what is better free virus checks or should i buy one?

Question

what would you recommend. do you think i would be better to buy a spyware disk or could i trust the free scans of the internet

Answer 1

AVG and Avast! both beat Norton in tests, so why pay? As for whether you can trust the scans, it depends where you go. Not all anti spyware is really anti spyware.
Computer Active and Webuser are just 2 of the magazines you can get that answer these kinds of questions, they cost around a pound.

Heres a list of tried and tested freeware;

You need to install one firewall.
The Windows firewall doesn't stop malware on your pc from dialling out.
http://www.zonelabs.com Zone Alarm firewall
http://www.comodogroup.com/ - Comodo security suite.

Shields Up security site;
https://www.grc.com - check your firewall works
http://www.grc.com/optout.htm - grc anti spyware program and info.

http://www.mozilla.com/ Firefox web browser
http://www.opera.com/ Opera web browser
Instal both these web browsers, turn off javascript on one and use that browser for vising unknown websites. They don't support Active X so thats one less way for problems to get on your pc.

You need to install one anti virus;
http://www.grisoft.com/doc/1 AVG anti virus or
http://www.avast.com - Avast Antivirus

You need all three anti spyware programs;
http://www.ewido.net - AVG(Ewido) anti trojan.
http://www.lavasoft.com - Ad-Aware SE Personal anti adware
http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search and Destroy anti spyware

And these are useful utilities;
http://spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm - The Spyware Warrior site identifies fake anti spyware programs.
http://www.ccleaner.com Cr*pcleaner Registry cleaner and privacy tool
http://www.mailwasher.net/ -spam filter
Winpatrol is a handy utility that tracks cookies on your pc and stops unwanted changes to your startup folder.
http://www.winpatrol.com
Spywareblaster works with Internet Explorer and Firefox. It won't uninstall spyware that is already on your pc, but it will prevent hijacks and other malicious changes to your browser.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com
http://www.siteadvisor.com -MacAffee Site Advisor warns about malware on sites you are about to visit.

Remember to update and run all of you anti malware programs at least once a week.

Answer 2

Obviously the likes of McAffee is the best sort of solution but these are quite expensive. However there is a free alternative which is really quite good. AVG antivirus is completely free, and contains no spyware etc etc. This program does an excellent job and doesnt pester you to pay all the time.

So if your jmust looking for a virus scan for your home PC i recommend AVG however if it is for a business PC i suggest u use McAffee or such. On another note try using spybot search and destroy and ad aware to look after your PC along with your virus scan. This will ensure the best security possible.

If you need a link to these programs just type the name in google

Hope i have been of help

Answer 3

Most free virus programs are a bit limited that to say they miss a lot of virus & trojans - I use AVG free virus program, it's not a bad program but it does not pick up on a lot of trojans - as for spyware program, I use Ad-Aware Pro, again very good but still misses a lot of Trojans, so i now every so often I go to Bit Defender online scan, this program is one of the best & knocks the spots off AVG & Ad-Aware.

Hope this You.

Answer 4

I would recommend AVG or AntiVir. Both are free and perform really good. These are both proper 'guard' anti virus programs which can do all manner of scans and constantly protect your system.
For spyware removal try spybot, Ad-Aware or even Windows Defender.
All of these programs can be found by searching google and are all free and safe to use.
Good luck,

Answer 5

I use Panda ActiveScan – Free online antivirus to combat viruses, spyware and other Internet threats as its very simple to use.

Scans, disinfects and eliminates over 110,000 viruses, worms and Trojans from all system devices, hard disks, compressed file and all your email.
Detects spyware.
Detects the following types of malware:
Dialers
Hacking tools
Jokes
Security risks

http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan.htm

Answer 6

All of these are ones that I personally use and all are free.

I-Worm/Stration · BackDoor.Generic3.GBB and .GBC · Worm/Generic.FX · Exploit.WMF
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5

Spybot - Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. Spyware silently tracks your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you haven't intentionally installed, if your browser crashes inexplicably, or if your home page has been "hijacked" (or changed without your knowledge), your computer is most probably infected with spyware. Even if you don't see the symptoms, your computer may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging. Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm giving it a try to see if something has invaded your computer.
http://www.safer-networking.org/

http://superantispyware.com/
SUPERAntiSpyware is the most thorough scanner on the market. Our Multi-Dimensional Scanning and Process Interrogation Technology will detect spyware that other products miss! SUPERAntiSpyware will remove ALL the Spyware, NOT just the easy ones!
Easily remove over 100,000 pests such as SmitFraud, Vundo, WinFixer, SpyAxe, SpyFalcon, WinAntiVirus, AntiVermins and thousands more!
Make sure after you download any of these, that you update them.

Answer 7

No need to download anything! Just go to below mentioned address

http://vpratapwar.googlepages.com/virusworld...

And choose

Free online virus scan.

Requirement: U need to have IE (Internet explorer).

This will scan ur whole computer for viruses, spywares.... etc and removes them. It is latest updated and one of the best in the world.

Hope u find useful :)

Answer 8

I've been on line for about 5 years, and always used free downloads for virus and spy ware checking.......the last one I used disappeared from my comp after a couple of months.....I've brought a programme from my local computer supermarket, seems to have solved the problems, so I'd recommend buying one.

Answer 9

I can give a few links that offer free virus and spyware removers...!You may be having a virus or spyware installed on your PC. Norton, AVG , Avast are free antivirus software. Ad-aware, Ewido are free spyware removers. You can download free softwares at
http://fixit.in/antivirus.html and http://fixit.in/spywareremover.html

Answer 10

RegSweep is the latest in PC error diagnostic and repair. RegSweep can do a complete scan of your entire file system and registry in under 2 minutes! All corrupt files, paths, and registry keys will be analyzed and automatically repaired so that your PC functions just as when you first purchased it, Guaranteed.

http://onceinlife.regsweep.hop.clickbank.net