The Computer Buzz

August 21st, 2008

Nome and Paul Van Middlesworth - owners - The Computer Factory
 

"Malware"
(spy ware/ad ware & viruses) Part 2 of 2

Most commercial V-scans will keep viruses out. For years we've favored AVG (Anti Virus Grisoft). Version (8.0) is available as a "freebie" at www.free.grisoft.com. It includes anti-spyware software too.

While most V-scan programs are effective, users must be wary of "upgrades." Microsoft (Live One Care) McAfee (Total Protection), Norton (Internet Security and 360) and other V-scan providers will try to get users to "upgrade" to their comprehensive Internet protection programs. Our advice and the advice of most professionals is to steer clear of these "packages." Without exception they are invasive and resource hungry. They will slow your PC to a crawl and drive you crazy with unnecessary warnings and prompts.

Internet service providers may offer free or nominally priced Internet malware protection. The jury is still out on how effective these services are but it would be great if these services could provide total Internet protection. For now, we're skeptical.

Anti-virus programs are active as long as your PC is on. Their job is to identify any virus entering your computer and to ask you what you want to do with the virus or infected file. Most V-scan programs will search their home site for upgrades when you turn the PC on or log on the Internet.

V-scan makers require from 8 to 24 hrs to develop and release a countermeasure to a new virus. While it's possible to become infected by a new virus during this brief period, it is unlikely. Your updated virus scan should find the infection in your PC within a day or two.

Infections do occur when users fail to realize that their V-scan program has expired or that it was turned off during a download or installation of software and not reactivated. It is important to pay attention. When AVG released version 8.0 in June they stopped updating the old 7.5 version. Users who ignored the warnings wound up unprotected and many were infected with new viruses.

Once your system is virus infected, immediate action is mandatory. Given time many viruses will multiply and eventually corrupt your operating system. Most modern viruses will disable your systems ability to install, run or update a V-scan after the fact. You may attempt run a V-scan from outside your PC (the Internet). These scans will ID the culprit but are usually not be able to remove it.

Here at the Computer Factory we attach infected drives to one of our V-scan stations. These systems run a cocktail of V-scan programs including Norton, AVG, Kasperski, Panda and Trend Micro. The V-scan cocktail will remove most viruses, but some require manual intervention. Usually the operating system on lightly infected systems (less than 100 infected files) will survive. Heavily infected PCs may require re-installation of the operating system and device drivers. To the user this can mean hours of reinstalling programs and reorganizing files. At the first sign of virus infection you need to deal with it. Virus infections are a lot less hassle if caught early on.