Based on some recommendations and opinions shared by our Spyware Removal Team, I'd suggest Avast. A common thread among the security professionals I've encountered is that AVG has lost favor in their community.
Based on some recommendations and opinions shared by our Spyware Removal Team, I'd suggest Avast. A common thread among the security professionals I've encountered is that AVG has lost favor in their community.
Yeah, that is true. The new AVG 8 (Free and Bought) appear to be more like bloatware. They consume a very large portion of your computer's memory, unfortunately.
I haven't tried Avast, but it is definitely something to consider.
I get too many a machine in the shop with AVG on it and virused to the nines, I just don't trust AVG...
I get machines with Symantec Enpoint Protection infected with XP Anti-Virus 2009 all the time, even a few have slipped past Avast at home here.
Do NOT get a false sense of security from having an Antivirus program on your computer, none of them will catch everything, they can't. The internet is a cesspool and you really have to be careful what you open and where you go these days.
If I don't trust a file, I'll run it through http://virusscan.jotti.org/ first, it checks the file against a dozen or more engines.
The best thing you can do for yourself (if you don't already) is to STOP using Internet Explorer and switch over to Firefox, Opera, SRWare Iron etc... (I'm liking the Iron more and more and it's fast) also STOP using Outlook Express and switch to Thunderbird etc...
Firefox with Adblock Plus, NoScript & WOT (Web of Trust) is an excellent choice...
I have stopped using AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy completely...
AdAware finds Nothing these days and is so bloated with fancy interface trash that it is useless.
Spybot S&D finds problems but takes it forever to run and can't fix half of what it finds.
I use Malwarebytes and SUPERAntiSpyware currently. Malwarebytes will install in safe mode and clean off pretty much everything, SUPERAntiSpyware won't install in safe mode but will cleanup the rest. SUPERAntiSpyware also has tools to fix all the lovely registry edits that spyware puts in. (ie Disabled Taskman, Disabled Desktop, Screensaver Hack, Policy Lockouts etc...)
Then for the real hateful stuff that won't go away I use swandog46's The Avenger... (Gotta know what your looking for with that one though)
Nothing out there will clean off all problems, the BEST solution for a heavily infected machine is a CLEAN Install (Format the drive and reload the OS). That way you are guaranteed that all the nasty stuff is gone.
My vista box runs Avast, my XP box runs Avira Antivir, my G4 under Lepoard runs nothing, my Pismo laptop under Tiger runs nothing, my Slack box runs nothing...
Sorry for the ramble...
I'd go with Avast, Malwarebytes and Superantispyware...
Id have to say I just did a reload on Xp and installed avira anti, I used it in the past and liked it but this version is even more polished and i really am digging it, I give it 2 thumbs up!
Yeah that is true. At first it appeared to be such an awesome program and very effective, but now it appears to becoming more like bloatware like Norton.:sad2:
I was using Avast for a while but I didn't really like the interface. Just personal preferrance. I now use Avira and I get on really well. The only down side is that everytime it starts you get a popup asking you to buy the full version but you just close it and it goes away until you next re-start.
The only way to keep yourself clean is to be vigilant about your internet usage. Any P2P sharing WILL result in infection. Many Poker and online gambling sites are risky too and anything p0rn related is gauraneed to give you a dose of virtual herpees!
Out dated Java is another security threat. Always make sure you update to the latest version. The installer does not remove or update the previous version so once you have updated go to add remove programes and remove old versions.
AVG and AdAware 2008. But an idiot who clicks on every email attachment and every free offer he sees can screw up any computer no matter what antivirus program is on it.
I use to use AVG, but like a lot of others on here I feel it has almost completely gone down the toilet. The final straw was when they said their update system wasn't working due to server overloads, and to just deal with it.
I recently switched over to Avast! and other than the TERRIBLE interface it has done its job so far. I'm looking forward to some other suggestions though.
1. Open up Device Manager
2. Click 'View' and select 'Show Hidden Devices'
3. Expand the 'Non-Plug and Play' Drivers category
4. Right-click and 'Disable' clbdriver.sys, tdsserv.sys (or tdssxyz.sys where xyz.sys are random characters), and/or seneka.sys
5. Restart computer to Safe Mode
6. After restart, go back to Device Manager and right-click 'Uninstall' the above drivers
7. Reboot to Normal mode, install SUPERAntiSpyware (SAS), update, and run a quick scan.
When I renamed mbam-setup.exe and SUPERAntivirus.exe to something else they would partially install... Also HiJackThis would not run at all and Autoruns by SysInternals (My Favorite) also would not run till renamed...
After you disable TDSS then uninstall it. Programs will install like a charm.
Comments
So far it has caught anything throw its way (been running it for ~a year).
Been using the freeware version of Avast for over 3 years. It's caught everything that has tried to get in.
Yeah, that is true. The new AVG 8 (Free and Bought) appear to be more like bloatware. They consume a very large portion of your computer's memory, unfortunately.
I haven't tried Avast, but it is definitely something to consider.
I get machines with Symantec Enpoint Protection infected with XP Anti-Virus 2009 all the time, even a few have slipped past Avast at home here.
Do NOT get a false sense of security from having an Antivirus program on your computer, none of them will catch everything, they can't. The internet is a cesspool and you really have to be careful what you open and where you go these days.
If I don't trust a file, I'll run it through http://virusscan.jotti.org/ first, it checks the file against a dozen or more engines.
The best thing you can do for yourself (if you don't already) is to STOP using Internet Explorer and switch over to Firefox, Opera, SRWare Iron etc... (I'm liking the Iron more and more and it's fast) also STOP using Outlook Express and switch to Thunderbird etc...
Firefox with Adblock Plus, NoScript & WOT (Web of Trust) is an excellent choice...
I have stopped using AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy completely...
AdAware finds Nothing these days and is so bloated with fancy interface trash that it is useless.
Spybot S&D finds problems but takes it forever to run and can't fix half of what it finds.
I use Malwarebytes and SUPERAntiSpyware currently. Malwarebytes will install in safe mode and clean off pretty much everything, SUPERAntiSpyware won't install in safe mode but will cleanup the rest. SUPERAntiSpyware also has tools to fix all the lovely registry edits that spyware puts in. (ie Disabled Taskman, Disabled Desktop, Screensaver Hack, Policy Lockouts etc...)
Then for the real hateful stuff that won't go away I use swandog46's The Avenger... (Gotta know what your looking for with that one though)
Nothing out there will clean off all problems, the BEST solution for a heavily infected machine is a CLEAN Install (Format the drive and reload the OS). That way you are guaranteed that all the nasty stuff is gone.
My vista box runs Avast, my XP box runs Avira Antivir, my G4 under Lepoard runs nothing, my Pismo laptop under Tiger runs nothing, my Slack box runs nothing...
Sorry for the ramble...
I'd go with Avast, Malwarebytes and Superantispyware...
+rep for troll. Excellent post! I already bookmarked this post for the next time I have to deal with a infested pc (ie soon).
cheers
Yeah that is true. At first it appeared to be such an awesome program and very effective, but now it appears to becoming more like bloatware like Norton.:sad2:
The only way to keep yourself clean is to be vigilant about your internet usage. Any P2P sharing WILL result in infection. Many Poker and online gambling sites are risky too and anything p0rn related is gauraneed to give you a dose of virtual herpees!
Out dated Java is another security threat. Always make sure you update to the latest version. The installer does not remove or update the previous version so once you have updated go to add remove programes and remove old versions.
There is my two pence worth
I use to use AVG, but like a lot of others on here I feel it has almost completely gone down the toilet. The final straw was when they said their update system wasn't working due to server overloads, and to just deal with it.
I recently switched over to Avast! and other than the TERRIBLE interface it has done its job so far. I'm looking forward to some other suggestions though.
http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-the-Popup-Ads-in-Avira-Antivir
++Rep for Troll
^5 Troll!
I encountered a Nasty one today... Rootkit.TDSServ/Fake seems to be attached to XP Antivirus 2008/9
Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware would NOT install on this machine...
If you encounter this problem, (Malwarebytes would NOT fully install in safe mode) here's the fix.
When I renamed mbam-setup.exe and SUPERAntivirus.exe to something else they would partially install... Also HiJackThis would not run at all and Autoruns by SysInternals (My Favorite) also would not run till renamed...
After you disable TDSS then uninstall it. Programs will install like a charm.