Re: Virus/spyware checkers

Tech Tip: Click here to run a free scan for Windows Errors and optimize PC performance

_RR <_RR@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>I'm currently running AVG's free version. I also keep Winpatrol
>running (great program!) As mentioned in a previous post, AVG just
>flagged changes to some system files. I've always thought it's good
>to get a 2nd opinion, so I'm going to find a secondary virus scanner.
>
>Any recommendations? I know MS has a beta, so I'll probably try that.
>NOD32 seems to get high marks. I'm not sure about the larger McAfee
>and Norton/Symantec, as their products tend to get huge and intrusive.
>I don't want the machine's CPU usage constantly pegged. I just had
>to fix network registry settings after Ghost 9's notorious tampering.
>
>Any others?

For a periodic "second opinion" on possible virus infestations I
suggest using one of the free online virus scanners. There are a
number to choose from including:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/
http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/


Spyware is becoming even more of a problem than viruses, and there is
no one program that is going to complete protect your computer and
remove any infestations.

The Microsoft Antispyware Beta (previously marketed as Giant
Antispyware) is usually rated as the single best program available,
but even it seldom gets a rating beyond 85% or 90% in comparative
tests; but then all other products get even lower ratings.

My own preferences for Spyware prevention and removal are to use
Microsoft Antispyware (http://download.microsoft.com as the primary
"frontline" defence and tester. I also use AdAware
(http://www.lavasoft.de) as the #2 detection tool, and I update and
run this once a week. As a secondary defence against infestations I
use SpywareBlaster
(http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html) which I manually
update at least once a week.

About once a month I run SpyBot Search & Destroy
(http://www.safer-networking.org/) just to ensure that nothing nasty
has gotten past the other tools. In reserve I have HiJackThis
(http://www.aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) which I use if and
when something appears to be amiss with the computer but none of the
other tools can find anything wrong.

Hope this is of some assistance.

Good luck





Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm
.

Relevant Pages

  • [Full-disclosure] Re: Microsoft AntiSpyware falling further behind
    ... Let's there be adware, Trojan horses, backdoors, viruses, etc. ... Hullabaloo with so called spyware has brought us up to such a state, ... Spybot - Search & Destroy and Microsoft AntiSpyware. ... cookies that are placed on a system - I have a VPC environment where I ...
    (Full-Disclosure)
  • Re: Microsoft Antivirus Compatibility with McAfee 8.0i
    ... The problem is Microsoft Antispyware is not an antivirus solution and, ... McAfee handles both viruses and spyware, ... Interesting you should mention running Spybot and Ad-Aware together. ...
    (microsoft.public.security.virus)
  • [Full-disclosure] Which is the best anti-spyware cleaner?
    ... been running a survey and after 5,414 unique votes, the tally is in: ... Microsoft AntiSpyware 14.79% ... Aluria Spyware Eliminator ... The WhenU/Lavasoft survey ran right after WhenU was removed from their ...
    (Full-Disclosure)
  • Re: defrag & C:WINDOWS/0, 4, 6, 8, 9
    ... positivelly certain I do not have any virus or spyware. ... I am running continuously Norton antivirus, Ad-Aware, Microsoft Antispyware, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain)
  • Re: System using 100% of CPU time
    ... Run a virus scanner: ... Then run a spyware scan; some of the companies that provide Spyware or ... Javacool Software - For more information, visit the Javacool Web site ... > to the task manager and check the perfomance the CPU ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain)