Virus Removal (in Off-topic)

I think my computer is littered with unholy amount of virus and worm, what is the best free removal tool for them? I have exhausted my Windows Live OneCare trial period (which isn't very good anyway).

>Format c:\

;)

Avg8 i guess ^,..,^

Nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

In all seriousness, try Avast or AVG.

I like AVG. :)

avg is good, remember though that if you truly have viruses and worms already entrenched in your system, it can be extremely difficult to get rid of them with reformatting. virus software works best when it is on your system to prevent trouble.

with that being said, i would also make sure you have microsoft windows defender as well as the newest version of spybot search & destroy. these are all free programs. run a scan with one, let it do its thing and then restart the computer and run a scan with the next program. keep doing this until the all come up clean or mostly clean, it may take multiple scans and restart cycles before you start making headway.

Format it, start over. Backup files you absolutely need and cannot reproduce again. Even if you ran every single AV solution on the planet, you will have no idea if you are still infected because most virii have so many hooks in your system that they will return, and no AV software will catch them all.

After formatting, put on AVG and Avast, temporarily. Use them both to manually scan the drive/disc you backed your data up onto, just as a precaution. Pick which AV program you like more, uninstall the one you don't. Then pull your data off the backup, and begin your new life.

I think the best AV is kaspersky but AVG and avast are free.

Forgot to mention spyware (saw dude's post). Definitely get defender and spybot on immediately if you do format. They can both remain along with either AVG or Avast.

The only scanner that consistently passes 100% of virus checks is nod32. That said, you can probably get away with an online scanner like trend micro to get yourself started without installing anything.

Keep in mind that most malware causes permanent damage to your system, making it unfeasible to avoid a windows reinstallation.

i thought nod32 was free, i had it for awhile now its telling me to buy it lol

Kaspersky is free for 30 days... afterwards, you uninstall it and reinstall it for another 30 free days :)

You sure you don't have to clean the registry before you try and reinstall it Sickone? Otherwise it will still state that the trial is over.

i think most would agree that uninstalling/reinstalling your virus software is probably not the greatest of ideas.

most of these threads tend to turn into a my av software is better contest. i hate to see people get confused by all the hype and would just say that the primary point is get some av software on your computer and keep it on there!

if you are okay paying for it nod is probably the one for you. if you would rather save your moolah for more fun things, then avg or avast is awesome.

if you are going to go the route of using the free trials, then do it somewhat intelligently. before uninstalling and cleaning your registry, download the new install file and then before you uninstall disconnect from your isp. the other issue though would be that if your av software has been holding something at bay, you may be giving it free reign to your system while unprotected.

I am currently surfing in net cafe, not going online with my virused computer for fear that someone might steal some useful passwords from me. As a result, I might be online less for both CB and WG.

avg and free registry cleaner. i will swear by those.
the cleaner gets rid of stuff that avg can't even find just because the virus/worm/trojan/spyware creates broken entries
learn to use it properly tho so you don't wipe your computer

"You sure you don't have to clean the registry before you try and reinstall it Sickone?"

Pretty damned sure I never cleaned my registry nor anything similar.

I have a registered version myself now, but only because I got tired of the constant "do nothing for half hour each month except watch Kaspersky uninstall/reboot/install/reboot/update/reboot".
I still have acquaintances that didn't bother getting a registered version yet, since they don't mind doing that all over again each month... and they have to be walked through the INSTALL process (sheesh, how hard can it be, install, execute, next next next), so I seriously doubt they knew how to clean their registry without help.

The only radical difference between a trial and a full version (orther than the annoying once-a-month-reinstall) is the priority access to the update servers (on a registered version it's very fast, on a trial it depends how busy the servers are, could take a while, especially on "autoupdate" times).