The Keyboard of Life

10 Free Online Malware and Virus Scanners

Occasionally I find myself working on a computer that has some problems. Maybe its malware, maybe its viruses, either way…its mucking up the PC and just generally slowing things down. Has this ever happened to you? If you’ve surfed the Internet for very long, you’ve probably experienced this and/or you’re prone to getting something downloaded and installed without your consent.

During these times I would normally use the trusty SpyBot - Search & Destroy application because it’s superior in many ways, but if I don’t have it with me or feel like just doing a quick online check without having to install a client application, the few choices below provide a good alternative.

BitDefender - Easy on-demand virus scanner using powerful BitDefender engines. It scans system memory, files and drive boot sectors. It also automagically cleans infected files. Uses ActiveX components (IE Only)

CA - Online virus scanner. Just agree to a little ActiveX component and you’re scanning with ease in just a brief moment. Uses ActiveX components (IE Only)

ESET - Online malware scanner. With just an acceptance of ESET’s TOS, you can scan your PC for known malware including viruses, worms, Trojans, phishing, and spyware.

ewido - Simple cleaner for malware. Uses ActiveX components (IE Only)

F-Secure - Simple virus scan from web. Uses ActiveX components (IE Only)

Jotti - Simple file checker. Jotti uses several scanners to look into the file you upload to determine if it’s infected.

McAfee FreeScan - McAfee FreeScan is a great virus scanner using the award-winning McAfee Scan Engine. Uses ActiveX components (IE Only)

NanoScan - Great, fast scanning application previously covered by the MUO Directory.

Panda ActiveScan - Get a free Panda scan that checks for viruses, spyware and other various internet threats. Current count over 185,000 viruses, worms, and trojans. Uses ActiveX components (IE Only)

TrendMicro - Scans for Viruses and Malware. It also scans for vulnerabilities and and fixes them to prevent re-infestation.

Overclocking Earth Friendly ?

Overclocking the resources without due considerations to its impacts these days are commonplaced ... But should it and why ? Go figure ....

The issues are general but the problems are real as it seeps through the roots of one's community and society. Unequilibrium results but peace still persists. So how far can one be pushed before the cracks show ? Or does one employs and more "peaceful" avenue for a release via the "self-annihilation" technics ? Who hears ? Who listens ?

Peace have its way to be triumphant in all arenas in life if we only let it work. We play that part to ensure the balance it needs to sustain. Failure to do that results in unfair exposure of "casualties" of which impact may be deep.

Hence, being conscientious and conscious of one's actions is something that is of most importance, not only for the set objectives to be meet but so that the universal objective not be derailed. Objectives should be set in parallel and should be true in any boolean fields approached.

And it all starts with yourself and whether you will give in to these pressures !

Free General Malware Removal Process

Windows XP Cleaning Procedure

Note: Some programs (like MGtools mentioned later and maybe other tools too) may not run on restricted user accounts so you may need to temporarily change the user account to an admin type account and then complete the scans.

Step 1: Downloading ToolsIn this section we are going to download tools we will use. We will install and configure the programs and then run scans at a later point so please only download right now. Make sure you download the tools to the exact locations specified below in the procedures to avoid problems later. It is not a good idea to download them to any folder within C:\Documents and Settings.) It is also a bad idea to download and save anything you need into any kind of Temp folder. Malware hides in Temp folders and standard cleaning practices will delete everything from Temp folders.

Now download the below tools ( PLEASE only download at this point ):
SUPERAntiSpyware
SpyBot - Search & Destroy
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

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

combofix.exe

Important Notes:
you MUST save & later run this to from your Desktop. Do not run it yet!!!!!!
If you are running Kaspersky antivirus, it may popup warnings about combofix.exe and catchme.exe being infected as Heur.Invader. These are false indications. You must tell Kaspersky to Skip or Ignore these and let ComboFix run. McAfee may also intefere with ComboFix

MGtools.exe - DO NOT DOWNLOAD THIS TO YOUR DESKTOP! It is critical that you save this file to the root folder of the drive where you have installed Windows (Typically this would be C:\ and thus you would have a C:\MGtools.exe file after downloading) If you use FireFox and still have it set to defaults, it will not let you choose where to download files to. To change FireFox, run FireFox and Click Tools, Options, and on the Main tab select Always ask me where to save files. If for some reason you still have a problem trying to save MGtools.exe properly. You can download it to your Desktop and move it after downloading, or if necessary (but we prefer not) run it from your Desktop.

Step 2: Installing Tools and Running Scans - please only run scans once!
Follow the instructions in the below link for installing and running SuperAntiSpyware
SUPERAntiSpyware - running & getting a log

Now install, configure and run Spybot – Search & Destroy per the below link
Spybot S&D Installing & Running - MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT LET THE TEATIMER BE INSTALLED!!!!

Now we need to run Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. Please carefully follow the instructions in the below link to most effectively run it and obtain a log:
Using Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

Now we need to run ComboFix. Please carefully follow the instructions in the below link to most effectively run ComboFix:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/combofix/how-to-use-combofix

Now follow the directions in the below link for running MGtools It also explains possible reasons for not being able to run MGtools
Using MGtools

Step 3: Do You Still Have Problems

Yes, I’m still having problems

DO NOT run the READ ME again!!!! Please attach your logs as given below.
If you do not already have a thread started, start a new thread otherwise post the following in your original thread. Clearly describe in detail the problems you are having and how long ago they started. Think about what you were doing at the time.

Now you need to attach (See: HOW TO: Attach Items To Your Post ) the below logs created while running the above scans

SASlog.txt log from SuperAntiSpyware.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log
ComboFix.txt (normally C:\ComboFix.txt)
MGlogs.zip - normally it is C:\MGlogs.zip - only attach this log from MGtools.exe DO NOT attach any logs seen in the MGtools folder.

You will need to post 2 messages to attach all four logs since only 3 attachments are allowed in any single message. Post all of them in one thread.

Be patient after posting your logs and wait for one of the helpers to get to you. It can take a while to read thru all of the logs and to create individual fixes for you.

No, I’m not having any problems
If you are sure everythingis okay and that you do not need to request any help, then jump to the next step below.

Step 4: Toggle System Restore
You only need to Toggle system restore if malware had been found during the cleaning procedures. If no malware was found, there are no infected restore points to worry about, thus you can skip to the next step.

Once you are sure all malware problems have been removed follow the below steps:
Disable System Restore ( see Disable And Enable System Restore)

Now reboot your PC

Now Enable System Restore using the same link as above

Why we toggle System Restore!

If you have been infected with any trojans, spyware, etc, they could have been saved in System Restore and are waiting to re-infect you. Since System Restore is a protected directory, your tools can not access it to delete files that may contain viruses. Even though your tools may say they are deleting them, they are not! The reason for doing this after your system has been completely cleaned of problems, is so we can remove possible infected restore points. When you disable system restore, it removes restore points!

We only toggle System Restore after you are clean because keeping even infected restore points around while we are fixing things may prove useful if something goes wrong during the process. An infected restore point could be better than none at all!Step 5: Keeping your computer safe and secure

See the following thread and complete the steps: How to Protect yourself from malware!

Step 6: Alternative Scans - If still having problems, see: Alternative Scans

Now surf safely!

Curing the Web of Deception

Coined term: Malware => Adware, Backdoor, Heuristic, Rogue, Trojan, Virus & Worm ...

Mainstream (Paid) AntiDote:

• Norton,
• Symantec,
• McAfee,
• Kaspersky ,
• Zone Alarm Security Suites ...

Security Suite usually comprise of:

• File AV,
• Mail AV,
• Web AV,
• Proactive Defense,
• Anti Spy,
• Anti Hacker,
• Anti Spam.

Freeware Malware Scanner/Removal:

• MalwareBtyes' AntiMalware
• Spybot Search & Destroy
• AVG (Ewido)
• Lavasoft Ad-aware
• A-Squared
• SuperAntiSpyware
• Antivir
• Comodo BOClean

Recovery of Deleted Files

I was wondering if IE's "History" (using CTRL-H) can be retrieved on my computer somewhere once it's been deleted. Or once it's deleted is it gone? Can you please let me know if I can retrieve the deleted history?

In short - probably not. There are a couple of approaches that might work, if you're lucky, and perhaps desperate enough.

First, we need to locate where the history is kept.

For Windows XP, Internet Explorer's history is kept in a per-user directory underneath "\Documents and Settings". Assuming a default locations, that would be:
c:\Documents and Settings\Username\Local Settings\History

"The easiest way is to simply recover the contents of that directory, including all subdirectories, from a recent backup."

"Username" would be replaced by your login user name. So mine, for example, would be "c:\Documents and Settings\LeoN\Local Settings\History".

Note: the "History" directory is marked "invisible" by default, so it's likely that you won't find it by default. You'll need to enable viewing hidden files in Windows Explorer, or searching for Hidden Files when you perform a search. In a Command Prompt, you can simply "CD" to it, even if you don't see it.

The easiest way is to simply recover the contents of that directory, including all subdirectories, from a recent backup. If you've been making regular backups of your full system, as recommended, then you can simply use your backup utility to restore only those directories, after which you should be able to restart IE and have the old history restored.

Alternated, and with an even lower chance of success is to see if you can "undelete" an older version of the files found in that directory. If you get very lucky you might be able to undelete or recover a file that has the history you want. I do not recommend this approach, simply because the chances of it working are so very low.

Ultimately, I believe that the chances for successfully recovering this data is so low, that it is effectively zero.

I will throw out one last approach - but it's expensive, potentially time consuming, and really only for the most dire of circumstances. It is sometimes possible, using advanced data recovery techniques, for a data recovery service to recover this type of data. You'd be sending them your hard disk, and you'll be writing a fairly large check. There are many factors involved, and it's definitely not as easy as you might see on TV, but it can, sometimes, be done.

The Ultimate Gift !

First write down the names of all Planets of our Solar System on a piece of paper.

Now check with the order I have written and see if you have got it right.

This is in order from the Sun:
1. Mercury
2. Venus
3. Earth
4. Mars
5. Jupiter
6. Saturn
7. Uranus
8. Neptune
9. Pluto

This is how you remember. You create a story.

Imagine that you are standing in front of Sun. See it clearly, feel its heat and admire its orange glow. And there is this planet thermometer, filled with that liquid metal that measures temperature: MERCURY. The Sun heats up and eventually it bursts the thermometer.

All you see is that tiny balls of that liquid metal Mercury on the floor. Next you see is this most beautiful little goddess standing right next to you. What shall we call her?

Yes, VENUS. Then you see Venus playing with this scattered Mercury. Finally manage to pick up one of the Mercury Globules. She throws it in a giant arc way up in the sky. And this lands in your garden with a big thump.

Your garden is on planet EARTH. Because of the big thump, it effected your next-door neighbour who is a little red faced and about to fume up. Who is this God of War? MARS Mars is really furious that he is just about to attack you when, striding you on the scene comes a giant. He calms Mars down.

He has an initial J on his forehead that stands for JUPITER. As you look up to Jupiter, he is wearing this T-shirt with the word ‘SUN’ emblazoned in golden letters.

Each of this letters stands for the first letter of each of the three big Planets of the Solar System: SATURN, URANUS and NEPTUNE. Sitting on Jupiter’s head is this barking dog called PLUTO, laughing his little heart out.

Now re-run this fantasy in your mind and then see how easy it is to remember!

BEWARE of Fake Flash Downloads

DO NOT download Flash Player from a site other than adobe.com.

Hard Disk Drive ?

Going r de daze which the spinning gadget we call de hard disk drives (hdd) r de norm 2 data storages. De replacement is what they now call the solid state drive (ssd).

A solid-state drive (SSD) is a data storage device dat uses solid-state memory 2 store 'persistent' data. Unlike flash-based memory cards, a SSD emulates a hard disk drive, thus easily replacing it in most applications. An SSD using SRAM or DRAM (instead of flash memory) is often called a RAM-drive.

De original usage of de term solid-state (from solid-state physics) refers 2 de use of semiconductor devices rather than electron tubes, but has in this context been adopted 2 distinguish solid-state electronics from electromechanical devices as well. With no moving parts, solid-state drives r inherently less fragile than harddisks and therefore also silent (unless a cooling fan is used); as there r no mechanical delays, they usually enjoy low access time n latency.

SSDs have begun to appear in laptops, although they r @ present substantially more expensive per unit of capacity than hard drives.

What all this boils down 2 is that beginning this period onwards, we will c better priced hard disk drives :) For those who wants 2 get a hdd, start looking by early 2009 !