Expert: James Filmer - 5/26/2009

Question
im looking for a good antivirus and anti spyware program.I have a computer running windows vista.Well actually its a friends pc.Their daughter somehow  contract a trojan that installed a program called personal antivirus.I have ran mcafee on it and it doesnt detect it.I;ve tried all sorts of free anti virus and antispyware programs to get rid of it.I'm sure they dont mind paying for  a good virus  and atispyware program.Do You have any recommendations with all the reviews out there it seems everybody is trying to sell you something.I'm thinking about reinstalling the os until the mean time.The error im getting  or was getting is critical system warnging trojan.win32.agent.azsy

Answer
Dear a_m

No need to reinstall the operating system.

One way to eliminate Personal Antivirus (and probably the trojan win32 agent azsy at the same time) is here:

Download and install the free (or paid) version of Malwarebytes:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

a-squared free and SuperAntispyware should also detect and remove Personal Antivirus and the trojan, and

Regarding additional anti-spyware and adware programs, Spybot Search and Destroy, Lavasoft Ad-Aware are excellent.

About the Antivirus program, AVG anti-virus is great (if you're dissatisfied with McAfee). There's a link on Enrgy21.com and the full version gives you a bit more protection and support than the free version, but you can try a free trial 30 day version. (Just one anti-virus and firewall program at a time please).

I encourage you to use more than one anti-spyware application because none will detect and remove all forms of malware, some target specific kinds that others miss.

Also, I'm curious about the firewall you're using. It will help me determine how secure your system is in that area.