Viruses, Trojans, Rootkits, Worms
Spyware, Adware and Crimeware

It’s all Malware and it doesn’t belong on your computer!

Viruses come in many different forms and can compromise information you have on your computer such as bank accounts and personal information.
I will scan and remove all virus, malware or spyware infections slowing down your computer. I also will install the latest security software to keep your computer protected from existing and new threats to your computer’s security.
The best approach when it comes to security is to be proactive and not wait until you’re attacked with a virus or other malware.

So, what’s the difference between a virus and malware?
Well, actually all viruses can be classified as malware. Maybe a better way to explain the difference between viruses and malware is a virus is more familiar to people and better suited for marketing purposes. Viruses get most of the attention because that term has been used for 25 years, whereas malware is a newer term. Malware can be viruses, spyware, worms, trojans, ransomware, keyloggers, rootkits, zero-day exploits and even adware. The good news is you can safely run an anti-virus program with a malware program. No one program can find all malware, so by combining a good virus program with a good malware program, you have a higher percentage of catching more of the bad guys.

Here a list of some of the more popular anti-virus programs: AVG, Avast, (Avast purchased AVG in 2016), Trend Micro, Kaspersky, McAfee, Norton, Eset, Panda, Windows Defender… wait I’m not done with the list yet… Bitdefender, F-Secure, Tiranium, MS Essentials, Avira, Sophos (SurfRight), Comodo and the list goes on…
The list for malware programs is much shorter: Malwarebytes (Anti-Malware, Anti-Exploit, Anti-Ransomware), Hitmanpro, Spybot Search & Destroy, SUPERAntiSpyware, AdwCleaner…

Some of the software listed above also protects you from browsing and getting hit with a drive-by attach of malware. This happen when you arrive at a website just waiting to deliver an infection to any passers-by. Which one is the best from each list? Actually, my answer changes occasionally because nothing stays the same – companies change their programs and features for the better or, sometimes for the worse. The list gets a bit more complicated since some of the products have various versions; standard, professional, premium. Some products are free for the basic versions and some require manual updates and must be run manually, while others are active, meaning they update and run automatically.

My choice, after many hours of research and testing are listed in bold/underline print. Once I usually find a product that works for the hundreds of PC’s I manage, I stick to it, (my preferred list may change a little year to year).

There are also online type virus scanners (below). They run from an active internet connection and do not require the software to install on your local computer.

Use VirusTotal, a FREE service that analyzes suspicious files and URLs and facilitates the quick detection of viruses, worms, trojans, and all kinds of malware.
Scan and disinfect your computer with the FREE tool Panda Cloud Cleaner
Use ESET online virus scanner

Malware

If you’re still with me and reading this page, you must be a techie, geek or just desperate for more answers.
There are other more powerful tools to protect your computer. One such product that many schools or public libraries/cafe’s use is Faronics, Deep Freeze. Update or delete anything and by just rebooting the PC returns to the “frozen” state before any changes were made —even if there are Blue Screens of Death (BSOD) or corrupted registry files! Shadow Defender is an alternative to Deep Freeze. There’s also Faronics WINSelect to lock down your data.