A couple other things if I may:
Adware (SpyWare, Malware..whatever you want to call it) is not uncommonly bogus about now. You can run three different scans from different places..and you will get three different results.
Some products will show a 'threat' that
isn't even on your computer...but they WILL take your money to 'remove' it.
Any 'virus removed' result is also likely bogus. Viri aren't something 'in' some 'place' from which they can likely easily be 'removed'. They are programs that do something...have a payload. This 'payload' can be anything from showing you Bart's butt to rebooting your machine to formatting your hard drive. Most 'removal's will involve changes to keys/new keys entered into the system registry, removal of the basic source of the infection (the .exe (program) or script that started the process), and putting the kibosh on alternate data streams that the culprit started (system32abcd.exe).
The
PAYLOAD of an already executed virus is likely NOT something that is going to be merely 'removed'. Once the damage is done it's either restore from a previously executed restore point (XP), system backup (a handy utility from MicroSoft that backs up the registry, system and user files) or a full reload from CD. NOT a 'fix' reload (loading over what's already there) but a reload to a formatted, wiped hard drive.
BTW...some PCs (Compaq does this) has a system backup partition. Using their software (usually on a bootable CD) you can backup the entire active partition to the backup partition. Likewise...using that same bootable CD, you can restore your active partition
from the backup.
Obviously, that's only worthwhile if the backup is relatively current. Doing a restore from last year's backup is probably a waste of time.
The point: Protect yourself!!! Backup your machine and back it up often. Use a known good antivirus software package and keep it up to date! If you downloaded your antivi for free off the web somewheres...I'll bet it's worth every penny you paid for it!
Nada!
Do I follow my own advice? Nope.
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
I used to use Symantec Ghost to clone my working hard drive to a second drive once a week. Since my system disk developed errors on it that Ghost won't handle...I haven't backed my working drive up in months! Yep...I'm an idiot.
I would have to reload from scratch onto a new drive to get around that problem. Seeing as that is what I'll have to do when I get bit (it will happen)...I'm saving the joy!!
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)