Is your computer already infected with a virus? Check out these tips on how to fight back.

To scan or not to scan? That is the question ,,, if you think your computer may be infected by a virus. It’s often difficult to diagnose the problem without outside assistance. Especially when the symptoms are unclear … slower processing, unusual error messages, apparent hardware problems. These could simply be signs of ‘old age’ as the hard drive, mouse and keyboard wear out. Or perhaps that new game you installed is now in conflict with a video driver. So, like any good ‘doctor’ you need to take the appropriate steps for a good diagnosis.

First, use a reputable virus checker to review your system. No, best still, use two virus checkers to overhaul your computer. What one doesn’t catch, the other software package might. Two of the free programs we recommend, include: MarketScore and Panda Security. Of the many commercial programs available, two of the best known include: McAfee and Panda Security Pro.

Let these anti virus programs scan through your computer. (Turn off heuristics’ which is used to check for new or unknown viruses, but may also generate too many false alarms – see McAfee Glossary).

A virus scan may point to the source of infection, but commercial software is usually the only way to get rid of the problem. 

Finding just one infected file most likely is a false alarm. Even the scanning software errs on the side of caution to ensure a “better safe than sorry” attitude. The software should tell you whether it can ‘clean’ the infected file(s). If so, make a backup of the original file and let the anti virus program return these files back to their original uninfected state. After they have been cleaned, try each cleansed file to see if they work properly. If all is well, then delete the backup copies. 

If the problem continues, however, throw out these ‘cleansed’ originals and restore the backups. Try your second anti- virus program to see if it has any better luck with the infected file(s). By trying two different programs, what one couldn’t do, often the other one is successful.

But if nothing works, hopefully you have an uninfected backup to restore. Barring a good backup, your only other option is waiting for the commercial programmers to find a way to ‘cure’ your particular virus. In the meantime, do NOT run the infected file for any reason. Rather than risk it infecting other files, you are better off leaving it alone, or if you are confident it will not be missed, even deleting from your computer. 

Exercise caution at every step. If in doubt, get technical support from your software’s manufacturer. That’s why you bought anti virus protection from them in the first place.