[haloboy100]

Alright, so after putting up with the incredibly slow performance of my computer (though it plays games just fine), I'm thinking that this iexplore.exe virus I'm having is really deserving some attention, even though AVG says nothing is wrong. I've now officially decided that AVG is a load of balls in the oven, since it never really detected any virus I've ever had (well, I guess it has, but it's "healing" never helped at all), and the customer service is completely useless, and their so-called virus "encyclopedia" has never helped me in the entire years I've ever used it.

The only noticeable symptoms I'm having are massive system slowdown, as this iexplore.exe process has now all of a sudden decided to take up a huge portion of my CPU resources. I see spikes of up to 50 percent on both cores, and if I turn on AVG interface my CPU caps out at 100% and never recovers until I terminate AVG. As much as I terminate the iexplore.exe process (which by now I've figured out is internet explorer, even though I deleted it months ago), it keeps comming back within a few seconds afterwards. Attempting to block it using AVG's resident shield does nothing, further cementing my belief that AVG is ****.
Oddly enough, this CPU spike only started happening today. The only symptoms I've been having before hand has been this mysterious other process which was a series of numbers (beginning with 147 or something, I don't remember).exe, which I assumed was a virus as terminating has always had no consequence, and it seems to be a parent to the iexplore.exe process. The other symptom was that I would randomly hear a podcast-sounding message play suddenly, usually some guy talking about dating or his penis size. Not a good thing to have when you're showing a friend a game. This message stopped whenever I terminated the iexplore.exe process, telling me that internet explorer is infected and downloading from malicious websites, even though I deleted internet explorer a long time ago.

As of now I'm trying This solution I googled regarding this. Assuming it works, I'll be needing a new anti-virus program as I'm completely fed up with AVG now.
I'm looking for the best anti-virus I can get, that's hopefully under an affordable price (let's say, about 50 bucks), and one that actually works at detecting the nasty threats. Looking for one with a good firewall, too. AVG's firewall is good, but it mysteriously disappeared a few months ago, and I think it doesn't work anymore. Perhaps it's the virus, but all I know is that it isn't really working. I'm also looking for a program that would be relatively light on resources, at least like AVG, so I can play games.

After searching the web I've found a few anti-virus programs that seem to be rather popular - Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Zone Alarm, and - believe it or not - Mcafee and Norton. I say believe it or not because I've learned from experience on friends' computers that Mcafee is full of crap and false positives, and does nothing but block internet traffic that you need instead of unsafe connections. and obviously Norton, because it is notorious for being a system hog.

So, I'm sorry to burden the community, but I don't really know anybody else with adequate computer experience to help me. Any help would be shiny.

[Herra Tohtori]

Home users do not need to pay for internet security solutions at this time. You can get completely sufficient protection with free products; in fact some of them offer better results than many of the paid solutions. I can understand the need for accountability and support for business or enterprise computers connected to net, but other than that, free AV programs have a tendency to be more resource friendly AND more efficient at virus detection and removal.

Avast! Home Edition is my choice for anti-virus solution when I'm using Windows of any kind.

Comodo Personal Firewall is what I use for software firewall when I need one. Note that Comodo also offers a complete "Internet Security" package with an anti-virus program. Ignore it and make sure you install just the firewall. Comodo's firewall is awesome, the anti-virus functionality not so much.

Avast! is particularly nice because you can make it run a complete virus check at startup before the system - and any embedded viruses - are activated to the level where the virus can prevent the anti-virus program from detecting and deleting it.


Aside from that, I suggest using common sense in what you download and install on your system, as well as using a good browser like Firefox 3 along with NoScript plugin, which prevents all scripts from running except those that you want to allow. Sounds cumbersome, but I find it better than being linked to attack sites that launch an un-exitable javascript that tells me my computer needs to be scanned...

...or worse, the Jumping Window RickRoll.

[Thaeris]

If you elect to purchase a program, I personally enjoy TrendMicro AV and Spy Sweeper. I've had no real problems to date. I also tend to be very specific about my web browsing...

However, the truth is no one program will find all of the problems. Hackers being hackers, there's always going to be one that gets through...

-Thaeris

[haloboy100]

oh, don't worry...I'm very deliberate on my browsing and I use firefox, personally I think this virus is from some bad choice on torrent downloads. Anyway, I'm not asking for help on removing this virus (unless, the solution I mentioned above doesn't work, I might), I just need a good AV program. I'll try Avast! as I've also heard very favorable reviews and the nerdier folk at TVWP seem to always know what they're talking about

Ah yes, Trend Micro. I've heard very favorable things about that, I'll take a look into it.
Thank you.

[Thaeris]

If I'd suggest some things to avoid they'd probably be McAffe and Norton. Both tend to be very system-intensive and invasive to other programs. Conspiracy theorists will also suggest that major AV suppliers such as these also fabricate viruses distributed throughout the programs themselves to enhance revenue earned through their enterprises... Or something like that.

Personally I've never used one of the apps on my own computer, but people close to me have. And did not do well by them...

Once again, Trend Micro and Spy Sweeper have not given me such problems.

-Thaeris

[Herra Tohtori]

I shall add F-Secure to the things to avoid as well, even though it's technically a Finnish product.

It's just too damn resource intensive - completely needlessly.

[haloboy100]

Yeah, i've heard bad things about f-secure as well.

[MP-Ryan]

Avast is the only antivirus product I recommend, and I've tried over a dozen.  I run it on all my systems.

[colecampbell666]

The only AV I'll ever recommend again is ESET. It takes up no CPU, it has resident protection, a very similar firewall to Comodo from what I can see, and it has the best heuristic and non-heuristic protection available.

[Mika]

I shall add F-Secure to the things to avoid as well, even though it's technically a Finnish product.

It's just too damn resource intensive - completely needlessly.

I'm running with F-Secure both home and work, while I use Kerio Personal Firewall at home. Kerio has been quite good firewall, while F-Secure has actually thwarted a couple of virus attacks to my home computer. But it does take resources like there is no tomorrow. I suspect my 2600 MHz Athlon cannot actually run the damn program any more.

Staying out of torrents will help protecting your computer as you don't necessarily need to download anything to catch a virus. Watching your firewall traffic log of those sites or programs like DC++ can be quite revealing.

[S-99]

How about you run your computer with a standard user profile? Viruses and malware can't do anything unless you give them permission or unless there was an existing hole in your OS of which an update would eventually come out to patch. Still a good thing to have antivirus even in user space. You'll just be doing a lot less scans if any.

[Androgeos Exeunt]

Avast! for Windows? Hmm ... I might just replace AVG with that.

[Liberator]

aVast! is nice, updates semi-frequently, bout twice a week or so, and it's saved my ass several times as it will snag infected downloads and connections to infected sites before you ever see them.

[haloboy100]

Well, look what happened here.

I accidently deleted a system file, but system restore helped that, and now the virus is totally gone.

and it turns out there was still a piece of AVG left in my connection settings that was preventing me from connecting to anything.I promptly deleted that and now everything is blustery and flowery.

Thanks for the help, guys.

[Sushi]

I recently switched from Symantec to aVast. I'm very happy with it.

Not that I ever have virus problems anyway. I tend to stay in safe parts of the internet and don't torrent anything.

[Mongoose]

I've never had any noticeable issues with AVG myself, but to each their own, I suppose.

*knocks on head*

[S-99]

The torrent protocol isn't the problem, of course just what you may be torrenting that may or may not be virus laden.

You all have fun with your admin user accounts 24/7, i know i at least don't let anyone of my friends on my computer unless they're in userland.

[Kosh]

So, I'm sorry to burden the community, but I don't really know anybody else with adequate computer experience to help me. Any help would be shiny.

Don't worry about it, people come here all the time for computer advice.

[haloboy100]

You all have fun with your admin user accounts 24/7, i know i at least don't let anyone of my friends on my computer unless they're in userland.

I never let people on my computer at all, knowing all nasty programs one can hide in a 1GB thumb drive and how untrustworthy a number of my "friends" are.

[Snail]

You all have fun with your admin user accounts 24/7, i know i at least don't let anyone of my friends on my computer unless they're in userland.

I never let people on my computer at all, knowing all nasty programs one can hide in a 1GB thumb drive and how untrustworthy a number of my "friends" are.

Good call.