Note: This post was written in 2012. Many of the vendor links below are likely outdated or broken. For current removal tools, search for “[AV name] removal tool” on the vendor’s official website.
Uninstalling most programs is simple enough — Control Panel, Programs and Features, Uninstall, done. But antivirus software is a different story. Some AV programs actively block their own removal. And even when you do uninstall through Control Panel, leftover traces can cause problems later: a new antivirus installer might refuse to run, claiming another AV is already present, or it installs but throws errors during operation.
The proper fix is to use each vendor’s dedicated removal tool, which does a thorough cleanup instead of just removing the surface layer. Here’s a list of vendor-specific tools and instructions:
- AVIRA — Instructions on Avira GmbH’s website.
- AVG — Instructions on AVG Technologies’ website.
- Avast — Uninstall utility on Avast’s website.
- BitDefender — Instructions on BITDEFENDER SRL’s website.
- CA — Instructions on CA, Inc.’s website.
- VIPRE — Tool from GFI Software.
- eScan — Removal tool from MicroWorld Technologies.
- ESET — Instructions on ESET LLC’s website.
- F-Secure — Instructions on F-Secure Corporation’s website.
- F-Prot — Instructions on FRISK Software International’s website.
- G DATA — Tools on G Data Software AG’s website.
- K7 — Instructions on K7 Computing’s website.
- Kaspersky — Instructions on Kaspersky Lab’s website.
- Kingsoft — Instructions on Kingsoft Research’s website.
- McAfee — Instructions on McAfee Inc.’s website.
- Outpost — Instructions on Agnitum Ltd.’s website.
- Panda — Instructions on Panda Security’s website.
- Norton — Instructions on Symantec Corporation’s website.
- Norman — Instructions on Norman ASA’s website.
- Quick Heal — Instructions on Quick Heal Technologies’ website.
- Sophos — Instructions on Sophos Ltd.’s website.
- ThreatFire — Instructions on PC Tools Limited’s website.
- Trend Micro — Instructions on Trend Micro Incorporated’s website.
- Webroot — Instructions on Webroot Software Inc.’s website.
- Windows Security Essentials — Instructions on Microsoft Corporation’s website.
- Windows Live OneCare — Instructions on Microsoft Corporation’s website.
- Zone Alarm — Instructions on Check Point Software Technologies’ website.