Malware Protection

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Malware Protection

See also: Firewalls, Spyware, Rootkits
Specialized Scans & Removal Tools
Online Scans

Categorization of malware is no longer the straightforward proposition of virus or trojan - today's blended threats are complex in design and tactic. Fortunately, an impressive array of security tools exist to aid the computer user - ranging from specialized tools for specific threats to comprehensive suites guarding against a wide range of malware. Security products vary in detection capability, ease of use, and resource usage. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, though with the products here and in the Firewall, Spyware and Rootkit sections, you should be able to find a combination that suits you. Good luck and good computing.

Windows Vista Security Center Tip, UAC

Virus Resources including basics, plus Eicar test virus, info on Hoaxes, database and alerts

Turning UAC on and off

Specialty Anti-Virus Uninstallers - handy to accomplish a full clean uninstall for particular anti-virus applications

NOD32 - many will argue that NOD32 is the simply the best, impressive detection capability, very light footprint, leading heuristic capability provides excellent protection against zero-day attacks

Zone Alarm Security Suite (Free Trial) - setup wizard is straightforward and guides to an easy configuration for Firewall, Anti-Virus & Anti-spyware (now powered by Kaspersky), and Anti-Spam (Anti-Spam setup was instant on our computer). The equally easy GUI provides quick access to module status, blocked intrusion statistics and additional tools including a handy Cache Cleaner.

Trend Micro PC-cillin (Free Trial) - address to Trojans as part of a comprehensive security suite

McAfee (Free Trial) - comprehensive virus protection includes address to Trojans

F-Secure (Free Trial)- offering stand-alone anti-virus or security suite, quality all-around malware protection including zero-day and rootkit defense

Panda Platinum (Free Trial) - quality suite. Protection against Viruses, Trojans, Spyware, Spam, Phishing. Firewall stealths all ports. Includes Intrusion Protection (TruPrevent) to guard against unknown threats and Zero-Day attacks. Does its job while letting your system run quick and light.

a squared - quality control panel, scrolling display, scan from context menu

AntiVir - Personal Edition Classic free for personal use. Utilitarian GUI with a polished feel and excellent detection capability across the malware spectrum, plus you have to love scans by 'Luke Filewalker'

Anti-Hook - intrusion protection operates on the Windows Kernel level. Protects against rootkits, keyloggers, spyware, trojans, and viruses based on code behavior.

Avast

AVG - real-time protection, email scanner, on-demand scans, automatic updates, free for home use

Sana Security Primary Response Safe Connect (Free Trial) - provides an added layer of security in addition to traditional signature-based scanners. Uses Sana Security proprietary technology (active MDT) to detect a wide variety of threats including spyware, rootkits, trojans, hijackers, phishing, et. al.

Arovax Shield - real-time protection against all forms of malware intrusion. Prevents Internet Explorer Hijacks, auto-start additions, registry changes, Firefox Tracking cookies and more. Bright clean interface is simple and easy to use. A nice addition to your malware arsenal. See also Arovax Anti-Spyware.

Bit Defender - neat and polished on-demand virus scanner, freeware version has the same great ICSA Labs certified scanning engine as the commercial product

Comodo - slick interface, free forever anti-virus, anti-trojan, anti-worm is part of the Comodo security initiative, Comodo provides Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) authentication to businesses as their main line of commerce

CounterSpy (Free Trial) - IDS/IPS protection monitors 56 security checkpoints plus fast accurate spyware scans. Security Checkup Wizard - scans system for vulnerabilities, recommends and effects changes; PC Explorer - function to access and control BHO's, ActiveX, Hosts, LSP's, Startups, etc.; History Cleaner removes 75 activity trails; Secure file Eraser accurate and fast scans. Informative, concise, and neatly placed 'Learn About' sections.

Dr.Web Cure It - free anti-malware utility from Dr.Web, originally developed to combat complex polymorphic viruses, detects and removes worms, viruses, trojans, adware, spyware, keyloggers and more. Performs initial fast scan of startup processes and memory, then allows for selection of items to scan. Aesthetic compact GUI, a quality tool to keep in your arsenal.

Dr.Web Anti-Virus Link Checker - puts Dr. Web in your browser, checks links for malware

Hijack This - Create "Hijack This" logs. Also check out this tutorial from WSC for help in evaluating logs. You may also want to get Silent Runners and Registrar Lite, to aid in hijack this handlings

Hijack This information and forums

CWShredder - now a TrendMicro product, locates and removes variants of the browser hijacker Cool Web Search (CWS)

Ewido

McAfee Sysclean - addresses a range of system infections - malware running in memory, malware registry entries, malware in system files, malware on local drives. Download the Sysclean Package plus the latest pattern file

McAfee Site Advisor - displays unobtrusively as a small toolbar in Internet Explorer. Evaluates search engine results and provides information (next to each result entry) as to the safety of site content, addressing issues such as questionable downloads (containing adware, spyware, etc.), amount of email to be expected from the site (spam), identifies phishing sites. The free version simply alerts to questionable sites whereas the paid version has a feature to block such contect from being accessed. To try it out go to any search engine and type "Screensavers", you will see in the list of results advices form McAfee Site Advisor as to the content to be expected from that site.

McAfee Site Advisor for Firefox

Malicious Software Removal Tool - by Microsoft, also available as an on-line version

Outpost Pro Security Suite (Free Trial) - from Agnitum, well known for it's firewall, now offers a Security Suite, integrated AV is based on the Hungarian company VirusBuster Anti-Virus

Prevx - Intrusion Prevention Software (IDS), provides an additional security layer without reliance on signature files, detects based on code behavior.

Prevx Specific Vendors List - research companies who have installed files on your computer

ProcessGuard - monitors and protects running processes

Spysweeper (Free Trial) - Select from 16 shields to provide real-time protection; IE Favorites shield, IE Security Shield, IE Tracking Cookies shield, IE Hijack shield, IE Home Page shield, IE Search Page shield, Common Ad Sites shield, Hosts File shield, Memory shield, Spy Installation shield, ActiveX shield, Alternate Data Stream Execution (ADS) shield, Windows Messenger Service shield, Spy Communication shield, Startup shield, Browser Helper Object (BHO) shield. Beginning with version 4.5 detects rootkits.

System Safety Monitor - presently in Beta, obtain a 60 day license. Polished Intrusion Protection monitors registry, INI files, Start Menu, Services, Internet Explorer settings, application monitor (optional), plus capability for advanced users to set application rules. Alert box entries are color-coded with a handy auto-timing close feature - alerts appear in a single box which auto-closes at your selected time interval such as 5 seconds. Planned features include rootkit detection. Appears the user may renew the Beta license as new releases emerge.

Trojan Hunter (Free Trial) - polished software provides fast scans, plug-in optional scans (pre-installed) provide handy quick scans of Registry, open ports and more. Quick, Full or Custom scan capability.Real-time protection through Trojan Hunter Guard.

The Cleaner by MooSoft (Free Trial) - multiple real-time monitors provide Intrusion Prevention flexibility. Polished trojan scan software.

VirusBuster - Virus Bulletin VB100 award, Hungarian Company

Windows Live OneCare - Microsoft 90-day trial, PC security and performance tools

Browser Sentinel (Free Trial) - provides info on installed BHO's plus options to disable or for a clean BHO removal (removes the registry entry, the file, and unregisters the DLL module). Also addresses LSP's, ActiveX, Pages, Search Strings, Prefixes, Toolbars, Loaded Modules, Startup and Running Programs, Hosts file, common misconfigurations, NT Drivers, and more.

System Mechanic 7 (Free Trial) - address a myriad of system issues including security vulnerabilities, popular polished suite including tools to cleanup, compact and defragment the registry, general Internet and temp files cleanup, hard disk defrag including boot time defragmentation of the MFT, System Page File and Registry Hives, Internet Connection Optimization. Plus Windows Tweak tools, Uninstaller, RAM optimization, Pop-up stopper, Spyware Wizard, and more. Settings for one-click and scheduled maintenance. Organized collection of quality tools. Pro includes Firewall & Virus protection.

Specialized Scans & Removal Tools

Bugbear Worm Test - from Security Space

CWShredder - now a TrendMicro product, locates and removes variants of the browser hijacker Cool Web Search (CWS)

Dr.Web Anti-Virus Link Checker - puts Dr. Web in your browser, checks links for malware

McAfee Avert Stinger - stand-alone utility detects specific viruses, trojans. Not a substitute for a full scanner but handy for a system known to be infected

MyDoom Scanner - from Foundstone, a Division of McAfee

Nimda Test - from Security Space

SASSGUI - by Sophos, checks for and removes W32/Sasser

Stinger - McAfee stand-alone

Vcleaner - Sasser,Netsky,Bagel,Zafi

Windows Live Safety Center - from Microsoft, check for viruses and security vulnerabilities with additional scans to clean up temporary files and analyze hard drive fragmentation, Internet Explorer only (uses ActiveX)

ArcaClean - specialized worm detection and removal tool

Symantec - Specialized removal tools

Grisoft - Specialized removal tools from the developers of AVG

McAfee - free Virus removal and cleanup tools, not a substitute for full scanners, remove Sasser, Bagel, Zafi, Mydoom, Lovsan, Blaster, Klez, Bugbear

Malicious Software Removal Tool - by Microsoft, also available as an on-line version

ESET Free Virus Removers - from the developers of NOD32

Sophos - Specialized removal tools

Cyberscrub - specialized removal tools for Viruses, Worms, Trojans

Bit Defender - 105 specialized removal tools at last count

Panda Quick Remover - remove a specific virus and repair the damage to your system