Is a comprehensive set of malware scans a thing?

It's different because one program may not be updated with the latest behavior analytics. There is no comprehensive all in ibe solution that knows everything about all malware.

I know.  That's why from the beginning my default assumption would be that it would have to be multiple programs.  At no point did I ask for a single program to do it all.

To put it simply: I would like the freedom to be able to annually check for things the standard Malwarebytes + Windows combo misses.

Whether its 1 program or 10 programs, it doesn't matter.  Can this be done with commercial products, and if so, which ones?  It sounds like maybe it can't, because you said they all use the same methods.  

Maybe its better to ask: in the event someone scanned with Malwarebytes and Windows Defender and they came up clean, but they still are having issues...what do you do then?  

I said defender and Malwarebytes those are the only ones I'd use.

Maybe you didn't read my whole reply....what if someone still has an issue when both of those scans come back clean? 

Maybe you didn't read my whole reply....what if someone still has an issue when both of those scans come back clean?

....And that's when it's time to seek help from specially trained experts. They know which of many available scanners & scripting tools to use, how to use them, and in what order. This is customized for each system. Self-medicating by a home user can be ineffective and/or lead to system damage.
The malware removal sections of this and other forums are full of such cases.

But, no, there is no special master list of tools, at least not that I'm aware of.

Maybe you didn't read my whole reply....what if someone still has an issue when both of those scans come back clean?

....And that's when it's time to seek help from specially trained experts. They know which of many available scanners & scripting tools to use, how to use them, and in what order. This is customized for each system. Self-medicating by a home user can be ineffective and/or lead to system damage.
The malware removal sections of this and other forums are full of such cases.

But, no, there is no special master list of tools, at least not that I'm aware of.

If there was incident response and threat hinting would be dead end.

 

Maybe you didn't read my whole reply....what if someone still has an issue when both of those scans come back clean?

....And that's when it's time to seek help from specially trained experts. They know which of many available scanners & scripting tools to use, how to use them, and in what order. This is customized for each system. Self-medicating by a home user can be ineffective and/or lead to system damage.

 

How does one get that knowledge?  Am I looking at collecting a handful of certifications?  Am I looking at a university degree?  What you just described sounds exactly like what I am looking for.

 

Maybe you didn't read my whole reply....what if someone still has an issue when both of those scans come back clean?

....And that's when it's time to seek help from specially trained experts. They know which of many available scanners & scripting tools to use, how to use them, and in what order. This is customized for each system. Self-medicating by a home user can be ineffective and/or lead to system damage.

 
How does one get that knowledge?  Am I looking at collecting a handful of certifications?  Am I looking at a university degree?  What you just described sounds exactly like what I am looking for.

Computer and Digital Forensics expertise

A quick google seems to imply that's a whole degree.  Good to know.  Thank you for giving a complete and direct answer, and quickly.

I still have some questions, but they're about something different than malware scans, but still related to malware.  Should I start a new thread?

Ask in here

These 2 are extremely comprehensive. In 8 years, they haven't missed a thing, and I've been to some pretty dodgy sites.

Ok.  before I ask this one, I should share my storage device structure. 

I have a solid state drive that i have windows installed on, and most programs.  

I have a large HDD that i store all my files.  Things like documents, pictures, music, etc. 
 
I have a 2nd large HDD that I use to install Steam games to. 

And I have a 3rd even larger HDD that I primarily use for live stream recording.  

I put my computer together in 2017 I think, and it has been my only PC since with no upgrades.  I feel like its at the end of its tether, and I am planning to build a new PC soon, hopefully before something on it dies.  I plan to just move my 3 HDDs to the new PC once it is built. 

So my question:  how much of a risk am I at for moving malware to the new PC by doing this?  When I scan with Malwarebytes, I make sure to include all 3 of my HDDs in the scan parameters.   Does Windows defender also look at these drives by default, or do I need to do something in the settings to make it include them?  Is it fair to say that malware tends to stay on the C drive, which will not be reused?  

Seems to me, this should be posted as a completly new and separate topic.

You'll be fine

Supplementing your Anti-Virus Program with Anti-Malware Tools (Post #4)
 
If folks need individual assistance from our experts with a possible malware infection (or suspected hacking), there are advanced tools which can be used to investigate but they are not permitted in this forum. They just need to follow the instructions in the Malware Removal and Log Section Preparation Guide. After doing that, they should start a new topic and post their FRST logs in the Virus, Trojan, Spyware, and Malware Removal Logs Forum, NOT here, for assistance by the Malware Response Team.