Will virus protection programs remove a virus?

Question

I have avg and I think I have a virus. Will it remove it for me? What do i do??

Answer 1

They all claim they can, but typically they can't. I use antivirus programs just for detecting if I have one. Sometimes they kill the virus before you get it in the first place. But when I actually find a computer that is already infected with a virus... here's my cut-and-paste speech about that:



I've been a network administrator for over 12 years now. Here's what I do about virus and spyware infections: I backup all the documents, pictures, music, etc., and then I put in the Windows CD and have it format the hard drive and start over. That's the only way to be 100% sure that all of the infections are removed. For backing up the data files, I prefer an online file host (such as http://www.drivehq.com ) instead of a USB drive because recent viruses (like Conflicker) can infect your USB drive.



What should you back up? Almost always these days, if you just back up your "My Documents" folder (and the My Documents folders for other users on the computer), you'll have saved everything. Microsoft and third party software manufacturers are becoming very good at making sure all of your stuff goes into that folder, or a subfolder (such as My Pictures).



For the future, I recommend that you use Mozy Home Free Edition to keep your documents backed up online. Then you won't have to hesitate if you want to ever reformat your computer again. Here is a YouTube video that I made about how to use Mozy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmhAoPCmOdY



I also recommend installing Site Advisor at http://www.siteadvisor.com. It will pop up a red balloon any time you go to a web site that has malicious downloads. It will also put red, yellow, and green icons next to your Google and Yahoo search results.



Lastly, here are my recommendations for anti-virus products:



All antivirus do just as well at detecting viruses. So the best antivirus is a free one. Here are three free ones that you can choose from:



AVG Free Edition: http://free.grisoft.com

Avast 4 Home: http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

Avira Antivir Personal: http://www.free-av.com/en/download/1/avira_antivir_personal__free_antivirus.html



To get the actual comparisons of how every anti-virus program compares with the competition, go to the following link check out their comparative tests:

http://www.av-comparatives.org/

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

Yes. If you aren't sure where the virus is, you can just have AVG scan the entire machine/disk. Right-click or double-click on the icon in the system tray (or left-click from the Start>Programs menu), and have it scan.



The program will know what to do with it--if it finds anything it will tell you to have it deleted or quarantined (if you think it might be a false positive, quarantine is ok--it doesn't permanently delete the file, it just makes it unusable until/unless you later delete it or restore it).

If you are very very sure there is malware on your computer, but AVG says its clean, try another one: http://www.malwarebytes.org

D/l it, update it and do a quick scan.

Answer 4

The best one is ESET NOD32 Antivirus. NOD32 Antivirus win 51 times VB 100. AV-Comparatives named eset the "Best Antivirus Product" the last two years as they know it's proactive, precise technology that stops malware. And ESET NOD32® Antivirus is the best virus protection available. NOD32 Antivirus can detect and eliminate more viruses (include unknow virus), trojans, worms, adware, spyware, phishing, rootkits and other Internet threats than any program available. It is run faster than others, you no need to wait long time for the scanning It requires less system resources, it means will give you more room for other progam at the same time

Answer 5

you could scan for the virus. If it's found, then you could quarantine the infected items and the computer will remove the virus. You can usually start the scan in your control panel.

Answer 6

Some times avg will remove it, other times it will move it to a safeer place on your computer.

Roger S

Answer 7

It should antivirus are there to prevent and detect viruses. Avg is weak at detection though so download avira antivir and you will see that it scans way faster and doesn;t take up as much resources. www.free-av.com

Answer 8

Let's see, you have AVG, but don't know what to do with it? RUN it! That's what it's for, to get rid of virus'

Answer 9

it might or not. every day they make new viruses and you have to keep updating your software. even you update it might not fix your problem.

what I would do is backup all files you need and format your harddrive and reinstall all programs. it will take out all your junk.