

Luckily, should you be on the fence with removing an item, the program’s default action before fixing up the computer is to create a system restore point. This flaw is highlighted by Symantec.ĭuring our tests, Norton Power Eraser managed to uncover a small batch of threats, but it also picked up a couple of legitimate files. That’s why this is not a tool recommended for beginner users, but for those that can discern between good and bad files.

Given the aggressive nature of the program, it may flag perfectly legitimate files as malicious, so a double check from your part makes for a great idea. For the first ones there is only one action available: remove. On the downside, there is no indication about the completion time for the task, or a bar to hint at the progress.Īfter the scan, all items deemed as a threat as well as the suspicious ones are presented. When the system is back online, you can see the files currently verified. It features simple options that let you start scanning the system for security risks, check the history of previous findings or access a small set of advanced options.Ī computer restart is mandatory for carrying out the scan activity because Norton Power Eraser also checks for rootkits by default. The interface of the application is simple and to the point. This means that having an Internet connection is a mandatory requirement for the program to carry out its job.Īs soon as started, the license agreement needs to be accepted (we went through his process at each launch) in order to move forward with the application. The application is not a scanner per se, because it relies on Symantec’s file reputation service, Norton Insight. Norton Power Eraser is absolutely free of charge and does not require installation – simply double-click the executable to deploy it. You can think of it as an extra tool that strives to improve the malware cleanup results, regardless of the security suite you run on the system. Its purpose is to scan your computer and eliminate aggressive threats that are usually tough to remove by traditional security software. Its activity is very specific and it is not intended to function as a standalone malware fighter on your computer. Despite what the name might suggest, Norton Power Eraser is actually an instrument designed to help you get rid of persistent malware pieces.
