McAfee Labs Stinger is a free, on-demand virus removal tool from McAfee. It[SQ]s *not* a replacement for a full antivirus program. Instead, it[SQ]s designed to specifically target and remove known malware samples that may have evaded or bypassed your main antivirus software.

Think of it as a specialized cleanup tool. It uses a database of known malicious code signatures to identify and eliminate threats. Because it only checks for specific, known threats, it[SQ]s lightweight and scans quickly. However, it won[SQ]t protect you from *new* or *unknown* malware.

Key Features :

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On-demand scanning:

You manually run Stinger when you suspect a problem, rather than having it run continuously in the background like a full antivirus.
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Targeted removal:

Focuses on removing specific malware strains included in its database.
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Lightweight:

Small download size and fast scanning make it ideal for quick scans and cleanup.
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Free:

Available at no cost.
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Database updates:

McAfee regularly updates Stinger[SQ]s malware definitions.

When to use McAfee Labs Stinger:

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When your main antivirus fails to detect or remove malware.

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To quickly scan a specific file or folder suspected of containing malware.

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As an additional layer of security after suspected malware exposure.

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For a quick system scan before installing other software.

Important Note:

Stinger is *not* a replacement for a comprehensive antivirus program. It should be used *in addition to*, not *instead of*, a full security suite. Relying solely on Stinger leaves your system vulnerable to new and unknown threats.