Posted by Calnotary on 11/4/09 6:41pm
Msg #309870

Anybody can recommend the best antivirus available?

My daughter's pc got a virus and I spend the whole morning trying to get rid of it and it's the famous Antivirus System PRO. This morning I was able to download some anti-virus and cleaned some of them but I can't get rid of this ASP. I will need to get one in a CD because I can't acces the internet. Hope I can hear from you Glenn or anybody that can recommend me a good one. TIA.

Reply by ME/NJ on 11/4/09 6:59pm
Msg #309872

I would suggest taking it to a pro to review

Once infected you don't know if its all gone. Most virus's will knock out anti virus programs and control the registry. Little by little you will lose control of the computer till you can't boot it anymore.

Take it to a PC repair shop.It happened to me and it cost me 175 bucks to wipe and rebuild. Once that was done I run Macfee full setup and scan and udate daily.

Reply by Ilene C. Seidel on 11/5/09 12:33pm
Msg #309965

Re: I would suggest taking it to a pro to review

I had a worm and have McAfee on my computer it did no good so I ended up buying adware to get rid of the worm. It was a mess once a month it emailed the worm to my entire address book.

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 11/4/09 7:03pm
Msg #309873

Once a PC is Infected...

...my recommendation is to backup all of your critical data files (if you can...& if you can't hopefully you've been backing up your data on a consistent basis), format the hard drive, & reinstall your OS. My opinion is you'll never be the same again even if an anti-virus program has "cleaned" the virus. JMHO!

As for a recommended anti-virus program there are multitudes of them out there & quite a few are free. AVG, Avast, & Microsoft Essentials (a brand new product by MS) are ones I've used in the past with success. So far (2 weeks in) I'm pleased with MS Essentials on my Windows 7 OS.

Reply by Gary Boehm on 11/4/09 9:53pm
Msg #309891

Anybody can recommend the best antivirus available?

AVG and Avast are both good.

But my recommendation is that after you have cleaned out the virus with whatever you choose, go to FILEHIPPO.COM and download and install CCLEANER (free). Run it at least once a week to clean up files and cookies and little "scraps" of stuff programs leave behind. It also has a GREAT System Registry cleaner selection that keeps your system from getting bogged down with problems that develop there. My computer GURU recommended it to me and it is free and easy to use.

I recommend it to everybody. Oh, and did I mention that it is free?!

Reply by davidK/CA on 11/4/09 10:05pm
Msg #309892

I use VIPRE from Sunbelt Software (google VIPRE or Sunbelt Software) because (1) it's updated frequently and automatically and (2) I find it is the lowest resouce hog of all the other popular anti-virus programs. Once installed you will forget it is installed is so unobtrusive. FULL DISCLOSURE - I am just a paying customer and satisfied user, I have no relationship with the company outher that as stated.

I also use CCLEANER and the companion product DEFRAGLER and am very satisfied with the performance of both products. They are both free products.

Reply by John Schenk on 11/4/09 10:50pm
Msg #309898

I like ESET Nod32, 4th edition

Nice program that doesn't use many resources as it works.

JJ

Reply by JanetK_CA on 11/5/09 3:02am
Msg #309909

Been happily using that for a few years, too. n/m

Reply by MW/VA on 11/5/09 8:49am
Msg #309926

Re: I like ESET Nod32, 4th edition

I use Eset also. It updates daily automatically. I've never had any problems.
I think it's important to remember that nothing is a "bullet proof vest".

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 11/4/09 11:46pm
Msg #309904

I use AVIRA, the free version and when

I download a version and burn it to a disk in such cases. However, consider that it just may be spyware blocking access to the internet. Download and install spybot and they run it.

On most anti-spyware and anti-virus programs, the program you install isn't updated with the latest definitions until you can get access to the internet, so if the spyware or virus that is infecting the computer is not in the definitions that you install, you may have no choice but to reload the computer. Almost all the time I have helped someone with a similar problem, I was able to clear it up with one of these two programs ...

Good Luck

Reply by Calnotary on 11/5/09 10:12am
Msg #309930

I Re: I use AVIRA, the free version and when

I been using Avira for so many years, yeah the free version and it's been updated at a daily basis and I still got this viruses. I wonder if I buy the anti virus in a CD the actual virus will let me install the protection.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 11/5/09 3:14pm
Msg #309989

Re: I Re: I use AVIRA, the free version and when

Just download the free version on your computer, burn it to a CD, then install it from the CD on the other computer. I wouldn't think there would be any reason to pay for it ....

Reply by Calnotary on 11/5/09 4:16pm
Msg #310000

Thanks Glenn for you PM, but it did not work...

I did what you told me but the damn virus does not let me install it, every time I try to install the program the pop up message that I have a virus pops up again, and then the installation that just started stops.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 11/5/09 4:55pm
Msg #310004

Try booting in Safe Mode

That will sometimes get around the problem, since only the most basic stuff is loaded in Safe Mode.

Reply by Calnotary on 11/5/09 5:31pm
Msg #310013

Thanks Mike for the suggestion but...

I tried that, and it does not let me, it goes to a blue screen and then it says to shut it down and get rid of the virus.

Reply by dickb/wi on 11/5/09 12:35pm
Msg #309966

i just went tru that with one of my desk tops......

the virus shut down my AVG, my usb ports .my disc drives my ip address and all internet addresses as well as all of my drivers.....with the help of the it person at our local MLS [i sit on the board of directors] i was able to find the execute AVG file and reinstall AVG.....that helped a little on quarantine issues.....after that my usb ports came to life so i was able to download malware bytes on my other computor, put it on a jump drive and install it on the infected computor.....that helped to quarantine some of the problem....then he walked me thru the maze of directories and files that i didn't even know existed and we found that the virus had completely deleted my ip address, all internet addresses and all my drivers.....yhe files were a complete blank.....i ended up being able to save pretty much everything i wanted, put in my documents folder and put that folder on my jump drive. then i had to dig up my boot disc and completely reload xp and now it works like a champ......it was long and arduros but now it's over......i had a hard time trying to get the free AVG downloaded so i down loaded AVIRA as it was editors choice on cnet downloads.....ifree version.....i also installed zone alarm free version......didn't mean to trow cold water on yoyr situation but i bet that you will have to reload your OS.....i just did mine last week.....good luck in your quest....