Best anti-virus for windows xp if you already have a virus

[t33hatley]

Hello,
I am looking to get the right anti-virus for my computer, however it already has a virus on it and i need to know what to do. It will not let me restore or anything. It took all the icons away. Can you help?

 

[graywolf]

1. Use safe mode with networking to download, install, and update Malwarebytes. Then do a full system scan.
2. Do the same with SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
http://www.superantispyware.com/download.html3.
3. Download, install, and update Avira Anti-Vir. Do a full system scan to double check. Avira is a real time, live updating AV. KEEP IT.

4. Use CCleaner to repair any registry damage.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

plus like wolf said malwarebytes is awesome!

 

[graywolf]

Two diff things. MSE runs resident. Malwarebytes should be used on demand, as the realtime version would interfere with MSE.

 

[digitalprospecter]

I just want to throw this into the ring as well.

Any of the Panda Antivirus packages have a good boot-from-the-CD cleanup program that can help those users who only have a single computer and can not scan their hard disk drive by putting it into a clean computer.

For the last 4 years I have been running Panda in a Nursing Home Environment, with 101 employees sharing 23 computers and the only computer to get infected in all that time was the one running a Symantic product. That being said, it seems as if the current crop of malware/viruses (and the line is blurring) can get by any product.

 

[aford10]

+1 @ Graywolf

Malwarebytes is one of the best scanners to find and remove malware. Most malware is dormant in safe mode, downloading, installing, and scanning in safe mode is the best way to remove an infection.

 

[graywolf]

+1 means what?

 

[aford10]

+1 = I agree

 

[graywolf]

Panda is fine. But the OP has nothing, and I didn't want to offer too many choices.