Malware

[Zygy]

I run AVG, Spybot-S&D and Rapport Setup,(web protection e.g.Bank's) but the
computer from time to time warns me that I have no protection for Malware
and to check the settings.
How do I check the settings? (I am a self-taught user)
Do I need any other software for protection?

 

[Richard G. Harper]

This can happen if your selected malware/antivirus program is in the process
of updating and shuts itself down during the update process. If this is the
cause you would most likely notice it soon after you start the computer
and/or when the program is updating itself. If it happens only occasionally
and sporadically then it's almost certainly no cause for worry.

 

[Zygy]

Thank you for the reply. You are probably right because the warning
disappears when the computer is restarted.

 

[Sam Hobbs]

Look at "Control Panel | Security Center"; I think that is what you are
asking about. If it is, then have a look at all the many other things in the
Control Panel, so you know what is there.

 

[Zygy]

You know that a click on the warning icon produces the Security Centre, so
there is no need to go through the Control Panel, but you do not say how to
check the settings! What help is that?

 

[Hank Arnold (MVP)]

I run AVG, Spybot-S&D and Rapport Setup,(web protection e.g.Bank's) but
the computer from time to time warns me that I have no protection for
Malware and to check the settings.
How do I check the settings? (I am a self-taught user)
Do I need any other software for protection?

Where exactly do yo see these messages? Are they a pop up on the
desktop? Many times, alerts like these are from hackers trying to get
you to go to a web site and buy some protection.

Do you have an anti virus software running? How about a software firewall?

--

Regards,
Hank Arnold
Microsoft MVP
Windows Server - Directory Services
http://mypcassistant.blogspot.com/

 

[Sam Hobbs]

You know I am just trying to help. Criticizing someone trying to help won't
accomplish anything.

The quality of answers often depend on the quality of the question.

 

[Zygy]

Hi Hank, thank you for the interest.

The warning appears as a small red icon on the right side of the taskbar
with a notice above it stating that there is no protection against Malware
and that I should check the settings. When I click on the message I get the
Security Center showing that there is no protection against Malware. I do
not know how to proceed further to check the settings and activate the
Malware protection.

The AVG Anti-virus is updated hourly and running all the time and during the
Malware incidents does not show any threats. I checked.

The only Firewall I have is the Vista one. Microsoft assure us that it is
impenetrable and one does not require another one.

Over to you Hank.

 

[Hank Arnold (MVP)]

First off, let's address the firewall issue. No firewall is
"impenetrable".... period. Some are better than others. There are many
who will say that the Vista firewall is all you need. I'm not there,
yet, but it is significantly better than the XP one. It is still
considered by everyone whose opinion matters to me an "adequate"
firewall. Combined with a router w/ a hardware firewall and "Safe
computing" is it is, IMNSHO, sufficient for the average home user. There
are much better firewalls out there, but reality is that they are so
intrusive and cryptic, that the average user simply turns them off or
answers "Yes" to every prompt...

I haven't used the AVG software. Is this the free or paid version? Is it
supposed to protect against Malware? I use NOD32 (from ESET) and it
does, in fact, show up in the Security Center. You can download a 30 day
trial version of NOD32. See if it works. I usually recommend it to folks
who ask. It costs about $60, but, IMNSHO, worth every penny. Stay away
from the ESET Security Suite, though. Many of us are very unhappy with
the firewall function.

If ESET does, in fact, show up in the Security Center, it means that
your AVG software doesn't have any malware protection...

BTW, a great uninstall program is "Revo Uninstaller". It not only runs
the program's built-in uninstaller, it also searches out registry
entries and files that are no longer necessary. I've been using it for
about 6 months. It's worked flawlessly for me (and I install/uninstall a
lot).

http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html

--

Regards,
Hank Arnold
Microsoft MVP
Windows Server - Directory Services
http://mypcassistant.blogspot.com/

 

[Zygy]

Many thanks for all the information. The AVG I run is paid for although it
does not show that it includes Malware protection (it mentions
Anti-Virus,Anti-Spyware and Anti-Rootkit protection as active) but the
Security Centre shows that the Malware protection is on all the time and
only disappears when I get the warning on the Taskbar.

The warning disappears if I restart the computer and then the Security
Centre show that the Malware protection is on. One of the contributors to
these exchanges mentioned that maybe the warning appears only when the
update of Malware protection (by Microsoft?) is in progress. Is that
possible?

I will try NOD32 you recommend if you still feel I should do it.

Regards Zygy.

 

[Sam Hobbs]

The avast! antivirus Home Edition is free; see:
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

The features do not use the word malware, but Avast is considered very good;
I sure have not seen anything indicating it is lacking. Is that something
overlooked by many experts?

 

[Noel Paton]

The avast! antivirus Home Edition is free; see:
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

The features do not use the word malware, but Avast is considered very good;
I sure have not seen anything indicating it is lacking. Is that something
overlooked by many experts?

FWIW, AVG free includes what used to be a2 (a-squared) anti-malware -
they bought the company a few years back, when it was considered one
of the best of its kind.

 

[Sam Hobbs]

FWIW, AVG free includes what used to be a2 (a-squared) anti-malware -
they bought the company a few years back, when it was considered one
of the best of its kind.

Note that I made a mistake; Hank said AVG and I mistook it as Avast. I know
they are different but clearly made a mistake.

 

[Hank Arnold (MVP)]

Are you running Microsoft Defender? If so, that seems to be the problem.
I personally did not like Defender (too intrusive), but many swear by
it. Try disabling it and see what happens. Maybe you need to uninstall
and then re-install it...

If this is the case, I don't think NOD32 (or any other AV program) will
address your problem.

--

Regards,
Hank Arnold
Microsoft MVP
Windows Server - Directory Services
http://mypcassistant.blogspot.com/

 

[Ǝиçεl]

Hello Zygy,

You could try this:

Right-click Command Prompt (in Start Menu\Programs\Accessories) and choose
Run as Administrator. Type (or Copy and Paste) the following command:

winmgmt /verifyrepository

If the system returns "WMI repository is not consistent", type this command:

winmgmt /salvagerepository

The first time you run this it will fail. (It will issue stop commands to
the services causing it to fail, saying, "A stop control has been sent to a
service that other running services are dependent on"). It might take a
couple minutes for the services to shut down. Run the last command again.
You actually may have to run it 3 times before it finally runs and completes