virus question

[27groo27]

If someone's computer has symptoms suggesting a possible virus,and they do not have an antivirus program already installed, what basic steps might one follow to determine if there is a virus and which virus?


Thanks

[Thing]

Download a trial version of an AntiVirus program:

McAfee Link

Norton 2004 Link

F-Prot Link

Most trials will give you 30 days of free use, so get that computer clean quick!

[27groo27]

Ok if you download one of those programs can they detect most viruses?
can they then clean most if not all viruses once detected?


Also what might one do if a virus has crippled the internet connection on that computer (assuming a virus is capable of doing this) so that you can't download one of those programs?


Thanks

[Thing]

There IS such a virus that will block your connection. I had to remove it from my bosses computer. Just download the program from a different computer and burn it to a CD. Yes they will detect most, usually ALL, viruses on your computer. Just make sure you download the updated virus definition file.

[ket]

If someone's computer has symptoms suggesting a possible virus,and they do not have an antivirus program already installed, what basic steps might one follow to determine if there is a virus and which virus?


Thanks

you can try to scan with an online anti-virus @ http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ and @ http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/

[StateDOG]

I'm downloading AVG right now.

Someone sent me something that I thought was legit, but I wans't sure. I scanned it w/ my Norton AV that came w/ my computer when it was new...but that was a year and a half ago at least. And I never paid to update it.

Now..I can't check email w/ Outlook. So I try to reinstall Outlook but the auto run won't work on my cd drive (or it wont on the Microsoft CD...didn't try another). I downloaded Thunderbird and it can't detect a connection either. Something w/ my sockets. So then I try to fire up Norton and scan it (albeit w/ the old patter file) and it won't start up either.

I'm not SURE it's a virus, but I think it is. I'm hoping AVG will will find it.