Expert: Keith Davis - 12/11/2008

Question
Hi im running windows xp sp 2, recently ive had some trouble with pc, when i start up it says error messages dll. I have virus?spyware programs, theirs always a popup coming up with Avg antivrus and Avira saying theirs Trojans and Viruses, ive Quarantined them buut they still keep popping up with different popups, ive also done a scan with spyware software can you please advise Thanks

Answer
Sounds like one of the new malware programs that pops up fake virus alerts. Can you give me the name of what is popping up? You can probably go to the virus vault in AVG and get the names from there.
In the meantime this is what I do to stay spyware, malware, and virus free.
I use 3 different programs and have been virus, spyware, and hack-free for close to 6 years.
Believe it or not all of these programs are free and are rated higher than programs you pay for.

Anti-virus- AVG Free Edition http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.html

Firewall- ZoneAlarm www.filehippo.com/download_zonealarm_free/
Make sure you disable Windows Firewall (it is worthless anyway) because they don't work well together. Don't get aggravated with the program. At first it will really bug you because it will be popping up a lot. When it pops up read what is trying to access the internet. If it is a trusted program click the check box "remember this" and click allow. After a short while you will get it set where it only alerts you to things that should not be accessing the internet.

Anti-spyware- Spybot Search and Destroy- www.filehippo.com/download_spybot_search_destroy/
Download, install, update, then run a scan and remove all spyware that is found.
Setup the program like this: Go to "mode" (top left of page) and click "advanced". At the bottom left you will see "tools". Expand tools and click "hosts file", then click "add Spybot S and D hosts list"

A little more safe internet advice:
1. I don't use Internet Explorer. It is not as secure as other browsers. I use Mozilla Firefox. It is faster and very secure.
2. I don't use Outlook email. I use web based email like yahoo or hotmail. Outlook actually loads email on your PC. Web based email stays on a server and you just view it from you PC.
3. Only download free software from trusted sources. There are very few that I trust. Trusted: www.filehippo.com, www.majorgeeks.com, www.snapfiles.com, and www.download.com