I scanded my computer after only three days of having the internet and there are 6 viruses!!

download ad-aware on download.com and look at how much spyware you have too.

Don't worry I will. I got rid of the viruses. How big is the file?

Here's a few tips for you:

What to get: Ad-Aware Second Addition Pro by Lavasoft is FAR better than the trial version on download.com. Get the latest McAffee security and virus scan software too. I don't recommend Norton because I've found it lets a lot of stuff through the system and is known to crash on me. Download.com also has Spyware Doctor available in trial version. It's fairly good even without registering, but it's always better to get the full version anyway to get the most out of it. Giant Anti-Spyware is also a VERY powerful anti-malware program. Get it too if you can. Also, I can't stress this next one enough. GET A FIREWALL! GET A FIREWALL!!! GET A FRIGGING FIREWALL!!!!!!!!!! McAffee has an excellent one that comes with some of their software. Read the boxes when you get the from the shelf.

What to watch out for: Beware of sites that contain security certificates, ESPECIALLY persistant ones. They almost ALWAYS contains malware of some kind. The ones you find on Microsoft.com or your system or hardware manufacturers' sites should be safe. Any others, always click 'NO." If you enter a site and it gives you a dialogue asking to "Install this site's software for better viewing" or something like that, ALWAYS hit 'NO' unless you KNOW what you're getting. By hitting "YES," you are giving your permission to dose your system with malware and viruses, so please don't. Be mindful of when your computer starts acting slow or taking its time bringing up menus and such. This usually means that you're short on RAM, meaning there are more programs running in the background than you're aware of.

System Startup: It isn't always recommended to have more than one active program running to stop viruses and malware from entering because they interfere with each other. Be VERY aware of what programs run on your computer when you boot-up. Check your startup folder and your registry, but be careful about making changes to these unless you know what you're doing. Except for your virus software, I would not recommend having any programs run automatically when you boot. They increase boot-up time and often eat up RAM without you even knowing it. Also, viruses and malware hide amongst the long list of startup programs and they become difficult to spot when you've got a whole algorithm to run.

When to scan: Set aside one day per week to run every scan you have. Do it in SAFE-MODE to ensure the offending programs are removeable. Otherwise, Windows will prevent them from being deleted.

System Restore: If you're using Windows ME or XP, disable the System Restore feature. The folder that contains the system restore data is a popular hiding place for viruses and malware and it's hard to get rid of them once they are in there unless you simply turn it off. To turn it off, right-click "My Computer" on your desktop and click "Properties," click the "Performance" tab, click the button that says "File System." This will give you a new dialogue with new tabs. Click "Troubleshooting" and put a check at the bottom where it says "Disable System Restore," and click "apply." Restart your system. Now you've just DRASTICALLY shortened the time it takes to scan your system and you've given viruses and malware fewer places to hide. The down-side is that you've just disabled one of the more useless and least popular features of Windows. ;)

The only thing Norton picks up for me is the fake viruses I put on there to see if it could pick anything up.

The following is what I recommend. Its all free and effective:

Ad-Aware SE Personal Editions:
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10319876.html?tag=lst-0-1

Avast Home Edition Anti-Virus:
http://www.download.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2239_4-10375520.html?tag=lst-0-1

Zone Alarm Firewall:
http://www.download.com/ZoneAlarm/3000-10435_4-10367376.html?tag=lst-0-5

Ok. I will get to that eventualy. Give me about half hour then my computer will take over the ea.... I mean be virus proof.....yes, virus proof!!!!!

Lol! It took me a bit to type my last entry and you guys were adding some around me. Read my last entry, wolf! ;)

This is just a few of the free simple security programs on my computer:

AVG Anti virus

Spybot

Ad-aware

ZoneAlarm Firewall

I highly recommend you get these. AVG is 10x better than Norton... and ad-aware will pick up things that spybot wont, and visa versa. Zone Alarm will keep out most of the script kiddies.

Probably one of the best online virus scanners: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp . I usually run this only in desperate situtaions, when AVG wont pick up the viruses that I'm infected with... which is hardly ever. It usually takes a few mins for it to load.

Also, if you don't have it already, get Firefox. This'll stop a lot of hijack attempts and whatnot. All these things will greatly reduce the chances of you getting infected with viruses, trojans, spyware/adware, ect.

What does a firewall do again? To many RPG's latley for me to tell them apart. I will turn the system restore of next time I delete temp files. XP has safe mode? I've never seen it. On my old computer I saw a lot of it. Ok, I think I have some work to do.

What does a firewall do again? To many RPG's latley for me to tell them apart. I will turn the system restore of next time I delete temp files. XP has safe mode? I've never seen it. On my old computer I saw a lot of it. Ok, I think I have some work to do.
A firewall is a program that keeps people from hacking your computer, and also lets you control programs that try to connect to the internet. This ranges from Windows updates to spyware that tries to send your information to whoever.

It's pretty much a filter.

Honestly, I don't know who would want to hack my computer. Unless they are looking for Anime MP3's. There is nothing else on it.

Ahh, something I'm dead familiar with.
What happens is, my brother's an ass. He goes to websites where these guys have games for download and then, the first thing that pops up on the screen is "You IP address is "_____" and that and you're being watched". The next day, Windows doesn't load and this's happened 5-7 times and he doesn't listen. He's an ass.

You need to install the programs suggested by Sledge mainly, because the Zone Alarm is a must.

I have two OS if one doesn't work i can use the other one! lol. I will get the programs that Sledge said to get. Mainly Zone-alarm.

I have AOL Ad-Blocker but, it won't block some of them because something is downloaded to my computer that makes porno pop up whenever I'm on the internet it's called Instant Acess. I deleted the files but they still pop up. My moms going to find out one day and I'm going to be in deep shit...

i don't know about installed programs causing pop-ups, but internet explorer related pop-ups can be blocked by upgrading to Win XP Service Pack 2 and downloading the google toolbar. both of those have excellent pop-up blocking features and can be used concurrently.

I highly recommend you get these. AVG is 10x better than Norton... and ad-aware will pick up things that spybot wont, and visa versa. Zone Alarm will keep out most of the script kiddies.

yes, i agree with CK, spybot is also very good. it gets the stuff ad-aware misses and it has an immunization feature to prevent alot of spyware from ever being installed.

I'm not going to argue. I will download all of them. If I have enough space that isn't clogged up by anime.

The programs shouldn't take much space... you should be fine.

Alright, now to get to work!

I eventually got them all. After the internet crashed for three hours I might add.

Firewalls from some of those companies don't work very well... some viruses i made, or those on J!nx that are made by 16 year olds could bypass them with the net-send command. Sofar only Mcaffee has thwarter my virus.

I have AOL Ad-Blocker but, it won't block some of them because something is downloaded to my computer that makes porno pop up whenever I'm on the internet it's called Instant Acess. I deleted the files but they still pop up. My moms going to find out one day and I'm going to be in deep shit...

You could alwase download an ADserver list from searching google for "Adservers list" and editing your Hosts file for Internet explorer since AOL uses IE. The Hosts file basicly blocks any sites listed in it before you can even start downloading off them. Its also used for other small things like pointing a site address to another site address. This method isnt the best for stoping ads but if you dont wanna spend money its good enough.

heres what you would expect to see in your host file.
127.0.0.1 ad.badsite.com

the 127.0.0.1 is "localhost" meaning anytime you try and go to a site with a link ad.badsite.com the link would be blocked. If you fill your hosts file up to much though it could slow down your browser speed alot since IE has to parse through each site for the links listed in the hosts file before displaying the site. But if you wanna be safe then its your choice.

Most adserver blocking programs use the Hosts file now or just act as a hosts file.