The "Free Downloads"

[jesslhope]

I want to know what is all this "free pc scan" stuff?  Download "this" for free to repair your slow computer... stupid me downloads it, then it asks for $79.00.  I don't think so....  my question is "Are there any REAL, FREE scans & repairs out there, and do they really work?" Any advice or comments would be appreciated.

[Joey]

Please be aware, there are A LOT of websites out right now that claim to perform some sort of free scan virus or windows cleaner but are actually malicious sites. Those sites actually download viruses or malware to your computer. Once of those malicious software that they download to your computer is called, "AntiVirus 2009" which has infected over a million computers since it was created last year.

When looking for some sort of free scanner make sure it is from a reputable company that you know of. If you are not familiar with their name then just look them up via Google Search. Here are the free choices that I know of...

http://www.ccleaner.com/
We use it at the company I work for. It is 100% free. It cleans Internet/Web browser junk, the Windows Registry and temp files that clog up your computer.

http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
I wrote an article and created a video tutorial on Kaspersky Anti-Virus. In my opinion it is the best out there. The link above is a free virus scanner they provide you.

http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/tuneup.htm
I have never used this but I saw this free scanner on the net and thought I'd share the link. It is from Microsoft so it is of course from a reputable source.

[ghostofnyc]

Please be aware, there are A LOT of websites out right now that claim to perform some sort of free scan virus or windows cleaner but are actually malicious sites. Those sites actually download viruses or malware to your computer. Once of those malicious software that they download to your computer is called, "AntiVirus 2009" which has infected over a million computers since it was created last year.

When looking for some sort of free scanner make sure it is from a reputable company that you know of. If you are not familiar with their name then just look them up via Google Search. Here are the free choices that I know of...

http://www.ccleaner.com/
We use it at the company I work for. It is 100% free. It cleans Internet/Web browser junk, the Windows Registry and temp files that clog up your computer.

http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
I wrote an article and created a video tutorial on Kaspersky Anti-Virus. In my opinion it is the best out there. The link above is a free virus scanner they provide you.

http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/tuneup.htm
I have never used this but I saw this free scanner on the net and thought I'd share the link. It is from Microsoft so it is of course from a reputable source.

good info

[rcgvette]

Check www.cnet.com 

[Ned]

AntiVirus 2009 is it the Trend Micro AntiVirus plus AntiSpyware one?  Or is it other AntiVirus?

[Joey]

AntiVirus 2009 is it the Trend Micro AntiVirus plus AntiSpyware one?  Or is it other AntiVirus?

AntiVirus 2009 is a malware program (like a virus). For a while I could not remove it from PCs at work (back when it was AntiVirus 2008). I finally found a method of uninstalling it for free which I logged in a tutorial if mine, http://www.cleartechinfo.com/Learn-How-To-Remove-AntiVirus-2009-Malware