Today I had the misfortune to pick up a nasty computer virus

Wiping out all my stuff. Boo Hoo!

Anyone know of any good packages to prevent this? AVG Free and Spybot Search and Destroy did not even alert me.


Bad virus!

EDIT Well I had to reload so not technically wiping out all my stuff but I had to as the computer would not work.

I use Norton Anti Virus and Windows Defender


They wrk very good with me

Norton antivirus is what I use, I picked up a nasty virus warned me and gave me the option of deleting.

But it always has a part of it called ccapp.exe which always has problems shutting down when I close my PC down. Doesn't cause any harm, it's ust a pain.

Also some updates order you to restart with no option of doing so later. I just stick those messages down under the taskbar out of sight so I can continue with my session.

So that's what that ccapp thing is on my computer, always wondered what it meant.

I don't really like Norton, although it's really good, it slows my computer down a lot. (I need more memory or something!)

I can reccomend getting Ad-Aware to remove spyware and stuff like that

oh god i am seriously at risk, i dont have any

and my last computer, if i hadnt gone on here, and been downloading stuff it probably woud have worked.THANKS DOND.CO.UK or at least thats what i think could have caused it.Or i downloaded spyware to my MP3 player.back on topic i used to use norton antivirus but because it had parental controls installed on my login, i had to go into my dads and turn them off.Hehe

If you haven't got ANY protection on your computer you ARE seriously at risk!!!

If you haven't got all the latest operating system security updates installed on your computer and have NO other protection your computer can come under attack just by being connected to the Internet without downloading anything!!!!!


I can assure you that you did NOT pick up any spyware from browsing dond.co.uk as I have built the site myself and know that there are NO spyware programs lurking around here.


Now you seriously need to get you computer protected as you will end up with the same problem you had before and your computer will slowly grind to a halt.

I've put a list of FREE protection that is available for you below, install these on your system and it will greatly help to keep your system virus/spyware free. Unfortunately no one program can provide you with 100% protection so you find you have to use a combination of them to give you solid protection.

For FREE virus protection you can use Grisoft AVG...

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us ... virus-free
The link you need is about halfway down the page in the first orange box.

Another FREE anti-virus program is available from Avast. It is not recommended to use both anti-virus programs at the same time, so use either AVG or Avast, BUT NOT both at the same time
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

For FREE spyware protection there are a couple of programs you can use

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad- ... rsonal.php
Ad-aware is FREE and provides good protection against spyware

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
SpyBot is another FREE spyware protection program

Now for some firewall protection to provide another layer of security, Zone labs provide a FREE firewall program

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/c ... lid=nav_za

Install these and keep them up to date by regularly using their update functions AND don't forget to USE them to scan your system REGULARLY as well!!!!!!

There are lots more FREE protection available on the internet and I'm sure that you will get a few more recommendations for other products.

It is not advisable to surf the internet without any sort of protection on your computer as you are just asking for trouble, and with the number of FREE and extremely good programs available there is not really an excuse not to be protected........ Sorry about that little rant/ramble, it's just I have seen so many computer systems full of virus' and spyware and the owners have blamed the computer for breaking down when it's really just full of virus and spyware and after a few hours cleaning all the junk out the computer is back running as good as new.

Thanks Kestral. My Norton virus scan has expired now and I can't afford the new one although it does keep you protected but not against new viruses. I can reccomend AdAware to everyone though

No problem Littlefrog, I hope the links have helped.

I would recommend using one of the FREE anti-virus if yours has expired as you really need to keep the updates as new as possible, as there are new virus' being unleashed all the time.

Ive got Norton Ghost continuously backing up and Mcaffee 2006 on a trial with Norton 2006 ready to step in!


We once downlaoded one of the free spyware products and it clogged up our system banned us from going on the t'internet and generally tried to kill me computer! I cant remember the name of it but if I do Ill post it!


Dan how long have you been without any protection?

I heard of norton ghost but what does it do?

It does all of these
Creates full backups of your PCs contents
Restores individual files or entire hard drive
Monitors and optimizes backup disk space
Encrypts backups to help keep them secure


I havent had to use it so far but its basically a safety net.

Thanks, I'm gonna start downloading them asap!

Cheers for the links Kes, I've got an anti-virus programme but didn't even think of getting one preventing Spyware!

I have hundreds!


I lose count of them..........

Just downloaded that Firewall Kestrel mentioned, it seems pretty good!

well, took me about 5mins to read all that, i think it would be easier to go with one, and stick with that, i know dond.co.uk is spyware free, thanks for clarifying that kes, er....well, wjhat can i say? there is some protection on the computer, just not accessible at it were, on my login.Which is what i use all the time. Plus the protection is what you might call "weak". anyway......just thought i'd say.......






























HAPPY HALLOWE'EN! back on topic, thanks for the suggestions kes, will have a good look at those sites

Just downloaded AVG, however, it says I have a program on my computer which needs updating, and if I don't, it will cause a bug in my computer! I've just searched my computer and it seems I don't have that program at all!! Mystery.....

mmmmm.. Not come across that one before....

Do you know what program it says needs updating?

i used AVG for a few years. its a good one for free but i saw in pc world the mcafee full internet package, it was only £24 it was a one day deal. mcafee's ok but it can slow pcs down. but it does protect brilliantly., Ive got the spyware with it too.

Norton slows the computers a bit down too.