Our verdict: HitmanPro is a quick second-opinion scanner you run next to your normal antivirus to check what it missed. Scanning stays free; removing what it finds needs a license, with a one-time free 30-day license to start. It does not offer real-time protection on its own.
About HitmanPro
HitmanPro is a single file of about 10 MB that runs without installation. It looks for malicious behavior as well as known signatures and checks suspicious files against the databases of four security labs, including SophosLabs. It can remove rootkits and malware hidden in boot records and restores damaged Windows resources to their original versions.
You can scan as often as you like for free. When HitmanPro finds malware, you can activate a free 30-day license once to remove it; after that, removal requires a paid license, which costs $24.95 per year for one PC. No payment card is needed for the free license. For real-time protection Sophos sells HitmanPro.Alert at $34.95 per year, which includes HitmanPro.
What it does well
- No installation needed. Runs from a single file, including from a USB drive.
- Behavior-based detection. Flags files that act maliciously, even without a known signature.
- Multiple scan clouds. Checks suspicious files against four security labs, including SophosLabs.
- Rootkit and boot record cleaning. Removes persistent malware from system files and boot records.
- Works alongside other antivirus. No need to uninstall your existing security software.
Who it is for
Good fit
Checking a PC that seems infected, as a second opinion next to Microsoft Defender or another antivirus.
Look elsewhere
Users who need always-on protection, or who want unlimited free malware removal.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Scanning is free and unlimited
- Portable, no installation needed
- Runs next to any existing antivirus
Cons
- Removal after the one-time 30-day license requires a paid license
- No real-time protection without HitmanPro.Alert
- Windows only
How to install HitmanPro
Download the 64-bit file and run it; you can choose a one-time scan without installing. If it finds threats, you are offered the free 30-day license to remove them. Keep the downloaded file, for example on a USB drive, if you want to rescan this or another PC later.
Questions about HitmanPro
Is HitmanPro free?
Scanning is free. To remove malware you get a free 30-day license once, with no card needed; after that a license costs $24.95 per year for one PC.
What is HitmanPro.Alert?
A paid real-time protection product from Sophos that stops exploits and ransomware and includes HitmanPro. It costs $34.95 per year for one PC.
Does HitmanPro work on macOS?
No. HitmanPro is a Windows-only program.
