Online spyware removal

(part of the Windows course :)

Note: if you don't have access to Windows Safe Mode - which is essential when cleaning viruses: before scanning with these applications I suggest you download and run from a flash drive Hitman pro. If it doesn't succeed try with a bootable CD running Kaspersky  then launch the WindowsUnlocker feature. Only then you can continue with MalwareBytes.
Here is a list of free online anti-spyware tools that will help you to clean up a PC from spyware trojans and viruses. Compared with the standard anti-virus software they have the following:

• Advantages:
  - no need for application installation on your computer.
  - online scanners use the latest antivirus definitions.
  
• Disadvantages:
  - some online scanners like Kaspersky online scanner and Panda Active Scan list only viruses they find without cleaning them. (Panda Active scan actually only finds viruses but cleans up spyware). This way they could be used for a system check only.
  The following compact anti-spyware tools have a small size that will not affect your system's performance, and will not slow down your application loading time. So give them a try and don't forget to update the definitions first!
• A-squared Web Malware Scanner
• SuperAntiSpyware makes a sophisticated spyware analysis on your system 
• Anti-Spyware for the web from TrendMicro HouseCall
• Microsoft Security Essentials
• Norton's Symantec on-line security scan and virus detection 
• F-Secure Online Virus Scanner
  

• ArcaMicroScan  (first you need to download and install the supporting libraries)
• ESET / NOD32 Online Scanner

Before you scan your PC
Some of the online scanners require specific access to run. Under Windows, if you notice at the upper part of the screen the Information Bar click on it and select Enable, Install or Run the file from the context menu.


Some online scanners work in Internet Explorer browser only and require ActiveX controls to be turned on. You can enable ActiveX by switching to menu Tools on Internet Explorer:


1. Go to Internet Options.
2. Then on the Security tab, click on Default Level.

Another way of enabling ActiveX is to add the antivirus program's website to your Trusted sites:
1. Go to Internet Options -> Security Tab -> Trusted sites.
2. For the Security Level for this zone click on the button Custom level...
3. Fill in the full address of the website you want to have access to in the input field Add this website into this zone & uncheck the mark on Require server verification(https:) for all sites in this zone.
4. Check the availability of ActiveX scripting in Internet Explorer. In the field Security level for this zone click on Custom level button and under ActiveX controls and plugins enable:

Automatic Prompting for ActiveX controls
Download Signed ActiveX controls
Download Unsigned ActiveX controls
Initialize and run ActiveX controls that are not marked as safe
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins
Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting

Virus removal tools
If you really know what virus has infected your PC you can browse through major antivirus providers databases and download tools that will specifically clean up your computer at a much higher speed. Sometimes there are some virus variants that are not so easy to clean up so you can try downloading several different cleaning utilities in order to have a broader spectrum for catching the intruder. These tools need to be downloaded and run as standalone applications:
Avira
BitDefender
AVG
Kaspersky
McAffee

And if you think that you have infected file you can always send it for a check to:

https://virusscan.jotti.org/

Protection tool
SpywareBlaster - prevents the installation of spyware, adware, dialers, browser hijackers, and other potentially unwanted programs. It will also protect your Internet browser.
Usage:

1. Under “Quick Tasks” click “Download Latest Protection Updates”.
2. Click the “Check for Updates” button.
3. After updating, click “Protection” near the top.
4. Under “Quick Tasks” click “Enable All Protection”.

How to save time?
Instead of testing all the on-line scanners you can first run a quick check & clean procedure with Dr.web's CureIt. Run the application and go to Options -> Change settings. Choose the "Scan tab" and Uncheck "Heuristic analysis". Then click on the Start Scanning button.

Last but not least you must definitely try the great free Anti-malware scanner/cleaner offered from MalwareBytes:

Happy cleaning!

Free light antivirus applications for personal use

Most people usually complain of antivirus software slowing down their computers. They look for a fast scanning & reliable antivirus program that won't miss new virus threats, already combined with an integrated shield protecting their system from further infection.
This time I'll present you the 3 free applications: Spyware Terminator anti-spyware, Avira as well as 360 Security antivirus
For more antivirus comparisons, you can take a look at this Windows 10 course

http://www.spywareterminator.com

After playing with I will share the features of Spyware Terminator which I've found useful:
It has a light and almost intuitive easy to use interface. Virus scanning is fast and the program virus definitions are updated daily supporting peer-to-peer downloads.   Program's executable takes very little memory fingerprint which when compared with Norton Antivirus, BitDefender, Avast, Kaspersky(KAV) and Nod32 the program takes the smallest amount of computer's memory.
The integrated real-time antivirus shield functions nicely and actually stop virus infections. The program catches objects (spyware, adware, trojans & viruses) better than both SpyBot and AdAware.
Once finished with full spyware and virus scanning Spyware terminator enables its unique HIPS protection. HIPS is short for Host Intrusion Prevention System - a system that maps the local files on your hard drive. Then if an unknown virus is found the antivirus easily restores the infected file without damaging it. There's no need to worry: the whole mapping will not slow your computer or take a lot of your hard disk drive space.
Also, a nice feature of the program is that it manages and uninstalls easily the resident(remaining in computer's memory) viruses and trojans even the one spawned from processes such as explorer.exe without a need of system restart.
After each cleaning process, you'll see that Spyware Terminator creates a clean windows restore point. This allows you to get your system back from times when the computer has been in good shape.
In case you find unknown adware, virus or trojan you can send the infected file to the spyware terminator labs for an examination - either with the application itself or using their website forum. In a few weeks, the updated antivirus definitions will be released thus fixing your problem.
Playing games, installing software
You can switch off Internet Shield mode as well as Internet guard to receive less notifying pop-ups from the application when installing new trusted software.

AVIRA
For ensuring more serious protection, I would also recommend using the free version of Avira Antivir, which has a residential shield, occupies a small amount of system memory and constantly checks its database server for new updates. An interesting part of Avira is that during installation it will warn you if there are other installed/incompatible antivirus versions on your computer.

http://www.avira.com/en/free-antivirus-windows

 Last but not least I would like to present to you the most powerful one which is called 360 total security.

It can be downloaded for free here: http://www.360totalsecurity.com/

The antivirus program has an exceptionally good database against viruses, also lots of free additional tools for speeding up the computer, cleaning up registries as well as old windows backup files. Not to mention its useful residential shield.

And please don't forget
After downloading and installing any antivirus software, please update program's definitions usually from menu accessible with right on the application's taskbar icon.

Cheers!

Free dos antivirus scanners

Here are free anti-virus scanners and cleaners that you can run without the need to install. They are also suitable for your rescue flash disk drive.

F-Prot — Antivirus scanner and disinfectant (no longer available for dos)Download F-Prot Antivirus for DOS: http://files.f-prot.com/files/dos/f-prot.zip (backup link)
Extract the archive into a directory, then download and extract the antivirus signatures. When extracting overwrite or update the existing builtin F-Prot signature files.
Press Enter on SCAN menu then with the arrow keys Change Action: to Automatic disinfection and Files to Attempt to identify files. Then press START.



RHBVS (ROSE SWE's Heuristic Based Virus Scanner)
http://www.cfg2html.com/rose_swe/


Kaspersky Antivirus - resque disk
https://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/rescuedisk#downloads


DR.Web rescue disk:

http://www.freedrweb.com/livedisk/