We just released Panda SafeCD version 3.4.3.5. This useful utility comes in handy when you need to clean a friend's PC (or your own) from a malware infested state. It is specially useful for detecting and disinfecting malware infections which give regular AV products running within Windows a hard time.
- Automatic detection and removal of all types of malware.
- Boot from CD or USB stick.
- Supports using updated signature files.
- Supports 13 languages.
- Supports both FAT and NTFS drives.
The download consists of an ISO. You can either burn this into a CD/DVD or alternatively create a more convenient Boot USB stick by using something like the Universal Netboot Installer (UNetbootin).
In order to use a more updated signature database, the Panda SafeCD searches the registry for installed Panda applications that use the regular pav.sig file signature format. If you want Panda SafeCD to use a more updated signature file simply make sure there is an installed Panda product (normally in C:Program FilesPanda Security) with an updated pav.sig file. If the Panda SafeCD finds a more recent pav.sig than the one included in the ISO, it will use the more updated one.
For a more recently updated signature database file download pav.sig from this blog. Remember this signature file is for tests only and updated on a "whenever-I-feel-like-it" basis, so it should not be used for production systems. For critical situations and to disinfect production systems use our regular signature file which gets updated at least once a day.
Download Panda SafeCD 3.4.3.5 
Panda Security specializes in the development of endpoint security products and is part of the WatchGuard portfolio of IT security solutions. Initially focused on the development of antivirus software, the company has since expanded its line of business to advanced cyber-security services with technology for preventing cyber-crime.
44 comments
Hi guys, good tool!! for future versions i´d suggest the posibility to update the signature (normal or beta) file directly from internet.
Over.
If it has a GUI will be better, more user-friendly and easier to use.
Sounds like Panda needs to be installed to use this tool. What happens if it isn’t?
If we don’t have PADNDA installed in our PC, will this CD work ?
If Panda isn’t installed, then you will surely die.
@overpowered, thanks for the suggestion. Will take it into consideration.
@Rosster, @Maxim & @CherryPie, the SafeCD still works even if Panda is not installed on the machine.
The main problem I have with these LiveCD's, is the fact I can't get them to work on my MultiBoot USB drive if they content is not copied directly at the root of the drive.
Since I have multiple distros on my USB I want each to be located in their folder.
But if I try:
title Panda
kernel /panda/live/vmlinuz1
initrd /panda/live/initrd1.img boot=live union=aufs
it fails.
Full NTFS support or only reading (without disinfection)?
For those that do not have Panda installed, when trying to use the latest sig file with the Safe CD, would they be able to create a directory ( C:Program FilesPanda Security) and drop a new sig file into there by itself?
@loless0, yes it supports NTFS both for reading (scanning) and writing (disinfecting).
@ePCdoctor, no it wouldn’t work with simply creating the directory and copying the pav.sig there. The SafeCD reads the Windows Registry to search for installed Panda apps and their installed directory, and then looks there for the updated signature.
@ePCdoctor, you need to have an actual Panda product installed as the SafeCD looks in the Windows Registry for the location of the Panda installation folder.
I’ve download but says file is corrupt when unzip. Tried 2 times same error???
I second the need for a live updater!
Download worked here fine…perhaps you just had two bad downloads in a row…
Dear Friends,
has another link to download?
best regards
Lucas Schimit
Good product…I ‘ll review in my blog.Thanks Panda.
Does this Work if you vaccinate the usb?
how to update with the signature file?
@loless0, yes it supports both reading (scanning) and writing (disinfecting) NTFS drives.
@ryandigweed, I have it running off of a vaccinated USB drive without any problems. Simply first vaccinate the drive and then follow the procedure to install the SafeCD into the USB drive using UNetbootin.
how do i keep updating it?.. does it work with the vacined usb?.. planing on trying this.. this boots before windows starts?.. howcome there;s the xp bars?..
I think Rescue CD with minimum sixe is beter than large size
use English and use basic display settings to make it smaller
We tried on different HP, Fujitsu laptops and desktops and on all tests fail after lang selection with no partitions detected. Only can work over IDE HD ?
PBP at Andorra.
Germanys most popular tech magazine “C’t” (heise.de) has something similar, just way much better.
It’s called Knopicilin. Knopicilin comes with three different anti-virus engines, Kaspersky and two more (AVG and F-Secure iirc), and is able to download the latest signatures for all three scan engines from the internet.
I’d like to see the Panda engine on the next Knopicilin release, what do you think Panda Labs ?
i think safe cd should works like Cloud AV no, local signature every thing from cloud.
About this rescue disk spport sata or sata II disk?
@OSJF & @buddee, yes the update from the Internet would be nice. We’ll take this as our main suggestion for next version.
@Frank, yes it does support sata disk.
So if I or some friend had the Panda installation removed by malware on the registry it will not update… nice.
hey, great , thanks panda guys, I’ve been always interested in your great tools.
I must test it now. thanks.
@Ytee, @Rooster, @Maxim, & all, in order to use an updated sig simply visit http://www.activescan.com, perform a quick scan (which will download the latest sigs to the machine) and then boot from the Panda SafeCD. The SafeCD will then use the latest sigs.
@OSJF, we’d be interested in adding it to the C’t Knopicilin live cd. Another interesting similar project which I found out is using the Panda SafeCD is:
http://forum.nexthardware.com/sistemi-operativi-windows-e-software-generale/58889-shardana-antivirus-rescue-disk-utility-multiboot.html
Hi,i haven´t found C’t Knopicilin live cd.Where can i download it?.Thanks.
looking for to seeing an update feature!
Knopicilin is here: http://tinyurl.com/kqfbzd
Hi Pedro,
Is this version of the safe CD going to be available for creating directly from 2010 products..?
Thanks.
@Hansel, yes it will be included in the installation CD so you may create the SafeCD from there as well. This will happen later this month when we release the Windows 7 compatible versions of 2010.
Hi Pedro,
A customer was able to succesfully use de boot cd on one machine and it worked great (NTFS file system) Although, in another machine the harddrive wasn’t detected at all. The difference was that the first machine used a IDE drive, and the second one a SATA Disk. Any word about this..?
Best Regards.
@Hansel, the Panda SafeCD does support SATA drives. However we have a case in support where a certain type of configuration isn’t being recognized properly. It looks like you could have this same problem in this machine.
I’m having the same problem, where it won’t recognize my hard drives. the only thing it’ll pick up at all is my USB flash drive if I have it plugged in. Any fix for this?
hi ,
i create the new bootable panda scanner with full ntfs support, very easy update, and useful tools for repair windows very very quickly.
for scan with last update you must place the last pav.sig in c:.
after full scan with bootable CD you can go to windows and execute the bat and reg file which are located in virus repair folder in CD for repair the windows.
you can download the .iso file from this address:
http://www.mec-security.com/files/utilities/pbutil.iso
please contact me with this email address:
bbozorgi@mec-security.com
Panda Support NO:UAE
Hi Pedro,
Is the bootcd pepare only for detecting retail products from Panda in order to use an updated pav.sig..? I have a customer that tried to use the tool in a machine with PMOP installed, but there’s no way the CD use the updated sig file from WAC folder.
Thanks in advance.
Best regards.
@Hansel, not only for retail products. If you use for example ActiveScan,it will pick up the latest update from your last ActiveScan run. I suggest you run an ActiveScan quick scan first and then boot with the SafeCD. That should give you the latest signature for offline scanning.
Is there a place where it is possible to download the SafeCD, where the dayly dat are included in the iso?
I am working in tech store,
there this computer that have boots virus,
could I use panda safe cd to remove the virus, not matter, the computer do not have panda install on the computer.
thanks
I have a PC running XP with Panda IS installed which has aquired a nasty fake antivirus. The fake AV blocks the running of a downloaded virus scanner, has disabled Task Manager and also prevents starting in Safe Mode. “File Options” has vanished from Explorer Tools! It attempts to download a file through a site which was only registered on the 25th of November, so it is a very recent animal.
Robust updating would seem to be essential with nasties like this around.
I will try the latest Panda SafeCD and keep you posted.
Brian
Re. removal of my fake antivirus using Panda SafeCD. The Safe CD seemed to work, but the XP installation must have been damaged as the PC repeatedly crashed about 5 min after startup in XP. A reinstall of XP repeatedly hung. In the end, a clean reinstall of XP was performed and the machine restored with Ghost.
One comment I will make is that to use the Panda SafeCD download the ISO has to be burnt to the CD and not just coppied. On most PCs this would involve the download of a burner such as IsoRecorder, because XP and commonly supplied optical drive software will not do it. There could be a note to this effect with the download or link.
Also, with the fake antivirus I had, this would have to involve use another PC, as the infected PC would not run any .exe’s or zipped installs.
The best defence against this particular fake AV is not to let it install in the first place. The source was a lesser known file share site.
The fake AV was too new for Panda to catch. Be careful out there!… BJ