Got a bug.

[JustTheTip]

Where's the best place to do free online virus scans and removals?

TIA

[scorp]

You can't really do online virus scans as you need the scanner program to be running on your PC ideally. Go for the usual suspects, download a demo from grisoft (AVG), Norton, etc.

>> Edited by scorp on Tuesday 7th March 15:44

[Einion Yrth]

Have used BitDefender in the past with some success.


>> Edited by Einion Yrth on Tuesday 7th March 15:46

[up-the-dubs]

I'll give a seconded to Norton (bought it for about €40) and MS's new spy ware which is free from their web site.

[timmy30]

Exrtract your wallet, dust it off, open it carefully incase of any sudden exits by moths..... and go and buy some AV software, it's not epxensive, McAfee seems pretty good, IIRC it was about £17.00 when I bought it.

[r988]

http://uk.trendmicro-europe.com/consu

[neil_cardiff]

WIthout stirring a hornets nest up (it's been covered many many times over before on PH) but stay well away from Norton as it royally buggers your machine.

Try AVG's free application, I've heard nothing but great things about it.

Neil

[pm99]

Try doing a system restore to a previous checkpoint...gets rid of any crap you might have recently picked up in your system files etc.
It is possible on windows xp pro...not sure about windows xp....programs>accesories>system tools>system restore

[GregE240]

neil_cardiff said:

WIthout stirring a hornets nest up (it's been covered many many times over before on PH) but stay well away from Norton as it royally buggers your machine. Try AVG's free application, I've heard nothing but great things about it. Neil

Amen, brother.

I've had McAfee on this laptop for nearly a year now and started getting the "Nearly time to line our pockets with silver..." type mail.

Thought stuff it, I'll try AVG Free - mainly due to the posotive comments on here - and its bloody brilliant.

Recommended.

[neil_cardiff]

pm99 said:

Try doing a system restore to a previous checkpoint...gets rid of any crap you might have recently picked up in your system files etc. It is possible on windows xp pro...not sure about windows xp....programs>accesories>system tools>system restore

This won't work, as System Restore will still hold all the nasties in the cache - and of course many of these viruses are written to defeat this anyway.

Your quickest route to cleaning the machine so you can then get some AV software is this:

NAI Stinger

Download and run this, it should pick most things up. Make sure you turn off System Restore before you do, as anything you delete will remain within the System Restore cache - or even better do it in Safe Mode.

Hope that helps a bit...

[JustTheTip]

Thanks guys. I have already got Norton, but have not found it to be 'all that'. I'll try a few of the others next.

[Plotloss]

Norton is the AOL of antivirus software.

AVG every day of the week, its fabulous.

[Hanslow]

I used to use AVG (well actually still do on one machine) but switched to Avast for the others as it picked up some things that AVG let through.

For online ones, try the trendmicro one (mentioned earlier) or the panda software one. Not as good as a resident one, but handy every now and then if you want a second sanity check opinion on your system.

[rsvmilly]

GregE240 said:

neil_cardiff said: WIthout stirring a hornets nest up (it's been covered many many times over before on PH) but stay well away from Norton as it royally buggers your machine. Try AVG's free application, I've heard nothing but great things about it. Neil Amen, brother. I've had McAfee on this laptop for nearly a year now and started getting the "Nearly time to line our pockets with silver..." type mail. Thought stuff it, I'll try AVG Free - mainly due to the posotive comments on here - and its bloody brilliant.

And when I made the swap, AVG immediately picked up on some virii that Norton must have missed a dozen times.

[annodomini2]

up-the-dubs said:

I'll give a seconded to Norton (bought it for about €40) and MS's new spy ware which is free from their web site.

Norton is CRAP! Read some of the other AV threads.

It wraps itself around your system, because its so common viruses tend to target it and norton doesn't detect them.

Use AVG or Kapersky Labs.

For free anti-spyware use ad-adware and spybot.

[mcflurry]

up-the-dubs said:

I'll give a seconded to Norton (bought it for about €40) and MS's new spy ware which is free from their web site.

AVG is 40 euro cheaper

[Extra 300 Driver]

Greg said:

E240Amen, brother.

>> Edited by Extra 300 Driver on Wednesday 8th March 15:17