*NOTE: An out-of-date program is an ineffective program. Check for updates regularly.*
Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool
McAfee Stinger
Free Anti-Virus Programs:
Anti-Vir:
http://www.free-av.com/ (English)
http://www.free-av.de/ (Deutsche)
AVG:
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/
Avast:
http://www.avast.com/
Free Online scans:
Trend Micro Housecall:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp
Panda Software Active Scan:
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm
McAfee Free Scan:
http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp?cid=9059
Free Firewall Programs:
*Never run more than ONE personal Firewall*
Zone Alarm:
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp
Sygate:
http://www.sygate.com/firewall/
Outpost:
http://www.agnitum.com/download
Windows Firewall: If you're running Windows XP with SP2, go to
Control Panel > Windows Firewall.
PeerGuardian:
http://methlabs.org/
*This is for those who use p2p file sharing programs. It blocks RIAA, MPAA, government and other IP addresses from connecting. It is NOT to be used instead of one of the above, rather alongside a full personal firewall.*
Free Anti-Spyware Programs:
*When it comes to anti-spyware programs, the more the merrier*
Ad-Aware Personal:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Spybot: S&D:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
Microsoft Anti-Spyware (Beta):
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
Spyware Blaster:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
*Doesn't remove spyware, but stops spyware being installed. Use in conjunction with one of the above.*
Free Anti-Trojan Programs:
a-squared:
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/download/
Ewido:
http://www.ewido.net/en/ (14-Day trial of 'plus' version followed by unlimited usage of the 'free' version)
Trojan Guarder:
http://www.your-soft.com/
HiJack This!
HiJack This! provides you with a log of running processes, registry entries and other items of information which can be used to identify malware on your computer. It does not discern between legitimate programs and malware, and so it is necessary for your log to be analysed by someone familiar with malware so that they can tell you which entries need to be fixed.
Download:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html
The latest version is 1.99.1
Install HJT to its own folder on your hard drive (e.g. C:\HijackThis)
For best results, run in Safe Mode.
If you have a log which you need analysed, you can post it in Tech Talk's
Hijack This! log thread, post it at a security forum such as
CastleCops (preferred) or use a guide like
this one or
this one to identify malicious entries. Do not attempt to remove entries yourself unless you're confident that they are malicious.