Free Online Virus Scanners - Comments Page 1

In addition to the ones that scan your whole PC, there are at least two good options you can use to scan specific files. I always scan downloads using VirusTotal and Jotti.
http://www.virustotal.com/
http://virusscan.jotti.org/en

They run files through numerous antivirus engines. Any one particular antivirus is highly ineffective, but checking numerous ones as those sites do is generally effective.

Not a solution to scan your entire PC though, just individual files. Great for downloads, I would strongly suggest using one of those for downloads before running them.

Two other free scanners are Malwarebytes and SuperAntispyware. They both offer free versions that can reside on your computer. Prior to each use just update their respective database and run the scan.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/
http://www.superantispyware.com/

I recommend comodo.com. They have free anti virus software that provides great protection for your pc.

www.f-secure.com give useful online scans including one called BlackLight and www.trusteer.com gives extra security with online banking sites.

two online AV'S that are safe & are used full time
as a regular a AV are
Immunet Protect & Panda Cloud

I noticed no mention of Microsoft Security Essentials. Why? A free anti-virus/malware program from a giant like microsoft, and no mention?

EDITOR'S NOTE: MSE is not an online scanner. You must download and install it to your desktop. I did mention MSE in my Free Antivirus Programs article. See http://askbobrankin.com/free_antivirus_programs.html

Kaspersky Online Virus Scan has not been available for quite some time. I keep going to their website and they have a blurb that says: "Coming Soon" -and that it is unavailable. It has been that way for a long time. They are trying to get us to buy Kaspersky Internet Security 2010.

Tell me, are Cybervillians residents of Cyberville? I don't believe I would buy software from someone who can't spell!

EDITOR'S NOTE: Where did you see that word? It doesn't appear in the text of my article here...

It was precisely the thing you cited: hysterical red screen with yellow image of a disintegrating biohazard symbol every time I turned on the computer that drove me to Linux. Windows wanted me to get This software; Internet Explorer wanted me to get That software; Verizon wanted me to get the Other software. Enough was enough!

At the end of the article there is a link to a free scan. I suspect it is also designed to sell the product.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Not in the text of the article. But if it says "Sponsored Links" or somesuch, then I'm sure you're right.

How accurate/thorough is the evaluation of antivirus software that is done by Consumer Reports? I like CR, but sometimes companies spread themselves out too thin and lose depth and accuracy.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Not sure. I'm sure they try to hire competent people to evaluate computer products, but I'd rather rely on a more authoritative source such as AC-Test. See http://www.av-test.org

how about BITDEFENDER from www.bitdefender.com is agood antivir...

What's your take on 'Finallyfast' and other programs of that type? Are they legit? Effective? A scam?

EDITOR'S NOTE: I don't think the "speed up your computer" tools are worthwhile. because you can do it yourself, for free. See http://askbobrankin.com/make_windows_xp_run_faster.html?hdr

Are you still liking Ad-Aware? I have a paid version, but unfortunately it's not compatible w/ Windows 7 86 bit. You'd think they'd get their act together & do something about it.

I just ran MBAM per your recommendation & it found one object that neither Defender nor MSE found, so I'm hooked now, thanks to you.

EDITOR'S NOTE: You have 86-bit Windows? I hope you meant 64-bit... :-) Anyway, my gut feeling is that Ad-Aware has fallen behind the curve, and there are better options now.