What is the best antivirus software? Norton? McAfee?

You would be shocked to learn that most antivirus software you can buy on the shelf at a retail store has already been hacked by virus writers. When a hacker creates a virus, the idea is to infect as many computers worldwide as they possibly can. This means cracking the code of the most popular antivirus software such as Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky, and others that are widely available at retail stores. Part of our consultation is to recommend a powerful antivirus software that will protect your system and is not a target of these widespread viruses. After performing a virus removal, we will be happy to install a free, 30-day fully functional trial antivirus program for you. You may purchase the full version that day or at any time during the trial period.

Understanding viruses
 

A Virus has many main objectives. It will steal information from your computer such as internet logins and passwords, use your computer as a remote "spy" PC and perform tasks without you knowing, and use your email system to send "spam" out to the masses, including everyone in your address book! All of these activities can be performed without you even knowing!

Many think that viruses are created just to slow their computer down, this is only a side effect of a virus. If you are infected, there may be things happening with your PC that would scare you. Once infected, MOST viruses will alter the windows registry so that it cannot be removed by antivirus already installed. Some viruses will actually prevent new antivirus software from being loaded onto your machine, therefore making your antivirus that you just bought at the store useless. In any event, if you think you are infected, you should call us to perform a system analysis and manual virus removal. Our onsite consultants can remove viruses without even starting Windows on your computer, which in most cases is the only way to get rid of them.

How do I know I have a virus?

Symptoms include the following:

• Internet Explorer "redirects" to an unknown search page

• Your default search page changes without you knowing

• Computer runs slower than usual

• The computer stops responding, or it locks up frequently

• The computer crashes, and then it restarts every few minutes

• The computer restarts on its own. Additionally, the computer does not run as usual

• Programs on the computer do not work correctly

• Disks or disk drives are inaccessible

• You cannot print items correctly

• You see unusual error messages

• You see distorted menus and dialog boxes

• There is a double extension on an attachment that you recently opened, such as a .jpg, .vbs, .gif, or .exe. extension

• An antivirus program is disabled for no reason. Additionally, the antivirus program cannot be restarted

• An antivirus program cannot be installed on the computer, or the antivirus program will not run

• New icons appear on the desktop that you did not put there, or the icons are not associated with any recently installed programs

• Strange sounds or music plays from the speakers unexpectedly

• A program disappears from the computer even though you did not intentionally remove the program

Our onsite consultants can remedy all fixable problems caused by viruses. However, the worst virus infections can damage your Windows Operating System beyond repair. This happens a small percentage of the time but nevertheless, it happens. Our onsite consultants will be able to identify this immediately before going forward and make recommendations at that point. You may need a reinstall of your operating system or "Restore". This would involve backing up your data, documents, pictures, etc. and  reinstalling Windows. You must have this done by the experts, because if you load your infected data back onto your system, you are right back where you started.

Don't spend your time running around in circles trying to solve virus problems. Call us to solve these problems for you quickly and correctly!