What is the best free software for viruses, trojan horses, and other computer impediments?

Question

I have some software but it doesn't seem to be catching whatever impediment my computer has. I notice slowness and sometimes, especially on a certain site on which others don't seem to have much of a problem, a brower window suddenly closes for no apparent reason.

Answer 1

You need Full time (active) virus protection and full time spyware protection.

All the following programs are free.
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Full Time (Active) Virus Protection
If you do not have active virus protection, install only one. All are excellent.

AVG Antivirus 7.5 Free Edition
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/avg-anti-virus-free/lng/us/tpl/v5
http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10669237.html?tag=lst-0-1
or
Free antivirus - avast! 4 Home Edition
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
or
AOL Active Virus Shield
http://www.activevirusshield.com/antivirus/freeav/index.adp
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Full Time (Active) Spyware Protection

Windows Defender
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
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Install the following five programs and run weekly or at least monthly. You need all five. They will greatly increase your protection. They are not a substitute for full time spyware and virus protection.

Ad-Aware SE Personal (update + full scan)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php

Spybot Search & Destroy (update + immunize + scan)
Do not enable Tea Timer and SDHelper
After installation: update + scan + immunize
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

SpywareBlaster: Update then open and click “enable all protection”.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

SUPERAntiSpyware free version: (update + scan)
http://www.superantispyware.com/

CCleaner: Do not install toolbar option
Removes tracking cookies, unneeded files, history
In options.
Set to run when computer starts.
Place cookies you want to keep in save list
http://www.ccleaner.com/
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Note if a scan detects a problem but is unable to remove, start the computer in safe mode with the internet line disconnected and run a full scan.

In severe cases your system restore files will also be infected. In these cases you will need to turn off system restore to prevent malware hiding in the system restore files and reinfecting the computer during removal or during a future system restore. Turning off system restore deletes the system restore files.

Right click on "my computer"> Properties > System Restore Tab > Check box turn of system restore

After the malware is removed turn on system restore.
==========================
Additional steps
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Additional run this time and monthly.

Microsoft Update "Custom Mode" install everything
http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

Microsoft OneCare Live, run “full service scan”
Updates windows, virus and spyware scan, disk cleanup, disk fragmentation (if needed), backs up registry and then cleans registry, and checks for open firewall ports
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm

Malicious Software Removal Tool (run “full scan”)
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
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RootkitRevealer v1.71
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/Security/RootkitRevealer.mspx

Rootkit Removal Guide
http://safecomputing.umn.edu/guides/scan_unhackme.html

Rootkits Removers
Pick any 2 install and run one each month

AVG Anti-Rootkit
http://www.grisoft.com/doc/products-avg-anti-rootkit-update-app-art/?ver=1.1.0.29

F-Secure BlackLight
http://www.f-secure.com/blacklight/

Sophos Anti-Rootkit
http://www.sophos.com/products/free-tools/sophos-anti-rootkit.html
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Run this time only and when all other removal methods do not work.

CWShredder: run
http://www.trendmicro.com/cwshredder/

Roguefix.bat
http://www.internetinspiration.co.uk/roguefix.htm#uninstall

Shoot The Messenger
http://www.grc.com/stm/shootthemessenger.htm

SmitFraudFix
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/How_to_use_SmitFraudFix-t109268.html

Vundo Fix and
VirtumundoBegone (if VundoFix does not work)
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic18610.html

VX2 tool for Ad-Aware and run tool (Install and run)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/securitycenter/vx2_cleaner.php
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Online Free Scanners:
Run Trend Micro, Kaspersky, and Panda Scan now.
Run a different one each month.

Trend Micro: HouseCall Free Scan (removes what it finds)
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
BitDefender Online Scanner http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
Kaspersky Labs Online Scanner http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
McAfee http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp?affid=294
Panda ActiveScan Free Online Scanner http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan?
Symantic Online Scanner http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/ssc_eula.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=23&pkj=ALUFRHYTINMHDKDCWLL&vc_scanstate=2
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Additional Information read:
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Overview
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Prevention:_Prevent_Re-infection
http://www.castlecops.com/f67-Hijackthis_Spyware_Viruses_Worms_Trojans_Oh_My.html
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.org/secure.htm
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.php
http://www.castlecops.com/t102301-Hijackthis_Guidelines_Read_Before_Posting.html
http://www.techsupportforum.com/security-center/hijackthis-log-help/15968-please-read-before-posting-
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=4075&sid=901703d08c2ace31389ffef2d84b6607

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

I have used AVG Anti Virus, Zone Alarm Firewall, Spy-bot Search and Destroy and Ad Aware both spyware killers for years. They are all free for personal use and I have had no trouble with Viruses Trojans etc. AVG does not slow the system down as much as some other products and Zone Alarm allows a lot of personal configuration unlike the Windows Firewall. They can all be downloaded from the following link. http://www.computeractive.co.uk/ On the home page select downloads and then the appropriate category.I also use Windows Defender from the Microsoft site. It is safe to use two anti-spy products but never use more than one A/V as it can cause conflicts. You should run A/V and anti spy weekly. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

All of these are ones that I personally use and all are free.After you install any of them,make sure you update them to get the full affect.

Download Grisoft AVG 7.5 Anti-Virus,Anti-Malware.(free)

AVG is a collection of anti-virus protection tools that gives you full protection against viruses, worms, Trojans and malware. AVG provides you with all that you need to be completely protected: including a tool for scanning your hard drive and e-mail, as well as a real-time shield to prevent infections.
Top Features

» Provides automatic update functionality
» Its a reliable anti-virus scanning engine
» Provides free Virus Updates for life
» Options to define file name extensions
» Real time protection with resident shield, email scanning
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/...






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.
http://www.spybot.info/

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!

Yahoo toolbar offers FREE anti-spyware:
Scan your computer for potentially destructive programs.
Review suspicious-looking programs.
Remove the programs you don't want. Keep the ones you do.

http://new.toolbar.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/norton/


Here is another free anti-virus-
PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition feature highlights
Protects your PC as you are working, surfing and playing
Detects, quarantines, disinfects and destroys Viruses, Trojans and Worms
OnGuard™ protects your computer against threats in real-time

Automatically checks for frequent updates against the latest threats.
http://www.pctools.com/free-antivirus/

*Never install more than one anti-virus on your PC, as they may conflict with each other. On the other hand, its always good to install more than one anti-spyware.

Answer 5

For all computer related problems please check out
http://computer-probs.blogspot.com/
It not only gives complete solutions but also offers
free downloads of effective softwares which can detect
and eliminate all spy ware /virus /ad ware /Trojans completely.

Answer 6

Try norton internet security 2007 or mcaffe

Answer 7

for virii - Grisoft AVG
for spyware: Adaware and Spybot Search and destroy.

prevention: Don't use IE/windows.

Answer 8

AVG