I like AVG…no bones about it. And I recommend it to my clients because it’s easy to use and it’s reliable and now with version 9.0 it’s also faster again. On the comparative tests at Virus.gr, AVG Free removed 97% of the viruses. I have clients–with teenage sons— who used to hire me every six months to clean their computers of malware, I convinced them to try AVG and voila, two years later, and they still haven’t needed me to clean viruses again. I know, amazing!! And so much easier on the budget than computer repair bills.

If a client calls and asks me how to get AVG for their computer, I tell them to search for AVG on Google, but this week a client named Anna accidentally downloaded a virus from Google instead. Among all the legitimate links for AVG in her Google search results, she managed to click on a link that lead to Antivirus 2010, a rogue anti-virus which I remove several times a week from other clients’ computers.

Here’s where she clicked:

Don't download this one!

All the rest of the links are good. Look for http://avg.com or http://free.avg.com. Or you can use the one I use from CNET’s download.com: http://download.cnet.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.html Since it’s Cnet, you know it’s safe. Just scroll down further in the Google search results for AVG.

Be careful out there, it’s a wild web!!

Here’s the press release from October of this year from AVG Technologies describing the newest version of AVG:

“Amsterdam, October 5, 2009 – AVG Technologies, developers of the world’s most popular free anti-virus software, today announced that its family of free and paid internet security products, AVG 9.0, would be generally available to the market in October 2009. Boosted by significant enhancements in speed and levels of protection, AVG 9.0 is also easier to use and improves end user experience. Additionally, all AVG users in the U.S. will benefit from a groundbreaking identity theft offering, powered by a partnership with Intersections Inc., North America’s leading and most innovative provider of consumer identity theft prevention solutions which has served more than 25 million consumers. AVG’s new technology products ensure that users are safe in whatever online or offline activities they undertake.

“AVG 9.0 will provide home computer users with a more powerful and more streamlined solution that adds protection without impacting user experience, taking us back to our core strength of low impact, high performance security,” said J.R. Smith, CEO, AVG Technologies. “We’ve always believed that everyone has the right to a safe online experience. With AVG 9.0, we are providing first-class assistance to our users in their development of tools and measures for their safety from all of the threats posed by cybercriminals and identity thieves, whether they’re working, playing, banking or shopping on the web.”

1.First I ran Combofix. (I did this in Safe Mode with Networking.)

To get into Safe Mode, I had to tap F8 as the computer booted. If you tap at just the right time, a list of options in black and white is displayed on your screen. If you get the usual Windows boot up, you’ve missed Safe Mode so you’ll have to restart and tap again.

Pick Safe Mode with Networking. Then you’ll see a message asking if you’re sure you want to go into Safe Mode or if you’d rather use System Restore. Click yes you do want to go into Safe Mode. In Safe Mode you can then download and run Combofix.

When you get to the page, you’ll have to scroll down. I usually pick the Bleeping Computer link.. you’ll have to scroll down. It looks like this.

This is a photo of the Bleeping Computer website where you download Combofix.

Download Combofix here.

If you can’t download or run Combofix then you have very serious virus problems so see this post.

After I ran Combofix, enough spyware had been removed so that I could do the following in regular Windows mode.

2. Downloaded and installed AVG.

3. Downloaded and installed Malwarebytes.

4. Ran Malwarebytes. Malwarebytes caught quite a few Trojans. Also when I ran Malwarebytes, AVG’s residential shield caught a few more things that Malwarebytes going through the files seemed to stir up.

4. Ran a full scan of AVG. The AVG is what caught our friend Trojan Horse Clicker.

Many of my clients are worried about the new AVG. They’ve been receiving alerts and trying to update to the new AVG. AVG 8.5. They think they have to pay.

A new version of AVG is out but no, you don’t have to pay for it. It’s free as usual. Click here to download it. If you have trouble downloading it I will be glad to assist you. Just call 403-483-0105. It is the first thing you need for good protection along with some decent anti-spyware software.

Sorry I’ve been away, floating down rivers in Europe with Mr. Ducktoes, Little Ducky son and so have been remiss in writing posts for this blog.

Please as usual don’t be shy about making comments and suggestions.