I have had so many ordeals regarding virus intrusions, some came from websites, others from infected phones, infected Ipod, Mp3/Mp4 players and most specially from flash drives (USB). I spend so much time over the net so every now and then I perform a cleansing scan to detect if any intrusion has occured after few weeks of usage. Do you perform some scans on your computer too? how many times do you do it and why are you making such scan, besides looking for viruses.
[question posted by agmamayo]
responses and comments:
I dont even scan cause the thing your talking about scan from usb ,if youre antivirus is good enough it will clean it up in the first place o.O Anyways it always gets stuck which then i have restart it all over again :| Use kaspersky its the best [solemnsoul17]
Cool, I was just wondering, are there viruses that are undetected? how will I know if those kinds of virus infected my PC. Can you share any ideas about this. Thanks for responding. [agmamayo]
I have AVG anti-virus and it scans my computer automatically every other day. I currently have the trial version, which lasts for a month. What I do is, I download the newest trial version of avg, use it until it expires, then uninstall it and install it again! This method works perfectly fine and I get all the newest products Free Of Charge(FOC) instead of having to buy them every year or so. Hope this helps! [leedm158]
Wow, thats fascinating, I think I'll have to try that too. I was wondering, how does an anti-virus program works besides detecting it, how can it find an infection. Can you share any ideas with us Leedm?. Thanks for the response and Happy mylotting. [agmamayo]
The virus scanner we have on our computer, scans daily, or well at 4 am every day to check for virus's, malware, and stuff. We used to do just a weekly scan but it seemed that things would get on there and it would be there for a week before it was caught, now we do it daily because it's keeping our computer running smoothly. Like you, we are always hooking up things up to add pictures, music and so on, never know when something could cause a problem, and don't really need to be spending alot of money fixing the computer. Better to take the extra step and scan daily, than be hit with something that causes alot of damage between weekly scans. [Jae2619]
Yeah, you're right Jae, Its like prevention is better than a pound of cure. I don't mind either performing it each day, to check any malicious programs which have been opened through cloaking on various website you visit. Do you know any virus program that are not readily detected by the protection softwares you have on your PC? Can you share any information about this. Thanks for your response. [agmamayo]
I perform a scan once a month to check for viruses.I do it so that my system will run safe for the next whole month.I was used to surf the net without an antivirus.Then suddenly when i installed the antivirus then i found sixty viruses in my computer.The antivirus did not even remove it.Then i downloaded a free version of antivirus updated it and then removed the virus.happyhappy [vicky30]
I am using avira antivir free antivirus.If we upgarade it we will get spyware and firewall protection.happyhappy [vicky30]
i m using linux in order to avoid viruseson my computer. it is very good os. [ankitpaliwal]
Hello Ankit, Can you share to us some information about the Linux Os, whats the best feature of it that can detect a virus, and how infection is prevented by it. Thanks for your response. [agmamayo]
I have ESET NOD32 anti-virus. It scans system automatically with 'real-time protection measure'. It doesn't take any load(0% CPU load). So, whenever a virus/infection/spyware/worm/malware through cd/usb/internet tries to enter, it quarantines the virus immediately. [louisex2]
ESET NOD32 anti-virus user too. ^^ ive been using this for a year and half no problems lately. [exkrima]
Normally i am doing monthly once because it is computer for study use only! i am using avg free edition and it is updating from internet everyday! Ya but my friends are saying virus attacking! i think they are using pen drive! [ponvendhan]
Sharing of flash or pendrive and Mp4 gadgets can transmit viruses from on PC to another. Is there a way we can clean our flash drive or Mp$ gadget and get rid of these virus that resides in them? Can you share some ideas about this?. Thanks for your response. [agmamayo]
i do full scan once a week. but quick scan twice a week or every time i connect mp4 player, pen drive & mobile.i normaly also get a warning sign from norton. well its good if you do it frequently . precaution is better than cure. [peterjtd]
Thanks Peter, can you tell us why these viruses are present, what are its primary purpose besides invading of computer and making it slow downs or even crash. Can you share some ideas about this?. [agmamayo]
I use AVG antivirus.I rarely scan for virus until my PC hangs or I have some problem. [pickwick]
Hi!To be very honest I am an ignoramus as far as viruses are concerned.Let me share an incident which took place when I bought this PC three months ago.I was preparing a lecture on retro-virus and wanted some information.My husband told me to get it from the internet.I replied that I will do so but not from my system.What if it gets infected!!Lol! Today I realise what a dumbo I had been.When I have trouble with my PC,I call the dealer and they help me in rremoving the virus.Though I use antivirus I my PC does get virus. [pickwick]
single pass check should be fine ... update virus patern and scan ..i use AVG free version. [fren45]
so far What I See for Avg..They lack of Firewall on their antivirus. [fren45]
Better to scan everyday who works on internet more time. Now a days everybody working on internet so best to keep a schedule task to scan on leisure time (lunch time) or any break time. So you can not loss of time to scan and no need to worry about the system slow while you are scanning. [nagasubbarao]
I was just wondering Naga, why do we have an occasional slowdown whenever we run an antivirus program. Is this normal or not?. Thanks for your response. [agmamayo]
I guess, i never scan my computer from virus. My Anti-Virus is auto-scan, so i just let the virus in to my computer. I don't update my anti-virus since July 6, 2008 (my anti-virus doesn't know a new virus). I feel uncomfortable when my computer infected by the virus. I have gets any virus from USB-Flash Disk, and it very difficult to fix. Because, i don't want to install my Windows again. Need much time to install the Windows. I check my registry Windows, and a lot of files. I see that registry has been change, and the files seems strange. So, i use my way to fix my computer immediately from the virus. [May2k8]
hi first of all i want to know which antivirus software you are using..... as of my knowledge it is better to use Symantec Antiviru and for virus scan i will perform virus scan once per week as scheduled scan........... Regards RK [sevakuduuuuu]
I run my McAfee antivirus program regularly on a weekly schedule. I scan my computer, the whole hard disk, and all files as a safety measure. We experienced before a big troublesome mess with viruses and it was a huge headache. So we learned our lessons from that. Scanning with McAfee, including Spyspot is now a routine computer checkup monitor for us. [MariaD]
i do not run the scan manually but when i get reminders from the antivirus program, then i click yes to start the scan. [user_786]
Once a week. I do all the computer maintenance once a week on the weekend. I have do it's thing while I'm house cleaning. It doesn't take as long either as it would when I waited 2 weeks. [Rustinas1]
i have an anti-virus program that scans the computer daily to make sure there are not any new threats to the computer you can never be too careful i like to make sure i check all the drives to make sure you dont want to transfer any bad files to one of your portable drives or player and i like to use my video player and my mp3 alot so better to be safe then really, really sorry. [timhinyy]
2 times a day... i set it to scan every 12 o clock [billgatexp]
I will do the full scan once in a week . As most of the threats are removed as soon as they entered , there is no need to scan daily. But in rare cases, if the system behaves abnormally, i will scan daily for atleast 3 days to find the threats and if i am not able find anything odd, then I will change the anti virus software again and will scan again till the threats are identified. [kumarpslv]
Uhm. I scan my computer everyday. Before I go to sleep, I make sure my laptop and desktop is at least virus free. Well, my sisters always use their flash drives to save their things, and of course since they open their files also at school, I do not know if there are viruses that is why I double check. There are some viruses that even anti virus can't remove and so I remove it manually. Although it is kinda bit risky. Hahahahaha. [taki_takaishi]
I use AVG free edition and scan once a day. I have it set for 3 am as my computer is usually on all night so I just leave it on and it does not bother me. It slows me down a little when it is running and I have a large application running at the same time so I let it run in the small hours of the morning. [mariposaman]
I have my computer scheduled for daily scans. I do this becasue I want to keep my computer running as well as it can as long as possible. [lynnemg]
I scan my computer once a week with everything... sometimes i run them more or less.. if i remember.. i try to keep it cleaned up as much as i can. i know i do somethings that i need to be careful on so i don't get spyware and other bad junk... [sameroad]
I do scan my computer everyday. It is already been my routine to do that, because my computer before was hit by a virus, and it really is a pain to my brain on how to get rid of it..so after that incident..I must scan it everyday.. :) [ajamiro]
I tend to scan every day to clean up virus! Because the virus is now on the network too many, impossible! [ada547612]
I myself run the programs once a week, but have them scheduled to run daily. I also have different programs I run every day. You would be surprised how much they catch, which is great. When my computer is acting up I make sure I run these programs. [MaryLynn321]
I scan my PC every weekends.... I run a full scan which runs almost for 3 hours. And then it automatically cleans if any infections detected. [naveenkulkarni]
hummmmmmm good question to discuss but being a computer science student and having interest in security field i usually remain careful before executing or opening any stuffs. Can you imagine i haven't formatted my system from last 2 years and its working fine. No virus yet although got some of them though flash drive but i know how to remove that and i do manually and rest of work my NOD32 antivirus does. but for personal satisfaction when i feel lets check is there anything rubbish in my system or not then i use to do scan else its ok for me. [jassics]
I do it every third day as I am very wary of the new breed of virus popping out everyday.I just cannot afford to have my computer infested.To be on the safe side I take the back up of all my files regularly in case of a crash. [balasri]
I have set my computer to do a regular virus scan every Friday morning. I often get PUPS (spyware) deleted by my virus software. I use Mcafee, virus scanner and firewall. happy - Derek [derek_a]
I have a scheduled weekly "complete scan" but I also manually perform a "quick scan" whenever I have used a new website of if I receive a pop up warning regarding a website. [whiteheather39]
since i switched to using macintosh, i've never scanned my computer. there are much less virus and worms targetting macintosh compared to pc. also, i take care when i connect devices to my laptop. another precaution i take is to not download anything from a source i'm not familiar with. i do backup my computer often though. no attacks so far doesn't mean it won't happen. i'd rather be on the safe side.winkwink [applefreak]
that's the very reason i scan mine. i usualyy defrag it & run adware about once a week. [ANTIQUELADY]
Hi friends... I usually check it once a month... I seldom to check my computer cause of i have great software that prevents any other to change 1 or more of my hard disk... This software called DEEP FREEZE, i think you have heard this name before this... This software will bring your hard disk back to it's last status before the disk was frozen by yours... Now i use avira antivirus...^^... That's all from me, thank you... Make mylot the best...TQ... [Dan_Cerz]
I use McAfee on my computer and it usually catches something as it tries to get to my computer. I also have it set to do a complete scan automatically once a week, so i do not have to worry about doing it manually. If my computer starts to act funny i will do a scan, but if not i do not worry about it. [dlr297]
in my computer i have AVG anti-virus and it scans my computer automatically every day . i don't do particularly anything. if sometimes ,when my computer is structed somewhere,then i will restart by removing viruses. [ank_47]
I have norton anti virus and so that automatically scans pretty regular. Also it scans if I have the computer on but leave it idle it scans then too. Its pretty good actually, norton gets a lot of bad reviews but the one I am using has been fantastic so far and has stopped my computer getting some pretty bad viruses. [gemini_rose]
If I feel my computer was defected, I usually first google the solution for the virus according to the symptom my computer presented. Then follow the step of the solution to clean the virus. The best way from my understanding is re-start your anti-virus program, or update it. My computer had been defected by a virus can shut down anti-virus program, I followed the solution from google step by step, at last my computer is clean and refreshed. [vinson_jia]
Me I have Nod32 antivirus installed in my computer and I'm using it for years now and I did not encounter virus anymore. I also have antispyware and Malware. I think almost 3 months from now that I perform a thorough scan of my computer. [Arlmi2000]
I check mine every other day. I work online and I have to keep this computer running at top notch. [jennifercrowe]
I check my computer about one time per day..coz the windows operaing system we are using now are becoming more and more unsafe now..we must take care of it to pretect it from unexpected harm from the web.. [nocovi]
I have run anti virus on my regular schedule.Instead when i use pen drive or connect my digital camera with it then i scan my computer.But i think if my virus guard are enabled than i need not to run scan programs every time.They are able to give virus guard.Thanks [Shovon_b13]
I dont really have any virus protection at all on my pc lol I find that most of the programs simply slow me down more than its worth so when my system starts bogging down I just format. It's just my personal comp so I have that luxury haha [paradicio]
Scan every night. That's what my computer repairwoman told me and it works! No viruses. [mysticmaggie]
This happens once a week, but it is automatic and I don't even know about it unless I happen upon the process. [savypat]
every two weeks, sometimes 1... my antivirus, automatically detects if a file is virus is in my pc.. i am using avast... and before i use my USbs that i use in other places, i scan it first so that there will no vitus on my pc. [cuttyrish]
i don't scan it regularly, i just perform a scan when it become unusual slow. i think a anti-virus software and a firewall would be enough to protect my computer. [peacemaker09]
I never do it, but I know I should. If my virus protection weren't out of date then I would probably do it about once every two months, unless they reminded me. I'm not the kind that worried about prevention, which is not good thumbdown but I guess teh first thing I should do is get a new virus protection. I don't use any flash drives or Mp3/mp4 palyers though so hopefully I'm all right! [csrobins]
- I bought this computer a little over a month ago and when I think about it, I do a complete scan once a week. I'm on the internet everyday several times a day. So far, mine has only been infected with spyware and one time, I got a virus because my adobe flash reader was causing me problems. I no longer have spyware and I just closed the adobe flash reader out. The adobe flash reader was causing my computer to lockup a lot. The first computer I ever had was a used computer and you wouldn't believe all the viruses I had with it! It was enough to drive me up a wall! So I got virus protection with this one. I do the complete can because I just want to make sure I don't have any viruses and I just like to make sure I'm up and running good. [cyrus123]
But unless you visit dangerous websites, once a week seems wow... [lordwarwizard]
I never did.. . because I don't know how to do it. LOL. My son do it for me. It's really a problem if my computer get infected. [irene66]
I clean disc,use defragmenter,check for spyware using spybot and scan for viruses using avast every weekend.....Sometimes when I am online a lot I will use it when I am done in the evening but, I at least do this all once a week....Hope this helps... God bless [lyonslady]
I do the scan once a month now when my pc reminds me of the regular scanning. Luckily I don't experience problems with my computer unlike with my old one. I also do not have an anti-virus subscription because it is too expensive, so I just use the free ones online. Virus is the main reason for my scan. I am not really very knowledgeable with this things and fortunately I am not having a hard time with my pc. [alicia812]
For my computer/laptop atleast twice a week. But for my potable devices such as USB, everytime I connect it to my computer. [CMTS_87]
Hi agmamayo, Only occasionally. Probably when I am bored with nothing to do or just once every month or 2. I scan more for spyware if I do scanning. Or just do defragmenting... I have too much confidence that my computer is clean, and it is substantiated by the virus scan reports. Cheers! lol [lordwarwizard]
Well.When i brought this computer,I was chatting in messenger and had online friends .Among them One guy was a hacker and kept sending me viruses.I didn't know that time about him and i was clicking the links he given to me and my pc was getting lots of viruses. i have installed anti virus then and was cleaning my pc every month.After knowing i have stopped talking to him and installed my windows again.Now i dont have viruses in my pc.Even then i keep cleaning my pc every month, [mymytri]
Hey there! Just like you my computer gets infected much from removable disk storages (phones, Ipods, mp3/4 plyers, and USB). Usually before I open the removable disk I perform a scan on it first. If I found some virus I'd remove it and not continue with it. We don't know where those devices were plug in to. The source of the files in the device might contain viruses. So it's better to perform virus scan on removable devices before using them. Many websites has viruses too. I use Norton and AVG to scan my computer. I scan my computer everyday before turning it off. I usually do it in the evening while I'm having dinner. I only look for viruses. Why? is there anything else besides viruses? Have a nice day. Happy posting!! [AltheGreat2430]
hi agmamayo..i think my son have installed a virus scanner in our computer...every time we open it automatically scanned and if detected any virus terminated it.. [vanities]
I use Avast anti-virus and I set it to auto protect at all times. I have learned that viruses and mal-ware don't tale time off. Now I do let my systmem scan for windows problems and registry and the like only scan once every day or two. But.....on the virus scan you need full time protection. [cableman67]
Hello agmamayo!Just like you, I use my computer very often. I use both my desktop PC and my laptop very often. Both are indispensable. I am also online quite very often. Because of this, I know how exposed my computers are to virus. I am so conscious about the well-being of my PC and laptop. That is why, I always scan them for virus. At least 4 times a week that is. [dolce_vita78]