10 ways to detect computer malware

TechRepublic has advice on 10 ways to detect computer malware.

What to watch for, how to prevent it, and how to handle it.  Useful info!

Freebyte’s Guide to Free anti-virus software

Freebyte’s Guide to Free anti-virus software has links and recommendations for anti-virus, firewalls, removal, anti-rootkit, and more.

ThreatFire AntiVirus is free

ThreatFire AntiVirus – Behavioral Virus and Spyware Protection is freeware (with a fancier pay version also available) with a high rating for protecting your system.  There’s also a free anti-virus for Macs!

This site also offers Spyware Doctor and Firewall Plus.

Gizmo’s Best Free Windows 7/Vista 64 bit Software

[updated 2009.7.20]

“Gizmo” Richards has a post on his picks for the Best Free Windows 7/Vista 64 bit Software.

This blogger tests everything and gives you the facts, in detail, so he’s an excellent resource for finding as much freeware as you can for your Windows 7/Vista 64-bit system.

Browser, firewall, anti-virus, office suite, and more are recommended here.

Before You Connect a New Computer to the Internet

CERT/CC Tech Tip has instructions for Before You Connect a New Computer to the Internet.

CERT is THE government source for computer security, so use this list as a guide when you first get a new computer.

Spyware Terminator for free

Spyware Terminator “includes Real-Time Protection, HIPS, and antivirus. Effectively remove spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers, home page hijackers, and malware threats even dangerous threats like Look2Me, BetterInternet, VX2, and CWS. Spyware Terminator is easy-to-use, requires minimal PC resources, and performs ultra fast scans. Protect your computer with powerful real-time protection shield, advanced system scanning and safe quarantine for found spyware. Scan your computer manually or schedule full system sweeps. Perform in-depth scans of your computer’s hard drives, memory, process, registry and cookies to seek out and remove all known spyware threats. Includes optional Web Security Guard which displays website reviews and threat level to help identify potentially dangerous Web sites. Version 2.3.0.487 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.”

For Windows 2000/XP/Vista.  Version 2.3.0.487 of August 2008.  Freeware.

7 Free Tools to Keep Your Windows PC Softwares Up-to-date

7 Free Tools to Keep Your Windows PC Softwares Up-to-date is a list of “several tools / utilities which will show you how which softwares are outdated and provide you with a option to download and install the latest version of the software. Here is a list of 7 utilities/tools that will help you keep your softwares and applications updated with ease.”

Recommended by ClifNotesNewsletter.

Infected? Me?

Gizmo’s Tech Support Alert newsletter has an editorial on what to do if you think your computer might be infected with a virus, a trojan, or some other kind of malware that’s making it act up.

Good advice and good links to help.

Rootkits have nothing to do with gardening

[updated 2009.9.14]

Rootkits are one of the newer hazards on the Web, and may include trojans.  They are designed to take control of your computer with or without your knowledge (usually without) and do who-knows-what with it.

They might report back your activities to somebody (to detect any suspected violations of copyright on music, for example) or something more sinister.

Fortunately, there are a number of programs to detect and deal with rootkits, and some of them are even free.

Find a good one at Antirootkit.com .

An explanation of rootkits and how to deal with them is also in a post by Bob Rankin.

Top anti-virus programs include freeware Avira

In a recent (April 2008) test by Virus Bulletin, five products scored perfect 100% detection rates (prices include one year of virus-signature updates): Avira Antivir Personal (free for noncommercial use), ESET NOD32 ($40), Fortinet FortiClient ($28), Frisk FPROT Antivirus ($29 for up to five PCs), and Symantec Norton Antivirus ($40).

Runners up (98 or 99% scores) were:

• McAfee Antivirus Enterprise
• Microsoft’s Forefront Security Client and Windows Live OneCare
• Webroot Spysweeper
• Bitdefender Antivirus 2008
• CA eTrust Antivirus and CA Internet Security
• Check Point ZoneAlarm
• Kaspersky Antivirus
• MWTI eScan Internet Security
• Redstone Redprotect
• Sophos Anti-virus
• Bullguard

So, the FREE! Avira Antivir Personal is top class protection for what it covers.  It does not, however, handle email viruses, spyware, or provide the same level of updates that the paid version does.

Fast, good, cheap — pick one or all three

NanoScan bills itself as the “fastest online virus scan” in this MakeUseOf article.

“It takes only about 1-2 minutes to scan your whole PC for over a million of potential threats. Please note that NanoScan only checks for problems; it doesn’t fix them. However, if it finds some virus or any other kind of undesirable crapware you can click through provided scan reports and access TotalScan. To use TotalScan you’ll need to register, but the good news it’s 100% free. TotalScan will find those threats and remove them.”

Nano Scan – Features:

• Detects more than 2.7 million of viruses, spyware, trojans, etc.
• Access NanoScan virus check right from your personal startpage, i.e. NetVibes, iGoogle or PageFlakes.
• TotalScan: In case NanoScan detects something use Totalscan to remove it.
• The first time you use NanoScan you will need to download an ActiveX control or a plug-in, depending on what browser you have.
• Multi-lingual: Available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian.
• API (for developers): Integrate Nanoscan service into your website for free.

11 ways to fix your laptop

Wasn’t that a Paul Simon song?  “11 ways to fix your… ” no, wait, that’s “11 ways to leave your laptop”… no, it’s “11 ways to leave your lover”…

Never mind.

Laptop Magazine does have 11 ways to fix your laptop.  It covers overheating, a slow hard drive, battery not holding a charge, needing more memory, hard drive failure, a bad keyboard, not connecting to a wireless network, stuck pixels on the screen, system crash, virus or spyware infestation, and outdated video drivers.

Free anti-virus and other help

Computer Cleanup has a page of free anti-virus, system scanners, firewalls, and other security tools to make your system more secure without a lot of money changing hands.

Hotspot Shield for using wireless on the go

Hotspot Shield is for those who use the wireless hot spots in cafes, coffee shops, airports, etc. — which can also be very dangerous places to expose your passwords, etc.!

“But while you’re enjoying your latte and a bagel, some hacker might be accessing your passwords, credit card numbers, sensitive company data and much more. And standard antivirus software won’t protect you. That’s why AnchorFree is pleased to offer Hotspot Shield. This free security software keeps your Internet connection secure at public hotspots, home or work.”

“Hotspot Shield creates a virtual private network (VPN) between your laptop and the wireless router. This impenetrable tunnel prevents snoopers and hackers from viewing your email, instant messages, credit card information or anything else you send over a wireless network. Which means you remain anonymous and protect your privacy.  Hotspot Shield security software is free to download, employs the latest VPN technology, and is easy to install and use.”

Runs on XP, Vista, 2000, Macs… see the list at the site.

Best Free Software list from PC Magazine

PC Magazine has a list of their picks for the best free software, as of February 2, 2008.

157 programs, in all sorts of categories.

Operating systems don’t just stick with Windows, either — they include a number of flavors of Linux.

There are several freeware anti-virus programs, firewalls, and other security measures, along with lots of other useful freeware.

Ad-Aware to detect malware

Ad-Aware is available in a free version (as well as pay versions with more features).  This is a great — and FREE! — way to check for malware (viruses, trojans, adware, etc.) on your system, and you should use it to double-check your regular anti-virus software.

Ad-Aware is something you should update and then run every so often — say, monthly– and you can use the Internet Fixes advice on how to do it.

Ad-Aware needs to be downloaded each time, as it does not have automatic updates for the free version.  The latest version is always the one you downloaded today.

Outlook and virus prevention

Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express are popular choices for email and other functions, but they have gained a reputation as primary targets of viruses, trojans, and other malware.  (In fact, ANYTHING from Microsoft tends to be a primary target, since it is the most popular software in many categories, so damage would be done to more users.)

Internet Fixes has advice on avoiding infection while using Outlook Express.   The same precautions will help with regular Outlook.

These include:

• using the latest, updated version of Outlook or Outlook Express
• disabling the Preview Pane when using Outlook or Outlook Express
• sending all messages with attachments to a special folder first, then scanning them with anti-virus software (which you also keep updated!) before opening

REMEMBER: viruses and other malware may steal addresses from a friend and use them to send copies of malware to you.  Just because you got a message from a friend you trust, does not mean that you can trust the message!  Your friend may not even know it was sent to you.

Norton / Symantec uninstalling

Windows Secrets covers a problem with the Symantec (makers of Norton software) uninstaller. “Unfortunately, neither Symantec’s bundled uninstaller — nor a little-known, special utility from the company — removes every single thing.”

[Norton] “acknowledges that one DLL is intentionally left behind. This is a DRM (digital rights management) component intended to protect the company against a person installing a trial version multiple times to avoid paying for the product. Symantec does not remove any Registry entries related to this component.”

The article has the steps for removing one or more Symantec products. These are often provided as ‘trial’ products with a new PC.

[updated 2008/3/3]

Warning for QuickBooks and other Intuit products: Intuit has a warning and explanation about the Norton Removal tool on their Web site.  Check this before using the Norton Removal Tool.

Get the MajorGeeks on your side

MajorGeeks has software to check for problems and malware as well as other good stuff.

Recommended as a PC Magazine Top 100 Undiscovered Web Site of 2007.

Free malware check – are you Infected or Not?

Infected Or Not will do a free check for malware.

Recommended by PC Magazine as a Top 100 Undiscovered Web Site of 2007.

[update of 2008/6/2]

Another free check is available as a-squared Free which is “a full tool to clean your computer from Malware. Not only Spywares, as detected by classic Anti-Spyware programs, but also especially Trojans, Backdoors, Worms, Dialers, Keyloggers and a lot of other destructive pests, which makes it dangerous to surf the web.”

Note: be sure to download the latest version of a-squared Free each time, as it does not automatically update in the freeware version.