Computer Virus

[Rick Long]

Go here to Microsoft OneCare FREE Scan...

Windows Live OneCare safety scanner: Free online tool for PC health and safety

It takes awhile to scan but it will fix things for free... unlike other sites that will scan, tell you you're infected but have to pay to remove the problem.

[Ron & Dee]

It looks like all of the options at the top of the message box have been disabled!

How do I enable them?

Thanks,

Ron

[Wayne M]

Originally Posted by Route 66

My AVG anti virus has spotted problems as soon as they are encountered......

Only quoting as a reference:

Most sophisticated AV programs use heuristics in their detection methods. (Google search "heuristic anti virus" without the quotes). Although these methods are not fool proof and have a tendency for false positives, it beats getting a virus. I would rather check out a false positive than get a virus.

When I was working in a Federal Organization as IT Security, we had thousands of users and our major anti-virus program was Norton's AV. I use it on my laptop and my iMac to this day. I'm not saying that is "the" best, but it is in the top 5% of AV programs. Another is Trend Micro. You can search for "major anti virus programs" without the quotes and come up with a good list.

Just remember that no one program can do it all "immediately." Signature files need to be updated and should be set to automatic mode, but if you can remember, manual updates can be done.

Something is better than nothing.

Good luck.

[Me n Slowpoke]

I have used Norton products for years but the 360 slowed my computer down so much with all the extras that I removed it and went with Micro Trend Pro. It has done good for me so far. Advises me if a sites certificates are out of date, safe etc. I have auto updates and scans set up. So far so good.

[Dave Rickey]

It's possible that your anti-virus is quarantining the file (generally moving and renaming it), but not deleting it. This happens a lot with my Avira AV, because of false positives a couple of years ago I have it set to only quarantine, rather than delete. So it will detect the virus in the quarantined file every day until I get around to flushing the quarantined files.

--Dave

[steelheadbluesman]

I used AVG for about ten yrs, then got Avast. I like it better, and it has saved me several times. I also swear by MalwareBytes. Both free. No worries

[AZgl1500]

Symantec/Norton are resource hogs. I will not allow them on any computer I have any control over.

AVG/AVAST/SpyDoctor/MalwareBytes is all you need. and they are free
other solutions are out there, but that is a whole box of worms for the neophytes

[steelheadbluesman]

Originally Posted by AZgl1500

Symantec/Norton are resource hogs. I will not allow them on any computer I have any control over.

AVG/AVAST/SpyDoctor/MalwareBytes is all you need. and they are free
other solutions are out there, but that is a whole box of worms for the neophytes

Couldn't agree more, John. Not only do they hog resources, but they can create glitches with other security programs, since they want to be the proprietary "big gun". First thing I tell people is to remove them, every little itty-bitty piece, then get the good free stuff.

[Ron & Dee]

I have a full scan scheduled for every night and so far it hasn't picked up any more virus's. I still have two in the chest but they are not recognized.

I have tried other free virus programs in the past but had issues with some of the 24/7 programs I run, such as my Weatherunderground uploads.

So far I'm a happy camper with Avast and the price is right

BTW, I finally got all of my message options back, thanks to Route 66's suggestion on deleting all of my cookies.

Ron

[AZgl1500]

Some cookies don't eat well

I'm still having to manually re-enter data occasionally after my last little "cleaning house" session. A bit of a bother, but I hate tracking info.

NoScript is a great program, no site can access your browser unless you give it permission. Again, another bit of a bother, but what price can you put on security?

[RJay]

Ron,

It sounds like your Avast is not running in the background and your running it manually. Check to see if it's in your StartUp folder. My Avast runs in the background and catches all the viruses on the fly and are blocked before they are loaded on the computer.

[Ron & Dee]

RJAY,

What setting should I be looking for to see if it is running in the background? I have only taken the default settings so far.

I do see the little red ball twirl everytime I access a site.

Thanks,

Ron

[RJay]

Ron,
Open the Avast console, and click on the Real Time Shields on the left. On the page that appears the Protection Status should indicate Running. The Start/Stop buttons for this feature is on the right side of the page if it's not. Also, it's a good idea to check for upgrades there are two, one for the program itself and the other for the virus definition database. Avast should do this automatically but it's good to do manually once in a while. Avast should launch automatically on start up and you can do the above to check if it does. If it does not launch on start up you can place a short cut in the window start up folder. I have used Avast and AVG and the only time you hear from Avast is when it updates and when you enter a site that contains a virus, an excellent program that's free. The current version of Avast is 5.0.677 and the virus database is 101208-1. Also under Real Time Shields click on Web Shield and make sure Scan Web (HTTP) Traffic is checked.

[Ron & Dee]

RJay,

My Avast is running exaxtly as you describe

Same version and virus definitions.

Avast is good

Thanks,

Ron