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This is part two of a three part series about computer viruses and malware. In part one we talked about the virus problem and, most importantly, how you can’t rely totally on your antivirus software to keep viruses and malware off your computer. There are far too many viruses created every day for any one antivirus company to keep up with so there is no silver bullet. Of course you should still use antivirus software but you also have to use some caution and common sense on the internet.

Today we’re going to talk about virus removal and next week we’ll talk about virus prevention. If you’re wondering why we’re not talking about virus prevention first it’s because most people reading this probably have a virus already or will get one before they’re ready to take any action. Of course I’m not talking about you though! :)

Basically if your computer is doing anything out of the ordinary I would suggest scanning your computer with any of the following FREE anti-virus/malware programs below. It’s best to do this soon after you suspect you have a virus infection because your virus problem will get worse and harder to fix over time. If you wait too long you could lose your internet connection or worse, you may not be able to boot into Windows. At that point you’ll most likely have to pay someone to fix it.

These are my favorite free virus removal tools:

1. Malwarebytes (try this first)

2. SUPERAntiSpyware (try this second)

3. IObit Security 360

After you install the program run the Update so the virus definition files are current. Then run the scan, usually the Quick Scan is sufficient and only takes 10-15 minutes.

After you run any of the above, if it found any threats have the program remove them, reboot your computer and run the program again and insure it doesn’t find anything the second time. If it does, then try the next program in the list. You need to be sure your computer is clean and viruses are like mice, you never have just one. After these scans come back clean it’s a good idea to run a full scan using whatever antivirus program you have installed (Norton, McAfee, AVG, etc.).

Hopefully, after running the above program(s) you’ve taken care of your virus problem. Having cleaned up a lot of heavily virus infected computers I’ve found these programs can totally take care of the problem about 90% of the time.

Stay tuned for next week’s article about virus and malware prevention. Now that your computer is virus free I’ll tell you how to keep it clean. We have four computers in our house that get used almost daily and we haven’t had a virus on any of them.

-Bert

Over the next few weeks I’m going to discuss the virus problem, how to remove viruses and malware, and how to protect your computer from becoming infected by viruses. In today’s first installment I’ll talk about the problem of viruses and malware.

The problem of computer viruses has been evolving since the internet was born. In the past you could only catch a virus or malware by actually opening a file. Now you can become infected simply by going to a web site or opening an email.

There are over 4 million virus threats that are currently flagged by current antivirus programs. And that number increases by over 2,000 new threats every day! Depending on the virus the effects can range from annoying to destructive. The worst infections can delete files on your hard drive, make your computer inoperable, and some malware (keyloggers) can even capture and send your personal and financial information to the bad guys. Even a mild infection can slow down your computer and internet connection, cause annoying popup advertisements and redirect your internet browser’s homepage.

Unfortunately there’s no one program that’s good enough to remove and/or prevent every virus. There are some decent antivirus programs and there are some decent antispyware/malware programs but so far no one has created one program that can do both effectively. Also, some programs are better at virus prevention while others are better at virus removal.

Because of that, the main point I’d like to make today is that it’s primarily your job to keep viruses off your computer. That probably comes as a big surprise to a lot of people but don’t worry, it’s not difficult and we’ll cover everything you need to know. You just have to use the tools that are available, like antivirus software, but more importantly you have to use some caution and common sense on the internet.

The virus/malware business is a very lucrative business, generating about $8 billion a year for the bad guys, so don’t expect them to fold up shop and go away any time soon. And the bad guys can afford to pay their software developers a lot more money than the antivirus companies can.

Stay tuned for next week’s article. I’ve had the opportunity to clean up a lot virus infected computers and I’ll tell you how to do it.

-Bert

Caring for your computer hardware today will go a long way towards extending its life. I’d like to share with you some easy things you can do to keep your computer running in top form.

1. Many of the computer desks available today have a closed cabinet for you to place your computer in. Computers need circulating air to keep them from overheating. I recently replaced a video card that got too hot and blew some capacitors because it was in a closed cabinet. 

If possible try to put your computer out in the open and up off the ground. Also the environment should be moisture, smoke and dust free if possible.

2. I’m often asked if it’s better to leave a computer left on or shut it down when you’re done until the next time you need it. If you use your computer daily it’s best to leave it on. Every time you have to cold start your computer it causes stress to the electrical components. 

Leaving your computer on is better for it but make sure you’re using the energy saving features that turn off your monitor and hard drives after a set amount of time. I don’t recommend the Windows hibernate feature though. Also insure your computer is plugged into a surge protector and that you’re using a firewall if you have a broadband connection. The Windows firewall is sufficient, Comodo’s free firewall is even better.

3. Dust inside the computer case can plug fans and coat components causing your computer to work extra hard and overheat. I worked on a computer recently that the fans were literally plugged with dust and debris. 

The extra stress and heat caused three blown transistors right next to the processor and a fourth was bulging. 

The life of this computer has been cut short due to too much dust. Once a year I make it a point to clean up the inside of my computers. I also clean the inside of every computer I fix.

Here’s how to do it:

A. Shut down the computer and unplug it.

B. Open the case. Usually it’s as easy as removing two screws in the back of the computer or pushing a latch. See the documentation that came with your computer if you’re not sure how to open the case.

C. There’s a huge debate about whether you should use a vacuum or not since vacuums can create static electricity which can cause permanent damage to the computer. Everyone agrees though that using compressed air is OK to use as long as you keep the can upright. If you tip the can it starts blowing moisture and can even freeze components in the computer. 

I’ve always used a combination of compressed air and a vacuum. You might want to do this outside or in the garage if you don’t want a bunch of dust blown into your house. I usually just hold the computer hose outside the case and blow the compressed air to dislodge the dust.

If the computer is really dirty and you can see that the fans/heat-sinks are plugged and components are coated with dust you can carefully use a small paintbrush and/or these great, inexpensive vacuum micro attachments. Personally I would never purchase the special vacuums created specifically for vacuuming out computers because most of them get bad reviews.

4. While the computer is still unplugged, close the case and take a slightly damp rag and wipe down the exterior of the computer. I usually wait at least a couple hours after doing step 3 and 4 before I plug in and turn on the computer.

5. Next I unplug and clean the monitor. It’s very important that you don’t just start spraying Windex on your screen. LCD screens used on laptops and flat screens can be ruined using abrasive cleaners. Personally, I use Monster ScreenClean Display Cleaning Kit that includes a reusable MicroFiber cloth to clean any type of screen. Don’t spray the screen, spray the cloth then wipe the screen gently. You can find other screen cleaning options in your owner’s manual or a quick Google search.

6. You’ll also want to clean your keyboard. I usually just turn the keyboard over and shake it out then use compressed air to blow the dust out.

Following these simple and inexpensive steps to keep your computer hardware clean will extend its life and save you money in the long run so get started today!

-Bert

The world of free malware (malicious software) removers is constantly changing as does the number and complexity of malware. Even though the Malwarebytes company has been around since 2004 their anti-malware program has just recently become popular because it’s extremely fast and effective at removing malware.

This weekend I cleaned up a computer that was infested with adware/spyware (Zango, 180 Solutions, CoolWebSearch, to name a few) and a couple trojans.

For the past month or so, the first thing I download and run is Malwarebytes. The program is small so it doesn’t take long to download and the installation is fast and easy. The two things that separate it from most anti-malware programs though is its fast scan and effective removal of malware. 

Most programs take an hour or more to thoroughly scan your computer but using the Malwarebytes Quick Scan, that just checks the most important areas of your PC, the scan only takes a few minutes to run.

The second thing I like is its ability to disable any malware it finds. In fact, I haven’t run into any malware yet that it found and couldn’t remove.

You can often gauge the effectiveness of anti-malware software by looking at what the experts are using. When the excellent folks at sites like bleepingcomputer.com, daniweb.com, and majorgeeks.com are recommending it and using it in their forums you can feel confident that it works well.

That computer I worked on this weekend was cleaned up and running smooth in less than an hour, thanks to Malwarebytes..

Have a great day!

-Bert

There are so many different kinds of viruses, trojans, spyware, and adware they’re often all lumped together and just referred to as as malware (malicious software). By the end of 2009 experts predict that there will over a million malware programs trying to disrupt your computing experience and steal your personal information. 

The sad reality is that most people don’t use effective virus protection or follow my 11 steps to protect their computers from viruses and other malware.  Not only are most computers at risk but, until someone’s computer actually gets infected by malware, they don’t even think about it.

If you’re one of those people one day you’ll probably experience one or more of the following signs and symptoms of computer malware:

1. Lots of annoying pop-up advertisements.

2. Dialog boxes popping up telling you that you have a virus or other problems. 

3. New toolbars on your internet browser.

4. Your internet Home Page has changed.

5. New Favorites in your browser that you didn’t put there.

6. Your computer has slowed down or even crashes and restarts on its own.

7. Programs not working or files not opening.

If you ever get a pop-up window telling you that your computer has a virus or registry problem and telling you to buy some program to fix the problem, DON’T! 99% of these are viruses, trojans and adware just trying to sell you software that will just make things worse. All they want is your money.

This is exactly what you need to do if you’re experiencing any of the signs/symptoms above:

1. Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. (Save it to your desktop)

2. Close all programs and windows on your PC, including your web browser.

3. Rename the downloaded mbam-setup.exe file to mb.exe to help work around certain malware that will block it from being run.

4. On your Desktop double-click mb.exe to install the removal program. Leave the default settings.

5. Update the program if asked and begin the Quick Scan.

6. After it’s finished running click the Remove Selected button.

7. When finished you can close the program.

If you’re still experiencing problems, run an online scan at Eset.com. 

To keep from getting infected in the future, follow my 11 steps to computer security.

Happy Computing!

-Bert

I’m a firm believer in not having to pay for top-notch virus protection for your computer. Prior to AVG Anti-Virus 8.0 I would install AVG on some computers I’d repair while I’d use Avira’s AntiVir on others. Both were free and worked great.

I upgraded to the free AVG 8.0 in July 08 and really like the enhancements. AVG added spyware protection along with its superb virus protection in this version. Since many virus infections are delivered via website drive-by downloads AVG included LinkScanner technology that checks websites when you do a Google, Yahoo or MSN search. LinkScanner doesn’t work yet in Google’s new Chrome browser but it does work in Internet Explorer and Firefox. AVG continues to include free email scanning for Microsoft Outlook as well.

The bottom line with any antivirus software (free or not) is how well does it protect your computer and, nearly as important, does it use up all your resources slowing down your system? On both points I’d give AVG top marks. According to other reviews it does a better job of preventing virus infections than it does cleaning up infections but in most cases it will leave nearly all viruses non-functional. AVGs scans are fast and its real-time protection won’t slow down your computer like a lot of bloated (and expensive) security software suites.

Download.com gives AVG Anti-Virus 5 stars and over 16,000 users have given it an average of 4 out of 5 stars. Personally, I give the new version 5 stars and have installed it on 3 of my home systems and have started installing it on every system I repair. 

For a complete review of AVG Anti-Virus 8.0 check out the excellent review by Neil Rubenking at PC Magazine.

Happy Computing!

-Bert

By day I’m an application developer but on most evenings and weekends I fix other people’s computers. No matter what’s wrong with a computer I fix, the one thing I do to every one of them is optimize it. 

Most computers are loaded down with junk software, so even if it’s brand new, it still runs slower than it could. Also, over time Windows collects a lot of junk that accumulates and slows down your computer even more.

A while back I made a video that shows exactly what I do to every computer to speed it up and optimize it. If you watch the video and take these simple steps your computer should boot up faster and run faster.

The best part is I’m making this video available for free. For how long, I haven’t decided yet :)

Here’s the link:  http://fix-my-slow-pc.com/

Enjoy!

-Bert

I recently fixed a Dell laptop that wouldn’t boot into Windows normal mode or Safe Mode. As soon as Windows tried to boot I’d get the blue screen showing Error 0×0000000024 and no other information.

Another problem was that the computer wouldn’t boot from the CD drive. Normally when this happens I simply go into the BIOS setup and change the boot order so it boots from the CD drive first, then the C: drive. Someone had password protected the Phoenix BIOS and nobody knew the password. Fortunately this computer had another option. By tapping the F12 key after hitting the power key it brought up a Boot Menu so I could choose to boot from the CD drive.

Once I was able to boot from the CD drive I ran some hardware diagnostics and didn’t find any problems there. The solution to the problem was actually quite simple. I put in a copy of Windows XP Home and booted into Recovery Console. From there I ran the command line ‘chkdsk /r’ which took about 15 minutes to run. It made some repairs so I rebooted and it worked, no more blue screen 0×0000000024 error.

Have a great day!

-Bert

This Labor Day weekend I fixed another PC infected with Antivirus XP 2008. This is a very common infection so I thought I’d let my readers know what I did to remove it.

The good folks over at www.bleepingcomputer.com suggest probably the quickest way to remove the Antivirus XP 2008 infection at http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/malware-removal/remove-antivirus-xp-2008. If you go there, be sure to come back here to step 7.

1. Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. (Right-Click and save to your desktop)
http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/malwarebytes/mbam-setup.exe

2. Close all programs and windows on your PC, including your web browser.

3. On your Desktop double-click mbam-setup.exe to install the removal program. Leave the default setting.

4. Update the program if asked and begin the Quick Scan.

5. After it’s finished running click the Remove Selected button.

6. When finished you can close the program.

7. This program does a fast and great job removing Antivirus XP 2008 but it doesn’t restore your desktop or fix your Display properties window so it shows all of the tabs. To fix those, open your registry by clicking Start > Run > Type “regedit” > Enter > Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Policies\System and find ‘NoDispBackgroundPage’ and/or ‘NoDispScrSavPage’ and change the values to 0. While your in the registry editor search for ‘RestoreOpenIsSafe’ and change the value to 1. If you found RestoreOpenIsSafe once search for it one more time and make the the same change again. After you’ve made these changes close the Registry Editor.

8. Now you can open your display properties and change your desktop background to something else. Make a note of what was selected as your background image.

9. Search your PC for the image file that was selected in step 8 and delete it.

10. Finally, to insure your PC doesn’t have any more infections go to www.eset.com/onlinescan and run a full scan.

Hope that helps. Follow my advice HERE to keep your computing experience safe and secure.

Have a great day!

-Bert