A nice free antivirus protection option: Microsoft Security Essentials

For the past few weeks, I've been using Microsoft Security Essentials on a number of PCs at home and work. Microsoft Security Essentials runs well, it doesn't appear to slow down the computers by tying up resources, and it has protected each machine from a number of threats when I tested a few known virus and spyware threats. Overall, it's a "good" option (not great, but it's free) for those of you who need antivirus protection at home or at work. It runs in the background, it updates automatically, and you don't have to worry about expiring subscriptions and renewals.

Microsoft Security Essentials provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.

Microsoft Security Essentials is a free* download from Microsoft that is simple to install, easy to use, and always kept up to date so you can be assured your PC is protected by the latest technology. It’s easy to tell if your PC is secure — when you’re green, you’re good. It’s that simple.

Microsoft Security Essentials runs quietly and efficiently in the background so that you are free to use your Windows-based PC the way you want—without interruptions or long computer wait times.

Removing rogueware on an infected PC

Over the weekend, I had to remove some rogueware on someone's infected PC.  What exactly is rogueware? Is it a virus? Spyware?

Rogueware is also called rogue security software. You may think that your PC is infected, but it's not. You're being told that you need to purchase an anti-virus solution so that you can fix your PC. The truth is that your PC has been infected by rogue security software. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about rogueware:

Rogue security software is a form of computer malware that deceives or misleads users into paying for the fake or simulated removal of malware, or that installs other malware. Rogue security software, in recent years, has become a growing and serious security threat in desktop computing.

So, how do you get rid of rogueware?  First, it's important to recognize that rogueware isn't a virus. Therefore, you can't just "clean" your computer with an anti-virus solution and get rid of the rogueware.

Rogueware is often installed like any other software. The problem is that you probably won't recognize it as rogueware. Therefore, you won't know which application to uninstall. Plus, you may have problems opening the Control Panel if your PC is infected with rogue software.

Over the weekend, I had to boot up in Safe Mode (Windows XP). Then, I uninstalled the rogueware and I rebooted the PC.

I've also gotten rid of rogueware by restoring a PC using an old backup. There are several other ways of removing rogue security software and most of these methods require you to be familiar with Safe Mode, System Restore, or modifying the list of programs that start in the background.

Click here to view a partial list of rogue security software.

Is your PC really infected? Don't get tricked!

I've recently noticed that many people are starting to get tricked by web pages that resemble their desktop. They see a window that pops open that says "your PC is infected" and then it appears that something is scanning their computer. The web page that is open looks like your desktop and doesn't look like a standard web page. Before you know it, you're downloading software (that may even be dangerous) and you're either infecting your computer or buying something that you really don't need.

The next time you see something that makes you think that your computer might be infected with a virus or some type of spyware, stop and look at the windows very carefully. You'll probably notice that the screen is actually a web page, not your desktop.

Make sure that you're running reliable (and updated) anti-virus software on your computer. You can get some free options through AVG, Avast, and Avira (among others). Free software continues to remain popular among medical students and residents.