PC Problems? - links to free online virus scanners

11gardir wrote: »

Anyway, this is about online scanners, so I'm amazed that no-one's mentioned http://www.virustotal.com/ - similar to jotti's virusscan, single file scanner, but faster and scans with 37 virus scanners, Prevx and compares the hash to an MD5 library.

Virus Total and the like are fine for scanning suspicious files but are no good if you're already infected and need an online scanner to scan your computer.

Hi,

Thanks for this thread Toxteth, it's very handy :T

Here are my notes on the scanners I've used so far. Useful reference for me, since I've got a memory like a sieve: hopefully will be useful to someone else too.

Note to self: turn off antivirus program first :doh:

A-Squared/EMSI: Requires ie. Kept getting 'Error loading GUI resources'... :mad:

ArcaVir: Seems to be in Polish so haven't used it. It appears to require ie, then it wants to install an Active X control, which seems normal for such programs, but then it's asking you for permission for something.. I think.. I'm not a fan of randomly ticking boxes without reading why, so I've binned that one.

Authentium: Requires ie, though I ran it in Firefox using the ie tab. Seemed to work okay. Didn't find what Kaspersky found, but found four 'infections' which the other scanners hadn't . No apparent way to 'clean' with it however, but a window stating:

Thank you for trying Command On Demand [COD]!
COD provides a free one-time anti-virus scan for any Internet connected PC. This scan is perfect for a "second opinion" of your existing anti-virus solution, as a on-demand tool to check the current status of your PC, and as a "sneak peek" of the more advanced products offered by Authentium.

BitDefender: Requires ie. Scanned fully but found nothing, so can't comment on it's cleaning capabilities.
Update: 11/09/09: Scanned in FF ie tab. Took a bit over an hour. Slightly annoying when it seemed finished then did a few more hundred files than it 'intended' (e.g. 53000/50000). Found nothing, but painless enough. Would use again (don't like the ie requirement though!).
Update: 17/01/11: Works in FF. Quick, small download, accept T&Cs, 'QuickScan' does what it says on the tin. Informed me 'Your computer is not infected', so couldn't test it's cleaning capabilities.

CyberTech: Hmm... It says it has a free virus scanner which cleans too, but I'll be darned if I can find it! Might return to it later. Can't be bothered fishing around for it now. On hold.

E-Acceleration Stop-Sign: Looked promising, but Comodo went nuts with permission popups. Gave up clicking accept in the end. If it causes that much aggro, I'm not interested. Lol I've just deleted it and Comodo is still 'popping' at me! Grr!

ESET [STRIKE]NOD32[/STRIKE]: Requires ie (works in FF with ie tab).
Selected both options: 'Remove Found Threats', and 'Scan Unwanted Applications'.
It found nothing on my PC, so I can't say whether it cleans too, though it states in the FAQ:

The ESET Online Scanner is a program which runs in your web browser and can check for and, optionally, remove malware. It is not configurable, and cannot prevent your computer from being infected by malware.

28/04/09: Just ran it on OH's machine. Found nothing (weird, when Housecall found lots.. :question:
11/09/09: Still looks like a 'goer'. Can't be sure since it found nothing.
03/02/10: It's great according to this webuser review.

E-Trust: Stuck on 'waiting...' Tried a couple of times. Gave up, for now :doh:

Ewido (Grisoft) Now AVG: Requires ie, but works with FF ie tab. Did a full scan in very reasonable time, came up with 26 minor errors (tracking cookie-type stuff) and removed them all for me. This is the best one so far as far as I'm concerned :T
EDIT: 10/09/09: Can't even find this anymore.. my above link goes to AVG's 'LinkScanner' (online web page scanner useful, alongside WoT, LinkExtend, etc..). AVG have 'swallowed up' ewido and seem to have binned the online virus scanner. Another one bites the dust.. (please let me know if I'm wrong!)

Freedom: Couldn't find a free online scanner.. (the OP is 3 years old though*)

F-Secure: Requires ie. It painlessly did a full scan, but found nothing so I can't say whether it cleans.
03/02/10: According to this webuser review, it's good.

Kaspersky: Scanned no problem. Found four 'nasties'. No apparent way to remove them though..

McAfee: According to NIKMAISON (post 98 below), this one scans but doesn't remove.

Panda: Works with Firefox. Did a full scan. Found plenty of errors (seemingly in one of my junk mail folders, which Thunderbird shows as empty..), then wants you to register to remove 'some' of them, and payment to remove all.. I'm sure I've used this one before. Either it found nothing that time or I'm missing something..

Trend Micro Housecall: Works with Firefox (yay), but I wasn't too chuffed with the results. A 'shed load' of exclamation marks which it said it couldn't provide more info. for.. :

An error occurred while trying to retrieve more information about this vulnerability. There is currently no more information available.

which is a pain in the rear when you've just waited ages for it to scan. Grr!
I didn't click to clean, since it didn't tell me what it would be cleaning! Grrr!
Judging by others' comments regarding it giving false positives, I don't think I'll use this again, even though some report it as their favourite.. Suppose it all depends on what it finds..
Shame, as I've been a big fan of HijackThis for a long time, which Trend have now taken on/over.
EDIT: 28/04/09: Just ran this on OH's computer. Same as above.. GooWorld below (post 100) seems to have no problem with it.. must be me.. I'll put it down to FPs and might not bother with it again
Update: 11/09/09: Housecall v7.0 beta released 03/07/09. Small download. Browser-independent. Much quicker (<15mins.). Didn't find any nasties on my PC, but it's looking good :T

* Nice to see that most of these scanners are still going three years on. Even though I'm not impressed by most of them so far, I will keep at it, as I'm sure there are one or two that I may not have done 'properly' somehow..

P.S: Noticed OP updated in July. Cheers TOG!

just tried the macafee one it doesnt get rid of any viruses just scans

Trend Micro's online scan Housecall removes viruses... Well 99% of the ones it detects anyway

Hey thanks for sharing the useful links. I use Kaspersky anti virus to protect my PC