Tech: Antivirus software

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 30 Dec 05 - 04:03 AM

I bought a CD yesterday and when I got home I noticed that the double CD copyright 2005 mentioned that it had the crapware for Win95, etc. I will talk more on this when I get homwe. It had multiple language info on the jacket.

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 01:20 PM

Gurney -

Sony claimed that their first rootkit was on disks that were sold "only in the US" then later admitted "some in Canada." Early reports indicated many in the UK, although Sony denied distributing it there. One investigator has tracked "returns" from the program with more coming from China than from anywhere else, but with returns - indicating distribution of that particular program - from nearly all countries. There have been many claims that China is responsible for quite a lot of counterfeiting of CDs and DVDs, so it's possible that Sony has no idea where their crapware has been distributed.

Their "second attempt" actually gives a warning that it is about to install something, and you can decline the installation. Unfortunately, before it asks it creates a security breach that it does not remove if you tell it not to finish the installation (or if you let it install). This is closer to the "Mac version" DRM program that was on the first disks, although the second round produced a slightly different - and more dangerous - Mac version.

The original root kit that Sony used has been found on "hacker" websites, and can be fairly easily incorporated into other malware by any slimeball teenager with a "virus cookbook."

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Gurney
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 04:55 AM

JohniK, yes, I had the problem of reinstalling W98SE with IE3, so bad that I still couldn't get on the web. I updated IE from a coverdisk, and that allowed me to get to Microsoft for updating. Although they say they don't support it, it still checks and suggests updates. 16 minutes this time, as it was fairly well up as far as it would go.

I do consider moving to XP, but some of my software is unlikely to be compatible, and I have two computers, and I find Microsoft's attitude to me installing one 'their' OS twice to be arrogant. I'm still undecided which way to go. When I first got into computers I went with Amiga, which has coloured my thinking since, and caused me to be wary of Mac, or Linux, for instance.   
Interesting that you think it might be a SonyHole that I was suffering from. None of those disks were reputably sold here in NZ, but my relative in the UK, now.....    Regards, Chris.

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 03:11 AM

A P.S. re Win98 - or any OS - reinstall:

Although Win98 is an "obsolete and unsupported" OS, there were a number of "Critical Updates" to plug some of the holes. You probably(?) can still download "Critical patches" that were issued for Win98SE (and/or WinME) from Microsoft, and I'd recommend taking a look to get as much help as you can. Being on the web with Win98SE, even with all the available patches, is about as safe as negotiating a superhighway in an oxcart. Somebody's gonna hit you in the A...

Since reinstalling Win98SE may put you back to an earlier version of Internet Explorer, and/or may replace files that were patched after your instl disks were made, you should at least check whether you've got the latest IE (even if you don't use it to browse). I haven't kept up with where they hide the obsolete stuff, but you should be able to get the latest IE at Home User Downloads.

You may be able to go to the Microsoft updates link there for old Win98SE updates, or you may have to go through Microsoft Search to dig out what's available.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 29 Dec 05 - 02:36 AM

Gurney -

Font changes sound a bit like one of the Macro malware bits that caused quite a bit of a problem for a while. Since a macro is a "legal" part of many office files, the standard AV "signatures" methods don't work well. It took a while for all of the AV people to get "macro defenses" up and working, and Microsoft did some fixes on Office programs to block the malicious ones.

The loss of soundcard and modem drivers sounds suspiciously like you may have been hit by Sony. The "Digital Rights Management" (DRM) programs they put on a number of Audio CDs installed Sony's own "player" in place of yours, and in the process crapped all over a bunch of drivers. Loss of all CD/DVD drive function was a main visible effect, but any CD, DVD, Audio, and/or web connection could be affected. Put "Sony" in the box, and refresh back about a month and you'll find a fair bit of discussion about it. Their "program installation" also opened a rather massive hole or two in normal Windows security, allowing malicious coders to use their setup to take over anything they want to.

If you tell your PC to play a music disk, and the disk installs a program in order to play, there's not much that any AV can do about it. You gave your permission...

Microsoft (and several others) have declared the Sony DRM systems to be SPYWARE and their AS programs (we think) now kill it.

Thus far there have been at least two distinct - consecutive - versions of SonyShit reported for PCs, and two slightly different ones for Macs - with others suspected. It's also been learned that some "Adware" people have been using the same rootkit method that Sony "made popular" for tracking people's web activities, with the suspicion that their crud also opens security breaches in machines they get it on.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Gurney
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 11:34 PM

JohniK, KakWorm was changing fonts everytime I booted. As all the fonts were on my business templates, this was infuriating. I didn't notice any improvement with Norton, but InoculateIt working alongside immediately sorted the problem.
I'm sure that in other cases Norton would be the first-and-best, but most virii that I've been notified about have come to me from England, where several of my correspondents live. ETrust seems to be Scandinavian.

This week my soundcard and modem stopped working, seemingly because the drivers vanished. I don't know if it was a virus,(couldn't update, of course) although an eMail had just come in from that same relative,who was also having somewhat similar problems, but after some fiddling around I tried something new: I removed Windows by way of add/remove. The previous install that was behind it didn't have the problem. So now I have to do another 'Install Windows' so I have a clean install to fall back on.
I'm on W98SE.

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 12:19 PM

My Norton schedules a weekly update. You can go to the site to check for "urgent" updates at any time.

Anything "critical" will often be sent out as soon as it's available, and I've seen flurries of "special updates" daily for a few days when there's been a bit of activity by the crudmakers. On a couple of occasions I've received updates more than once per day - that I noticed. I can't say how often that may have happened when I wasn't at the machine.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 11:32 AM

that's why I have stuck with AVG....it updates itself 'almost' daily....you see a little splash screen, and then a note saying it's done....and the note dissappears in 30 seconds if you don't close it first.

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 07:08 AM

Gurney -

What you describe sounds like a fairly common happening. If a virus/worm gets on your machine and gets a chance to do anything, often the program bits it installs don't contain a viral signature, so deleting the original virus doesn't do a complete removal. The "installed stuff" looks like any other program, even though malicious code may have been added to a real program. The malicious code can be sent to others, but without the original virus it usually can't send itself to others.

Most AV programs rely on detecting and deleting (or putting in quarantine) an infectious file before it gets a chance to execute anything. If something new gets on before your AV signature files are updated to detect it, the AV may delete the "carrier" when you do an update, but won't necessarily find all the results.

Just one of the reasons why weekly (at least) updates are really necessary with any AV program.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Gurney
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 02:31 AM

When I first went onto the web, I took advice and used Norton. In a short time I received KakWorm, which did not make itself obvious but changed fonts and things to annoy you. Norton couldn't find it, despite having a seperate code to remove it. I knew I had it because the relative who gave it to me told me so, and finally a pal put me onto InoculateIt, which was free and worked in parallel with Norton. This promply found and removed the worm. InoculateIt is now part of ETrust Easy Armour and is no longer free but is still pretty cheap.

I think no-one will claim a perfect virus-killer, because they work in arrears, reacting to the virus-writer's action.

Subject: seek Mark Cohen; my reply to yr Nov msg bounced
From: GUEST,Kate Gladstone
Date: 27 Dec 05 - 05:07 PM

Dear Mark - Back around November, you sent me a message asking for some help and also giving me permission to use your "Formulary Song." I tried to respond to that message, but my replies always bounced.

Please send me - at my *new* e-address, [e-mail] -
      /1/ a current and correct e-address for you
      /2/ if possible, a phone-number and perhaps a postal address.

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Seiri Omaar
Date: 01 Dec 05 - 10:59 PM

I've used both Norton and McAfee, and as far as I'm concerned, AVG does wonders with so much less hassle. I too recommend it.

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 01 Dec 05 - 12:58 AM

Partition magic came with a seperate app - 'program mover' for windows - you told it what app you wanted to move, and where, and it fiddled with the autoxec and config sys etc files and poked its nose into the registry and twiddled things, also any relevant shortcuts, etc.

I never had any problems using it or with its results. Very fast too for large numbers of moves.

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Dec 05 - 12:29 AM

I ran a dual setup for several years on my last computer, and have the current Partition Magic program that came bundled with Ghost (though there are lots of ways of partitioning drives nowm, including using Ghost, I think). I would have to move everything program-wise to another partition for it to be sharable, though. Now that is a daunting task.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 30 Nov 05 - 05:33 AM

Oh and... Working in a university... may be an advantage too - you might well have a few experts on Unix, Linux, BSD, etc. whose brains to pick once in a while.

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 30 Nov 05 - 05:19 AM

That said, if you do go for another machine, you should find it sits happily on a network with your Win PCs. Running the Samba server on the Linux box will allow the Win machines to think they are dealing with another Win machine within a "workgroup". Athrough readily available from the Internet, Samba is bundled with Ubuntu and others and you will generally find some easy to use (rather than editing the samba.conf text file) set up utility.

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 30 Nov 05 - 05:08 AM

Current Linux's (and I can gurantee Unbuto as the Win portion on by dual boot laptop ia that) are quite happy reading NTFS file systems.

If going about a clean dual boot install, I've always put Win on first as these Linux's are pretty good at setting themselves up to co-exist on a drive with Windows. The only thing you might want to change is the suggested partition sizes. It via grub (or lilo with some other Linux distruibutions) will also sort you out with a dual boot menu.

The biggest drawback I found personally (although I think I can say the same about Pip...) is that with a dual boot system or at least my first attempty - it wouldn't be the case now, it's tempting never to look at the unfamiliar but to stick with what you know.

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 30 Nov 05 - 12:51 AM

SRS -

Assuming you've got room on it, having dual OS with dual boot capability shouldn't be considered anything exotic. The biggest hurdle is that WinXP (and Win2K for that matter) really do work better with the OS on an NTFS partition, which of course hardly anything else can read. If you partition to isolate the op systems, and keep your shareable data on a separate partition that both can get to, it shouldn't be much of a problem.

Most "clean" WinXP installation probably will format the drive to NTFS, and splitting off a partition that you can reformat to FAT32 or other 'nux usable system may be a bit messy, but can be done. Quite a lot of early Win2K installations were done on FAT32 drives, but we saw a significant improvement in performance when I replaced a hard drive and went to NTFS with our Win2K machine.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Nov 05 - 11:09 PM

The other consideration has to do with practicality. The money is spent on WinXPpro, on MS Office (few dollars, actually, since I work at a university) and the others that go with it. It's in place. It seems it would make more sense to install the Linux and such on a new machine that isn't already fitted with the MS stuff.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 29 Nov 05 - 05:33 AM

Sorry SRS, I didn't really read your question properly... There was another thread here recently and the general feeling was that overall Open Office does a pretty good job of importing the likes of Word docs. I can't say I've much experience there - I rarely write anything that in the longer term I think worthy of keeping.

My biggest move away from some sort of MS tie (needing IIS or perhaps alternatively Sun/Chillieoft) was a different type of thing altogether and while I did use a "translator" to help me a little, involved a lot of hand editing. End result is here and I can now run entirely on free open source programs. I'm happy but that sort of change is not something I'd want to undertake every day!

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 29 Nov 05 - 04:45 AM

SRS, I think if you are looking and meaning Word, Excel, etc. while you might get away with the free Wine, I think you would possibly be better off with Cross Over Office.

That said, you could find the things like Open Office more than meet your needs and you have less need to run Win software than you might think. They are capable programs, maybe not quite as "flash" but certainly more "MS Office" than "MS Works".

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: mooman
Date: 29 Nov 05 - 03:41 AM

Due to continual problems with Micro*%$$ocks server software I installed Linux server software on our netwok with embedded Micro*%$$ocks "virtual machines" (so the user sees no practical difference and can run their usual stuff). No major server problems since and the advantage is the open source nature of and expertise community on Linux should anything need patching.

I have had very bad experiences with Norton and have converted lots of friends machines from it, not without difficulty on occasion.

Peace

moo
(full-time biologist and spare-time systems manager!)

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: GUEST,Ravenheart
Date: 29 Nov 05 - 02:25 AM

I use NOD32 antivirus from Eset; it runs well, is rated very effective, and makes very light demands on your system. It's said to be written in assembly language.

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 29 Nov 05 - 12:10 AM

Again the tired old advice.

Even if you use another browser, Windows uses IE for bunches of internal stuff, so you should still keep up to date with IE security patches and updates.

Using another browser may lessen your outward exposure, but any unpatched holes in IE can still be exploited if something does get on your machine. And browsing isn't the only route for crudware.

The article I linked at 28 Nov 05 - 11:19 AM assumes that everyone has good AV, and talks mostly about all the other things you should know about if you want to stay as safe as one can. I'd recommend at least a quick scan, if you can find the time.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Beer
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 10:20 PM

Thanks Bill.

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 10:16 PM

Beer...sounds like you have some default set to look for Firefox, and if it isn't there, things get awkward ☺. If you MUST use IE..*tsk*, you need to tell IE that it is again your preferred browser....and maybe your email can be told to open IE when it look for a URL.....it is just a matter of locating the menus where these setting are.

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Beer
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 09:36 PM

I wouldn't use Norton as well. I have friends that have nothing but trouble with it. Then My sister and brother in law swear by it. Maybe the answer is if it works for you then why change. I use the following and I run a scan once every two weeks.
Ad-Ware Se
Ewido
Spybot
AVG
I just finished running the Trend Micro Housecall and I think I will in the future as well. It didn't find any problems though.

Off the subject a little. Someone told me that I should use Mozilla FireFox as my search engine and to drop Internet Explorer. The reason being that FireFox is safer. Well. I used it for about a week then decided that I wanted to go back to Internet Explorer. So I deleted all of the FireFox files and now I have a problem.
   
When I receive an e-mail and it has a internet site to go to in the message area, I cannot open it. I tried and tried and it won't work. So just by chance I downloaded FireFox again and presto. No problem. So now I have Firefox in my hard drive taking up space and I'm not happy.
Thanks for the listen and enjoy your thread Mark
Beer

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 08:57 PM

I tried putting an up-to-date NAV on my old Win 98 laptop and it essentially ground to a halt. It was ready to retire anyway, so I took NAV off and took the computer off of the internet access. Now it's for resident applications and solitaire and lives in my son's room.

Sorry I didn't address that suggestion about the test CD, Jon. Actually, that might be a good one for me to try on my computer, since I'd like to see how it works. When I was looking for information about the Linux sites out there I found the following: http://www.linux.com/article.pl?sid=02/03/09/1727250. Lots of great info.

I'll see about burning one for me to look at, then go from there.

Meanwhile, let me ask a real simple question. Does Linux run the MS productivity software? Do the files generated in MS productivity software easily move into the Linux-based programs?

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 08:46 PM

I had MacAfee AV and renewed the thing till I ran out of cash. It sat around for a while, then I removed it and put on AVG. It pulled out hundreds of registry entries, nearly a thousand, and the machine before I installed AVG ran noticeably faster. (P133 64Mb)

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 08:32 PM

I wouldn't use Norton or McAfee if my life depended on it...

AVG all the way, baby!

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 08:24 PM

Myy own feeling Don is that the "big" AV packages grab too much control to the point of them being annoyances and "controllers" themselves (can we see a parity in life there?). I don't know though and would be interested in other views.

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Don Firth
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 08:17 PM

I dunno about this. . . .

I would have to be awfully darned convinced that there was something better out there before I'd swap Norton antivirus software for anything else. I've been using it since I first went on the internet (I used Norton Utilities before then, and still do) and I've never been nailed by a virus. I have the Norton Internet Security suite, including firewall, loaded on our desktop, and both Barbara and I have it on our HP notebooks. To avoid conflicts, I disabled the Windows XP firewall and use the Norton one, which monitors two-way traffic, not just incoming. Also, we're broadband and wireless, well secured (I had a friend who writes books on home wireless systems set us up). We do most of our internet surfing with our HP notebooks, and Norton has stopped a whole bunch of viruses and various other attacks and attempted intrusions (it usually lets you know when this happens—little screen pops up). I periodically check with Shields-Up and a couple of other sites and have them probe, and they can't find our computers. Stealth mode.

I haven't noticed any tendency for NAV to slow our computers down—except when it automatically updates the virus definitions. This happens every few days, and sometimes, if the nasties are out and about, maybe twice in one day. But it only slows down for a couple of minutes, at the same time letting me know that it's updating the definitions. I figure that's a pretty small price to pay for the protection.

Are you sure it's NAV that's causing the slow-down?

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 08:06 PM

Back to AV issues,... A big player in the game is YOU - and I can't always (though mostly I can) hold my own had up there (I hate it but stupidity is far from beyond me even if only once in a while)

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: GUEST,Hen Harrier
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 07:55 PM

I was using Grisoft AVG Free Edition which was OK until I started getting Trojan Horse infections, so have now upgraded to plus Firewall Edition (on 1 months free trial). It seems to be doing the job EXCEPT it sometimes slows down my clunky old Dell Windows 95 (upgraded to 98) PC owing to lack of disk space!

To purchase the Firewall Edition costs €67.68.

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 07:17 PM

Bill, I've not come across that one but if it anything like the Ubuntu Live one you don't need courage. Try it (without installing anything) - and if you don't like it, bin it.

(Although Pip likes CDs for bird scarers in the summer so I guess you could send a wasted CD to her ;-) )

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 06:37 PM

(in alt.comp.freeware, the 'try everything once' folks are recommending 'Mepis' linux...they say it is quite easy to install and has good GUI....I may try one of these when I get my courage up)

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 05:30 PM

Thanks for the reply SRS. You may have missed what I'm suggesting though - the live CD to see if it looks as if it might be promising and user friendly enough for them.

I think my biggest "thing" I have with Linux these days gets less and less from usability in terms of needing knowledge but I don't find programs start up as quick on older machines when graphical desktops (needed unless you are a "nerd"!) like KDE, Gnome are involved. Oddly enough, in that sort of area, I do like Win2K pro - seems lighter weight and more reliable than 98 or 95 but doesn't (as I've heard reported - not really used it) require what I've seen said about some XP setups - ie. great providing you have....

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 05:16 PM

I thought about Linux and did some asking around, but we're talking about someone who has only a passing familiarity with the machine's functions as dictated by software. Learning a new OS would be a lot of work on top of all that she is doing to coordinate 20 family members who relocated to North Texas in one fell swoop.

I'll be setting up bookmarks in her browsers and leaving instructions on how to download updates, but I think I'd drive them away from using their computer if I make too many changes. The active desktop in ME is (in my experience) unstable, so I need to set it so they can do all of these things from a list of links, not icons, like I use most of the time myself. For now, just getting it up and running is what she needs.

I may set up a little partition in my own computer just to try out Linux. I've been meaning to do that for a while now. (I had two bootable partitions in my last computer, and doing that has some drawbacks, but nothing unmanageable.)

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 05:03 PM

I use a Mac and therefore am immune to viruses

Less at risk, yes, but I don't buy "immune" for any system.

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Tootler
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 04:47 PM

I too had problems with Norton slowing the computer down and changed to AVG. The free edition is fine and updates regularly.

I use spybot to deal with adware.

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Lancashire Lad
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 04:40 PM

I use a Mac and therefore am immune to viruses, but my PC using friends recommend AVG,

hope it helps
LL

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 03:39 PM

SRS, maybe get them to try Linux. I downloaded Ubuntu the other day, burnt a CD and put it on my Lattitude C800 laptop. If O/S and other software costs are a consideration, it is seriously worth looking at least at the live CD (runs from CD no install as such) to get an idea what it is like. If suitable, you get a complete Office Suite (Open Office) and all sorts of other bits on the CD to start you off. Plus it's current and supported, unlike some (not sure the status of ME) MS OS's.

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 01:05 PM

Great timing on this thread, Mark! I'm working with a family transplanted from Louisiana who simply don't have the money for a new computer but the old one needs major help. I'll be replacing the hard drive, reinstalling the OS (WinME--horrible thing, but I have updated drivers now from Gateway that will help a little) and these programs that BillD and others have been talking about for several years.

Ironic, if they just had the money to buy a new Operating System program, they'd be about half-way to buying a whole new computer. [sigh]

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 11:19 AM

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

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 11:11 AM

Thanks, all--it was AVG. I'll check it out, along with the others mentioned. I feel a bit like I'm abandoning an old friend, though...I've been a Norton customer since 1985 when I used The Norton Utilities on my Epson Equity I. Stick it in the b: drive and away you go!

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Ross
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 10:51 AM

Sorry all wrong - it was an optician

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 09:23 AM

For Linux BTW, I'm trying Clam at the moment.

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 09:20 AM

AVG got an excellent review in my paper yesterday, which didn't surprise me, as I have used it for several years. They said it (and 'Avast') often do better than the paid subscription types...Norton, McAfee...etc..

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 09:18 AM

JmC, AVG is made by Girsoft - different thing.

Here is a link to the AVG Free Edition.

Like Villan, I have also been known to use the trend online scan. It is certainly worth knowing about if you want a "second opinion".

Subject: RE: Tech: Antivirus software
From: Ross
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 09:17 AM

A sight for sore eyes?