I'm still looking for my most recent ref on AV programs, but in the meantime:

An excellent, and extensive, article on security in general is at Maximum Security: 94 Essential Tips for Staying Safe , 11.02.05, By Michael J. Steinhart , PC Magazine.

For easier reading, click the "Print" button on the first page. I'd link the print version directly but they seem to block direct access.

There are no specific recommendations for AV programs in the article, but lots of tips – at least a few of which may be helpful to most anyone – and a good place to run through current reccomended practices.

The Last Paragraph of this rather long article does list:

Free Virus Scanners:
Trend Micro Housecall (housecall.trendmicro.com)
McAfee Free Scan (us.mcafee.com, registration required)
Symantec Security Check (security.symantec.com)
RAV AntiVirus (www.ravantivirus.com/scan)
Panda ActiveScan (www.pandasoftware.com/activescan, registration required)
Computer Associates (www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx, download required)
Avast! (www.avast.com, registration required)
Kaspersky Antivirus (www.kaspersky.com/scanforvirus, upload required)
GrisSoft AVG (www.grisoft.com/doc/40/lng/ww)
Norman Antivirus (www.norman.com , 30-day trial)

[links immediately above are copied from the article, but I didn't verify all of them at time of post. See article if I messed any up.]

The above are "known reliable" places where you can get a scan of your machine, and in some cases of an individual "suspicious file." They generally are all AV program makers, so perhaps the names alone will suggest that great program that's being sought.

John