Virus & Security Information
Malware and Spyware Removal Tools
Generally speaking, malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. It encompasses a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code, such as spwyare, computer viruses, ircbots, worms, trojan horses, most rootkits, dishonest adware, crimeware and other malicious and unwanted software.
These types of software raise privacy and security issues. What information are they collecting? What are they doing with the information?
Additionally, these programs are resource hogs, and can cause web browser and system instability.
Anti-virus programs such as Symantec AV do not generally find other types of malware. If you have received a notice of an infected computer from ITSS, or if you suspect your computer may have malware, you may wish to try one or more of the free products or trial versions listed below.
If the problems persist or if you need assistance, bring your computer to the ITSS TechCenter (Kplz 165) and purchase a complete virus/malware scan.
Notes:
- If you are prompted to pay to see the scan results or remove the problems, exit out and try another program. All of the programs below have a free or trial version and you may have selected the wrong download or been redirected to a malicious web site.
- Simply installing the program does not protect your computer. To find and remove problems, after installing the program you must:
- Check for updates of virus/spyware definitions.
- Run a full scan.
- Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool
- Free. To use:
- Download and install the MRT tool.
- Select: START - Run, type in "mrt" then select "OK."
- Select "Full Scan."
- Windows Live OneCare safety scanner
- Free. To use:
- Visit the Windows Live web site.
- Select the "Protection Scan" button.
- Install the Scanner.
- Select "Launch Scanner."
- Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
- Free trial for use on personal computers. To use:
- Download and install malwarebytes.
- Make sure "Update Malwarebytes Anti-Malware" is checked, then select "Finish".
- Select the "Update" tab, then select "Check for Updates."
- Select the "Scanner" tab, select "Perform Full Scan", then select the "Scan" button.
- SuperAntiSpyware
- Free trial version. To use:
- Download and install SuperAntiSpyware.
- When prompted, select "Yes" to check for the latest rules and definition updates.
- When prompted, check "Enable Automatic Update Checking" to check for program and definition updates.
- When prompted, check "Protect Home Page".
- Select "Scan yhour Computer" and "Perform Complete Scan."
- SpyBot - Search & Destroy
- Free. To use:
- Download and install Spybot - Search & Destroy.
- Start Spybot and select "Search for Updates" to get most current definition file.
- Select "Check for Problems" and "Full Scan."
- Ad-Aware Free
- Free for use on personal (not University) computers. To use:
- Download and install Ad-Aware Free.
- Run the "Update Manager" to get most current definitions.
- Select "Scan System," check "Full Scan," then select the "Scan Now" button.
Rev: 03.09 sab