Recommend antivirus?

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I have been using Nod32 for the 2rd year and I just discovered that my computer is infected with many PUPs and one major virus.[/FONT][/COLOR]so for now, I‘ll be using Malwarebytes.but what should i do next,what is the best tool to protect my computer ?[/B]

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No AV program is 100% effective but some are better than others and Kaspersky currently has the top slot.

AV programs also don’t detect PuPs – these could have been self inflicted by not looking at what was being bundled with downloads where you have the option to uncheck their boxes.

While MBAM may deal with the virus, it isn’t the best to get rid of PuPs, but probably best to run MBAM in Safe Mode with Networking.

For the PuPs you will need AdwCleaner http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/

Click on Scan and when that has completed it may list some items in the lower pane.

If there are any there that you recognize and want to keep, uncheck their boxes.

Click on Report and it will show you what else it has found and will remove.

Close the report then click on Clean where another report will be produced after the reboot to show you what it has removed.

Lower down the AdwCleaner download page is a link for Junkware Removal Tool – download that for a “second opinion” and that will produce its report upon completion.

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No AV program is 100% effective but some are better than others and Kaspersky currently has the top slot.

Which (if any) of the Kapersky versions is the good for the home user?
1) Kapersky PURE 3.0 (for home, all threats, safe money, banking, digital ID and privacy, parental)

2) Internet security 2015 (all types of Internet threats, safe noney, banking and shopping detects new, emerging and unknown threats, digital ID and privacy)

3) Kapersky 2015 Anti-Virus (viruses, spyware, Trojans, rootkits, and more, rapid reaction to new and emerging threats, iInstant safety checks on files, applications, and websites malware rollback)

I have found the free Kapersky apps recommended by Windows Secrets columnist to be excellent.

Appreciate any insight on these choices.

Paul

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what is this safe mode?

where do you find it ?
how do you run it??

what does it do taht mbam doesnt just do anyway ???

thanks for your insights on this

No AV program is 100% effective but some are better than others and Kaspersky currently has the top slot.

AV programs also don’t detect PuPs – these could have been self inflicted by not looking at what was being bundled with downloads where you have the option to uncheck their boxes.

While MBAM may deal with the virus, it isn’t the best to get rid of PuPs, but probably best to run MBAM in Safe Mode with Networking.

For the PuPs you will need AdwCleaner http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/

Click on Scan and when that has completed it may list some items in the lower pane.

If there are any there that you recognize and want to keep, uncheck their boxes.

Click on Report and it will show you what else it has found and will remove.

Close the report then click on Clean where another report will be produced after the reboot to show you what it has removed.

Lower down the AdwCleaner download page is a link for Junkware Removal Tool – download that for a “second opinion” and that will produce its report upon completion.

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what is this safe mode?

where do you find it ?
how do you run it??

what does it do taht mbam doesnt just do anyway ???

thanks for your insights on this

If you do not know what Safe Mode is then, with all due respect, you would need a fair bit of instruction, time and patience for someone to take you through it, so I’ll offer another alternative suggestion for consideration.

Since you already have Malwarebytes, then I suggest you upgrade it to their Pro / Premium version. When I bought it it cost around $30 for a lifetime license, not sure what it costs now, but it’s worth every cent.
The Pro or Premium version is designed to run in realtime and to complement your AV. It looks for the kind of malware that a basic AV typically does not look for. It also does look for PUPs, so perhaps the free version does not, or you are running an older version, but the fact that you found PUPs means that Malwarebytes is in fact working, but I would still recommend upgrading for the realtime version since no one software can detect everything.

Then, you can keep ESET, it is a very good AV, and you will have an extra layer of security with Malwarebytes Pro or Premium. If you do it this way, in my opinion, is the easiest solution for you, because you will be working with products that you already own and are familiar with rather than learning something new, having to uninstall stuff, risk having fragments remaining and causing crashes on your PC, etc. Better stay with what you have, just upgrade Malwarebytes.

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okay
but i am really not as stupid as i look

how about a clue to safe mode even if you cant tell me everything

i have mbam paid premium version for some time

they keep changing how it looks and what it does

looking at it and clicking all the icons i dont find any reference to safe mode

is this another program i have to download from them like chameleon or what

If you do not know what Safe Mode is then, with all due respect, you would need a fair bit of instruction, time and patience for someone to take you through it, so I’ll offer another alternative suggestion for consideration.

Since you already have Malwarebytes, then I suggest you upgrade it to their Pro / Premium version. When I bought it it cost around $30 for a lifetime license, not sure what it costs now, but it’s worth every cent.
The Pro or Premium version is designed to run in realtime and to complement your AV. It looks for the kind of malware that a basic AV typically does not look for. It also does look for PUPs, so perhaps the free version does not, or you are running an older version, but the fact that you found PUPs means that Malwarebytes is in fact working, but I would still recommend upgrading for the realtime version since no one software can detect everything.

Then, you can keep ESET, it is a very good AV, and you will have an extra layer of security with Malwarebytes Pro or Premium. If you do it this way, in my opinion, is the easiest solution for you, because you will be working with products that you already own and are familiar with rather than learning something new, having to uninstall stuff, risk having fragments remaining and causing crashes on your PC, etc. Better stay with what you have, just upgrade Malwarebytes.

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what is this safe mode?

where do you find it ?
how do you run it??

what does it do taht mbam doesnt just do anyway ???

thanks for your insights on this

While you haven’t said which version of Windows you are using, generally tapping F8 (for Win 7) as you switch on will get you into the advanced boot options, but different makes of computers could have a different key combo such as ALT+F9, +F10 or +F11.

Select Safe Mode with Networking by using the cursor keys then press enter where the computer will reboot.

An alternate way would be to go Start – type msconfig and press enter, then under the Boot tab check the box for Safe Boot and then the one for Network – Apply – OK and reboot.

You would need the option of Safe Mode with Networking for MBAM to update its Definitions.

Safe Mode only loads certain drivers and isolates 3rd party programs at boot so if there are any infections, they’ll also be isolated and you can download and run any of the other PuP removal programs in this mode also.

There are other ways to boot Win 8/8.1 into Safe Mode, but you’ll still need it with the Networking option. http://www.7tutorials.com/5-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-8-windows-81

Hope this helps.

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what is this safe mode?

where do you find it ?
how do you run it??

what does it do taht mbam doesnt just do anyway ???

thanks for your insights on this

Speedball:

Safe Mode is a stripped-down, bare-minimum mode that you can run Windows in. The reason you would want to run Windows in Safe Mode is if there is a problem that you need to fix, and you need to eliminate as much Windows functionality as possible. For example, video is low-grade in Safe Mode, because sometimes there are problems related to video. If the problem goes away when you run Windows in Safe Mode, then it may have something to do with video.

Sometimes you can’t get into Windows due to some problem. By accessing Safe Mode, you eliminate much of the Windows functionality, and therefore you may be able to get into Windows that way and fix the problem.

In terms of virus scans, some viruses can’t run when Windows is in Safe Mode; or they are limited as to what they can do in Safe Mode. Therefore, by doing the virus scan in Safe Mode, you gain an advantage over the virus that you wouldn’t have in regular mode.

Some virus scanners won’t operate in Safe Mode. Many will.

There is also Safe Mode with Networking. In this mode, they have added only networking functionality to the bare-minimum functionality. This allows you to surf the web, download drivers, etc., while in Safe Mode with Networking.

For Windows 7 and prior versions of Windows, to access Safe Mode you would reboot the computer, and then start tapping the F8 key as soon as the initial splash screen disappears. You will soon see a menu, from which you can choose Safe Mode or some other mode.

For Windows 8, I believe you will need to hold down your left shift key while rebooting the computer, in order to see the menu.

Jim

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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1. There is no “best tool”, it’s only opinion based and it’s highly subjective at that.
(many AV/AMs may not have PUP detection, 3rd party spot-checking tools, like AdwCleaner, are fine for this)
2. Use and keep multiple tools in a “kit”, like AdwCleaner, and make certain you update them regularly.
Task Manager, Process Explorer, TCPView, Autoruns are also good tools to have around. Google how to use them.
3. There are best practices though, and one of them is; be very careful when installing new apps (pay close attention).

I second the use of AdwCleaner for the removal of PUPs; run it a few times and follow the instruction to restart the system after.
MBAM will do you right in many instances too, but keep it up to date and when suspicions arise run a full drive scan, not the quick scan.

Just having PUPs to deal with is a far cry better than having to deal with actual malware/viruses/trogens etc.

Your NOD32 is fine, nothing is going to block everything, just use some extras (spot-check apps) now and then.

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Yeah; pups are not really considered viruses; I still consider them malware, but I’ve had two of my friends get hit with Vosteran and each used different anti-viruses. Malwarebytes did help get rid of the pups, but I suspect any anti-spam capable program could both detect and get rid of these. Still, I don’t believe there’s any fail-proof way of protecting yourself period, but virtualization (which I use) comes darn close to perfection. That said, I can tell you that NOD-32 is one of the best anti-virus programs out there. Because you were hit with pups, using Malware-bytes occasionally as an on demand scanner wouldn’t hurt and the free version is all you need for that. 🙂

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To avoid inadvertently installing PUPs, install Unchecky.

http://unchecky.com/

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To avoid inadvertently installing PUPs, install Unchecky.

http://unchecky.com/

This is a help but does not catch everything. To minimize PUPs:
Always use a custom install, never the default install. Even with Unchecky installed, the default install will install PUPs in many cases
Check every line in the install process for prechecked unwanted add ons

I try to minimize my browser add ons so I don’t personally use Unchecky. I find I have to check every line of an install anyway, so it doesn’t add much value for me.

Jerry

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I use Emsisoft anti-malware, and find it excellent. They don’t call it anti-virus, because as they say, malware includes more than just viruses, and they emphasise PUP detection. You have to pay for it (the cost is reasonable IMO), but there is also a free cleaner which you can download and run from here:

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Have a read of AV-Comparitives‘ Anti-Virus Comparative Summary Report 2014. It shows Kaspersky Internet Security 2015 and Bitdefender Internet Security 2015 as joint best products

Hope this helps…

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Avast free and free AntiVirus will also check for PUPs if set to do so. Somebody mentioned Emsisoft and Malwarebytes — I have EAM running scans and its 3 Protections active, MBAM only running scans.

"Take care of thy backups and thy restores shall take care of thee." Ben Franklin, revisted

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Have a look at What is safe mode?. It’s a Microsoft article giving more information, including how to enter Safe Mode.

Hope this helps…

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For home use, free.avg.com is always ranked very high and it’s free. They make their money by selling to commercial users.

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