what are some good free virus scans for the computer.?

Answer 1

Try a online antivirus scanner and a online anti-adware/malware/spyware scanner in safe mode with network to clean up your computer BEFORE you download anything.

Turn of system restore before you boot up in safe mode with network.

To get in safe mode tap F8 when booting you computer.
Choose "Safe mode with network".
Go to Start – Run - type iexplore http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html Enter(ok).
Do a full system scan. If something is found, delete it, reboot and do the same again in safe mode with network.
When that scan does not find anything you reboot again in safe mode with network.
Go to Start – Run – type iexplore http://www.ewido.net/en/ Enter(ok).
Do a full scan. If you find something, delete it, reboot and do the same again in safe mode with network.

**NOTE: Do NOT do anything else with your computer when scanning. This because you can start virus/adware/spyware/malware manually.

When no one of these scanners are showing anything you can reboot back to normal mode.
Turn on system restore.


Now you need to have one antivirus program, one firewall and some spyware/adware/malware removers if you don't have it.
I use Norton Internet Security on my desktop running XP Home SP2 with Firefox.
On my laptop i have Ubuntu 7.04. No security needed in Linux, but i have antivirus and firewall.

Here are some free programs.
BitDefender Anti-Virus Free.
http://www.bitdefender.com/PRODUCT-14-en--BitDefender-8-Free-Edition.html
Avast Anti-Virus Free.
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
AVG Anti-Virus Free.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5
Avast Virus Cleaner - free virus removal tool.
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-virus-cleaner.html

Firewall Protection.
ZoneAlarm Firewall Free.
http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp?dc=34std&ctry=&lang=nb&lid=trial_zaFamily
Easy-to-use firewall blocks hackers and other unknown threats.
* Systematically identifies hackers and blocks access attempts.
Automatically makes your computer invisible to anyone on the Internet.
Use ZoneAlarm if you normally use Windows Firewall.
Disable Windows Firewall after downloading ZoneAlarm if it's not done automatically.

Ad-Aware 2007 Free.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php
Ad-Aware 2007 Free remains the most popular anti-spyware product for computer users around the world, with nearly one million downloads every week. Our free anti-spyware version provides you with advanced protection against spyware that secretly attaches and takes control of your computer, resulting in aggressive advertising pop-ups, sluggish computer activity, even identity theft through stolen bank details, passwords, and credit card account numbers. If you want real-time scanning capabilities, consider upgrading to Ad-Aware 2007 Plus for real-time protection against spyware, all the time.

SUPERAntiSpyware Free.
http://www.superantispyware.com/

AVG Anti-spyware Free.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/20/lng/us/tpl/v5

Spybot-S&D Free.
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html
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.

AVG Anti-Rootkit Free.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/39798/lng/us/tpl/v5
AVG Anti-Rootkit is a powerful tool with state-of-the-art technology for detection and removal of rootkits. rootkits are used to hide the presence of a malicious object like Trojans or keyloggers on your computer. If a threat uses rootkit technology to hide itself it is very hard to find the malware on your PC. AVG Anti-Rootkit gives you the power to find and delete the rootkit and to uncover the threat the rootkit is hiding.

CCleaner free.
CCleaner is a freeware system optimization and privacy tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. But the best part is that it's fast and contains NO spyware or adware.
http://www.ccleaner.com/

ClearAllHistory - clears browser history, cache, cookies, clipboard and remove other computer activity tracks.
http://www.clearallhistory.com/delete-passwords.html

*NOTE: Only have one antivirus program and one firewall installed on your computer.
Anti-adware/malware/spyware are ok to have more of.

Also scan with online scanners sometimes.
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/home.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=00&pkj=VOONYHGBYNCJEIMXQKC&bhcp=1
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
http://www.ewido.net/en/onlinescan/
http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml

Hope this was helpful.
Good luck.
JTB - Security adviser from Norway.

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

Here is an excellent free antivirus program from AOL, Active Virus Shield powered by Kaspersky Lab of Russia. Rated # 1 in the world for virus detection. You will get auto updates every hour on the hour, plus an excellent background scanner that really works great. AOL, will only ask you for your email so they can send you a free key good for one year. After one year just request a new key.

http://www.activevirusshield.com/antivirus/freeav/index.adp

Minddoctor, France

Answer 4

I swear by utilising AVG (in simple terms to function some form in to confuse you much greater). I study a evaluate of all advertisement and unfastened antiviruses a pair of years lower back and AVG got here out greater appropriate that quite some those you pay for (as a result i visit never ever purchase norton).

Answer 5

http://www.avast.com <- best free virus scanner
also you can do a free online scan at trendmicro
http://housecall.trendmicro.com

Answer 6

Try this superb online virus scan..

http://www.nanoscan.com

and these are free antiviruses...

avg, avast

Answer 7

In addition to a firewall you must have full time (active) virus protection and full time spyware protection.

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

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 (powered by Kaspersky)
http://www.activevirusshield.com/antivirus/freeav/index.adp
---------------------------------------------------------
Full Time (Active) Spyware Protection

Windows Defender
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
---------------------------------------------------------
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/
---------------------------------------------
McAfee Site Advisor: Internet Explorer and Firefox
http://www.siteadvisor.com/
Indicates if a site is unsafe and can link to a page to explain why it is unsafe.
-------------------------------------------------------------
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 off system restore

After the malware is removed turn on system restore.
============================
Other Tools

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
-------------------------------------------------------
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/

Trend Micro Rootkit Buster
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/rbuster.asp

Sophos Anti-Rootkit
http://www.sophos.com/products/free-tools/sophos-anti-rootkit.html
----------------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------------
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-updated-important-read-before-posting-log.html
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=4075&sid=901703d08c2ace31389ffef2d84b6607
=======================
Special removal tools for specific infections.

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