Viruses

[Army22rpr]

Please help me find some good freeware anitvirus software. I have a computer that has been infected and I need help cleaning it up. Thanks in advance.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[eww]

AVG and Avast are decent free programs. There is an extremly nasty virus going around. It starts as a popup that looks like an official Windows alert, complete with the Windows logo. It informs you that you are infected with a trojan and to click on the box to remove it. Once you do your machine is infected. I've seen it on about two dozen machines so far and it is not easy to get rid of.

[Gunnutty]

AVG and Avast are decent free programs. There is an extremly nasty virus going around. It starts as a popup that looks like an official Windows alert, complete with the Windows logo. It informs you that you are infected with a trojan and to click on the box to remove it. Once you do your machine is infected. I've seen it on about two dozen machines so far and it is not easy to get rid of.

That one fried my hard drive.

[Ram Rod]

I'm currently using AVG and Spyware Terminator. Spybot is also a good spyware eliminator. Mostly AV software is a preventive measure. Using windows complicates things a bit since some of the files go to the system restore where they would need to be removed manually. I used Norton for years before. Check on CNet.com for freeware A-V and others. Best source I know of.
free anti-virus removal software - CNET Reviews

[QKShooter]

You should also install CCleaner. It's totally free.
I use it every day and I just delete everything it finds.

Erase Web travels & more - Downloads from The Kim Komando Radio Show & Web site

Erase Web travels & more



Description:
When you use your PC, there are a lot of traces left all over. There's your Web history, Windows' temporary files and cookies. Fortunately, this free program makes easy work to get rid of those traces.

It can also clean out file fragments and uninstall old programs for you. That could all save you a lot of disk space.

CCleaner lets you specify exactly what types of items it can delete. You can also choose to analyze your disk first. Then you can preview everything that CCleaner plans to delete. And it automatically makes backups if it cleans your Registry.

[southbound]

These three should keep you running..

AVG
AVG Free - Download antivirus and antispyware software for Windows XP and Vista
Spybot
The home of Spybot-S&D!
Ad-aware
Get Ad-Aware 2008 Plus for Free with Lavasoft and TrialPay - Lavasoft

You all so need a good firewall like ZA
Firewall Freeware, Free Firewall Protection Software, Firewall Shareware: ZoneAlarm® Free Firewall Software.

+1 on CCleaner and I also use PConPiont as well tho it is not free....

Good luck..

[QKShooter]

Good helpful additions there southbound.

[morintp]

I use Avast on my PCs that don't have a subscription service. It works very well for free.

[retsupt99]

Get the absolute best protection...I have it..

Apple iMac...24" screen...4 gigs of RAM...no virus problems...

[cvhoss]

While it's not free, NOD32 from ESET is what I use now. When my last computer became infected with a couple of Trojans while running Norton, NOD32 is what my local computer company used to clean the computer and get it to running condition again. Been using it for two years now with no problems.

Hoss

[Paco]

The best way to clean a virus is this old DOS command, FDISK.

I use AVG on my personal computers, as well as AdAware and Spybot Search and Destroy (both).

[XD in SC]

Anyone else using Prevx 2.0??

I have had no interruptions to my system with it, and found an evil virus in my GF's PC that came through Limewire. All good now.

[Jackle1886]

I second using Nod32. It is by far the best I've found. Also second the AVG, that wasn't bad.

[aphophas]

+1 southbound listed the essentials for a good protected Windows PC.

I must admit, that Linux has came along way, and Ubuntu can do everything the standard user needs without the headache of Viri and Spyware. There are plenty of other distro's out there, but this one is so easy to install, and it basically installs itself onto the PC. Users can also test drive it, and see if they want to install it before they commit to installation. Another positive, it can dual boot your PC, and you can keep Mico$oft too.

[airslot]

Look at Antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-spam, firewall. Protect yourself with Panda Security Free scan or paid
I have had the paid version for about three yrs.
When I recently got a new virus, they isolated it and had a fix to me in a day. Great customer service.
They are based in SPAIN. Core business is commercial/government mainframe security.
Annual license is good for three machines.