a reputable antivirus is entirely different from just a simple free antivirus. Mixing the two could end up with you paying for it with your data and security.
Our highest-rated option has a free version that you could use, and we have already tested it, so you know it’s safe. But it’s also worth investing in paid subscriptions as they tend to offer a greater number of security features. Bitdefender is quite affordable, so you wouldn’t be too much out of pocket. Considering that it covers up to 15 devices, it definitely offers a good value for money.
Final thoughts
If you’re looking for a way to detect and effectively remove Trojans, a reliable antivirus is a worthy investment. Not only can it protect your device from Trojan malware, but it could secure your device from more severe security breaches. We tested multiple antivirus providers and found Bitdefender to be objectively better than most.
It performed remarkably well in both our and independent antivirus tests, it found 100% of planted Trojans, and it has a free version as well as highly affordable subscription options. So, overall, if you were to get an antivirus to protect your devices from Trojans, you can’t go wrong with Bitdefender.
FAQ
What is the best antivirus to find Trojans?
Bitdefender is the best antivirus for Trojan detection and removal. It has a well-rounded security system to protect your device from Trojan malware. Additionally, Bitdefender offers a free version.
Can I scan my device for Trojans with antivirus?
Yes. A reliable antivirus performs scans to detect any real-time threats. With antivirus like Bitdefender, you can also manually select to perform malware scans whenever you want.
Can an iPhone get infected with a Trojan virus?
Yes. The iOS operating system is less likely to get infected with malware, but it’s not entirely immune. Trojans usually come with corrupted files that iPhones are not resistant to.
