Bob Alston’s recommended Anti-Virus and Anti-Trojan Programs
All are FREE for personal use.
Septyember 2004 – Rev 3
The following are my recommendations for software to use to protect PCs from viruses and other Trojan horse type programs.
Note that even if you access the network thru a firewall, or use a router which can act as a firewall, you still need programs such as these!
The programs are in four classes:
Software Firewall
Zone Alarm by Zone Labs Inc.
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp
Even if you have a hardware firewall or router which can perform many of the functions of a firewall, you still need a software firewall. Besides protecting you from INbound threats, it also protects from OUTbound threats, such as having a Trojan on your PC which is trying to communicate with the internet.
It blocks inbound data by default except in response to a request your PC has made. Outbound traffic requires approval. For new programs, a pop up screen appears requesting approval or denial for internet access. If the program should be allowed internet access, you can click on “Allow” and check the “remember” box so you will not be asked this question again, and this program will always be permitted internet access.
Popup Blocker
Note that Windows XP SP2 has integrated popup blocker capabilities built-in
Popup Stopper Free edition – by Panicware
http://www.panicware.com/product_psfree.html
The software popups a brief, then disappearing, window in the lower right each time it blocks a popup. If you WANT to see the popup (sometimes they are legitimate) just hold down the “CTRL” key when you click the link that generates the popup. (This note on how to see the popup is included in the window that shows at the lower right.
This program will block almost all of the annoying popups that appear when you browse to certain web sites.
NOTE that if you click on a web link and nothing happens, try again while holding down the left control key to see if the web site uses a popup in a legitimate manner.
AntiVirus
AVG by Grisoft.
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
Provides for automatic scheduled scans of your disks for viruses. Automatic “healing” of files where possible.
Also has automatic ability to check for and download virus definition updates.
If you get only one anti-virus software, this is the one!
It also has an “always active” component to scan files downloaded, copied or opened. So it is always running in the background.
Be sure you remove any other antivirus software that has a resident component before you install this.
Panda Online Virus Scan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm
Free online virus scanning software. Actually downloads the virus scanning software and automatically downloads updates to the virus definitions before running.
Note that you can disconnect while it is running and then reconnect when completed to retrieve the report.
Takes a long time to run but seems to occasionally catch things that AVG and other software doesn’t.
Note, in case you have popup blocking software installed, when you click the “Scan your PC” button, it opens a popup. Be sure to temporarily disable popup blocking (typically by holding down the “ctrl” key when you click on the button.
I recommend you run this periodically.
PC Pitstop Virus Scan
http://www.pcpitstop.com/antivirus/AV.asp
Also downloads the software to scan and automatically downloads any software definition updates each time you access the web site.
Has two scan options. The Quick Scan runs in a few minutes and scans the most common locations for viruses.
The Full Scan scans more areas but also takes 10 minutes or even longer.
As I recall this is free to scan but if it detects something tries to sell you antivirus software.
I recommend you run this periodically.
Bit Defender
Free virus scanner and cleaner.
Online version:
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/Msie/index.php
PC installed version:
http://www.bitdefender.com/bd/site/products.php?p_id=24
RAV AntiVirus
http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/indexie.php
Free online virus scanner and cleaner.
WinPatrol
Free antivirus and anti-spyware software. Has an always active component.
Avast!
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_cleaner.html
Free Virus cleaner and worm remover tool.
Anti Trojan, Spyware and Worm Removal
Spybot Search & Destroy –
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download
Provides for free online updates to definition files. Also, you can configure the software to check for updates automatically each time it is run (if you have a DSL or cable connection to the internet).
If you get only one anti-trojan/anti-spyware, this is the one.
You could use Windows automatic scheduling product to run this periodically.
I suggest you run this regularly.
Ad-Aware SE– Lavasoft
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download506.html
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/
Also provides for free definition updates. But you have to manually check for updates.
Sometimes catches things others do not.
If you get more than one anti-spyware product, this should be #2.
Microsoft Antispyware – Free (so far)
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
As of 3/2005 this is still beta software. Microsoft purchased from a small company.
Spy Sweeper –
http://www.webroot.com/wb/products/spysweeper/index.php
Requires a paid subscription for definition updates.
Sometimes catches things others do not.
Has a resident portion which is always active.
A-squared (a2) - Emsi Software GmbH
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/personal/
Be sure to get the a2-free version not the a2-personal.
Can download updates for free, but you must initiate this manually.
Catches things that others do not catch.
Suggest you run this periodically.
Spywareblaster
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
Prevents spyware from installing in the first place! Now that’s a great idea.
Install this one! Once installed, it runs in the background and you never have to worry about it again.
Spywareguard
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html
SpywareGuard provides a real-time protection solution against spyware that is a great addition to SpywareBlaster's protection method.
Install this one also! Once installed, it runs in the background and you never have to worry about it again.
CWShredder
http://www.softpedia.com/public/scripts/downloadhero/10-17-150/
A small utility for removing CoolWebSearch (aka CoolWwwSearch, YouFindAll, White-Pages.ws and a dozen other names). Spybot S&D and Ad-aware tend to forget essential parts of the hijack, so until they update, you can use this to completely remove the hijack. This program is updated to remove the new variants once they come out.
If you run this and it detects and removes one or more of these Trojans, you should do a few more steps. That includes:
Swat IT
http://swatit.org/download.html
Note the basic Swat IT program is free; other versions require a license/purchase.
You can purchase a daily update download service; or you can manually download updates for free each time before you run the program.
Ewido
http://www.ewido.net/en/?section=download
Initially you have a 14-day trial of the full program with always-active component. After 14 days the always active component deactivates. But the on-request scanner still works.
Catch me sometime and I might just give you a CD with all the software on it.
(This offer applies only to Ellenwood Marina boaters)
Software product FileName
Zone alarm zlsSetup_50_590_015.exe
Popup blocker PopUpStopperFree.exe
AVG avg6688fu_free.exe
Panda Online Panda online virus scan & cleaner
PC Pitstop Online Virus Check
Spybot Search & Destroy spybotsd13.exe
Spy Sweeper ssfsetup347.exe
A-squared (a2) a2freesetup.exe
Ad-aware 6.0 aaw6181.exe
SpywareBlaster spywareblastersetup.exe
SpywareGuard spywareguardsetup.exe
CWShredder.exe CWShredder
WinPatrol wpsetup.exe
Avast! Avastsetupeng.exe
Swat IT swatit.exe
Ewido ewido-setup.exe
Bit Defender http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php
RAV Antivirus http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/indexie.php
Bob Alston
Bobalston9 AT yahoo DOT com