my computer has a virus what shall i do?

[jamesuppercutt]

If you can quickly download AVG anti virus for free.
Then install it. And disconnect your internet
Let AVG do its magic and hopefully you would be virus free.

[Gentlemenalarm616]

I recommend using avast home edition for good free protection.

Avast Home Edition guards your PC and the network with multiple shields that scan executables and files. You can select parameters for scanning, and even choose wildcards to exclude specific file types. You can adjust the sensitivity level for the program's detectors when it comes to scanning downloaded files, instant messages, e-mails, and a host of P2Ps. Its efficient interface opens up window after window to tweak its settings to your liking, for novice to advanced level protection.


For spyware protection i recommend using superantispyware free edition.

uperAntiSpyware, a next generation product, with its Multi-Dimensional Scanning and Process Interrogation Technology will detect spyware and remove over 1,000,000 pests such as Vundo, ZLob, SmitFraud, WinFixer, VirusRay, and VirusHeat. Repair broken Internet connections, desktops, registry editing, and task manager. The program provides complete and custom scanning of hard drives, removable drives, memory, registry, individual folders include trusting items and excluding folders for complete customization of scanning. Detect and remove spyware, adware, malware, Trojans, dialers, worms, keyloggers, and hijackers. Prevent potentially harmful software from installing or re-installing. First Chance Prevention examines over 50 critical points of your system each time your system starts up and shuts down to eliminate threats before they have a chance to infect and infiltrate your system. Our Direct Disk Access (DDA) technology sees rootkits others miss.

For malware removal you should use malwarebytes.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is a high performance anti-malware application that thoroughly removes even the most advanced malware and spyware. With one of the fastest, most effective quick scans and malware removal capabilities on the market, this program is the perfect addition to your PC's defenses. The full version of the product includes a number of key features, including the ability to schedule updates and scans and most importantly, a real-time malware protection module that blocks malicious processes before they even start.

To protect against keyloggers I HIGHLY recommend using keyscrambler.

KeyScrambler Personal is a free plug-in for your Web browser that protects everything you type from keyloggers. It defeats keyloggers by encrypting your keystrokes at the keyboard driver level, deep within the operating system. When the encrypted keystrokes reach your browser, KeyScrambler then decrypts them so you see exactly the keys you've typed. Keyloggers can only record the encrypted keys, which are completely indecipherable. Unlike anti-virus and anti-spyware programs that depend on recognition to remove keyloggers that they know about, KeyScrambler will protect you from both known and unknown keyloggers. What's more, KeyScrambler provides protection without getting in your way. You don't have anything to learn about the program and you don't have to do anything differently, but with KeyScrambler your important personal information will be a whole lot safer.

Use a good firewall.

PC Tools Firewall Plus Free Edition 4

PC Tools Firewall Plus Free Edition is a powerful personal free firewall for Microsoft Windows that protects your computer from hackers and intruders. Firewalls control the network traffic in and out of your PC by monitoring applications that connect to the network. Firewall Plus can stop Trojans, backdoors, and keyloggers from damaging your computer and stealing your private information. PC Tools Firewall Plus is advanced technology designed specially for people, not experts. Powerful prevention against attacks and known exploits is activated by default and advanced users can also easily create their own packet filtering rules to customize the network defenses. The program is recommended for use alongside of AntiSpyware and Antivirus software like AVG or Spyware Doctor to protect PC against Spyware, hackers, worms, and viruses.

These are all free.

Stay safe on the internet and remember never download anything recommended by a popup.

Links:

Malwarebytes
http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-An...

Superantispyware
http://download.cnet.com/SuperAntiSpywar...

Avast home edition
http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Home-Edit...

Firewall

http://download.cnet.com/PC-Tools-Firewa...

[Mark]

The below is the best current way I'd defend and clean a system.

*Remember, no popular how Norton and Mcafee are, never ever install them. They hate being removed, besides that, they actually don't detect crap, they detect things that really aren't viruses at all, bull crap- free anti viruses are better than them.

*Note, the below is based on a free way to get a nod32 anti virus paid system, nod32 and kaspersky have had debates on which is better, in my experience nod32 is and it has links on how to get it for free. If you look on the nod32 website enough, you'll find comparisons on anti viruses, these tests were taken by an external 3rd-party website and scores were made. Nod32 came above kaspersky.

I use all of the following, except the free anti viruses.

*First defense -> Nod32 & spybot & Linkscanner pro
*Last defense is -> Malware bytes' anti malware
*Other apps, are all the ones listed below installed on my computer.

If you ever get a hi jacking, this is when your browser homepage changes or doesn't load correctly, internet connection keeps redirecting and your IP address has changed, and your internet is slow.
http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-An...04572.html

Spybot search and destroy, anti spyware, immunizes browser cookies for protection, integrates with your anti virus.

Ad Aware.
http://download.cnet.com/Ad-Aware-Annive...45910.html

Ad aware clears you of ad aware and spyware spam.

CCleaner.
http://download.cnet.com/ccleaner/

CCleaner speeds your computer up, but be careful when roaming around registry keys with this product, it's strong, always back up!
It clears old files and cleans your traces.

Link Scanner, it scans website addresses to make sure there virus free.
http://www.explabs.com/downloads/

Anti virus.
If you'd like to go free, then here you go.
(Note, do not use AVG- it was terrible protection for me and my last line of defense saved me, and many others said it's bad too, go avira or avast)
Avira & Avast.

Both highly reviewed by users and CNet.

http://download.cnet.com/Avira-AntiVir-P...22935.html

http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Home-Edit...19223.html

If you want a respected anti virus, #1 paid anti virus and defends against conflicker.
Get Nod32, from ESET.
http://www.eset.com/products/nod32.php

To download the 30 day trial. (30mb)
http://download.eset.com/eval/win/eav/eav_nt32_enu.msi

For free serial keys (It is a paid product, you might want to buy a serial key that lasts a year or two!, but if you want to go free...then here's the solution)
http://nod321.com/

To effectively remove programs and all it's serial keys, try Revo Uninstaller, it also stops things loading during boot if you don't want to mess with Msconfig.
http://download.cnet.com/Revo-Uninstalle...87648.html

Web browser.
Use mozilla firefox, not google chrome because chrome is new and still finding it's way as a browser, it still has a heap of virus exploits. Internet explorer is always a top hit for viruses too.

getfirefox.com

[Carling]

Please read the full message
With Windows there will always be problems with viruses, there are something like 10,000 a week being sent out, and some of them a bound to get through, because by the time they have been found it is to late people have already got them on their computers.

You need to move off windows and install Linux on your computer which is like the Mac operating system. It is more secure than the Mac operating system, All the big Businesses usu Linux naming the companies that you know are. IBM, Intel, Google Yahoo, Facebook, Myspace, HP Dell these companies don't use Microsoft Windows.

Linux is free to download and use with all the software you will ever need, All the software you can buy for windows you can get free with Linux, which is called FOSS (Free Open Source Software) It is developed by professionals for the general public to use

There are many versions of Linux that you can download and use all up to date 2009 versions check out all the web links be low

[psathish]

try this article

Windows Security Tips to detect the virus and delete it manually
http://how2.uuuq.com/Windows%20Security%...nually.php