Moose Loc: North Carolina

Is there a device that will scan your system to check for malicious software that got loaded during a trouble shooting process? If I want to remove any of that suspicious software, what is the best way to get rid of it to be sure my PC is corrupt free.
I took it to a PC support shop who did a "deep" cleaning of the system to remove any of the suspicious software. Cost me $199, and wonder if there was a cheaper way of restoring my PC without the fraudulent software?

Laramie Loc: Tempe

There are several tools that will allow you to scan for malicious software. Two I have used, if you use Windows, are Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool, and McAfee's Stinger. Something else you can do is to open Disk Cleanup. Make sure to check Temporary Files.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Yes, Disc Cleanup is good but for your first clean each time, do the System Files first. You might see some temporary files with a lock on them. That's okay, they won't be deleted. If for some reason you want to delete them you will need to go into File Manager and do them individually. Ive never bothered. CC Cleaner is another I use and is pretty good but has never found anything malicious on our computers but it does clean out a lot of 'Junk' and Trackers (especially if you use Google a lot or watch You Tube).
Also activate regular scans using Microsoft Defender if you are using a Windows PC.
We've had home computers inc tablets etc, almost since they were available and have never had a virus or anything that has been a threat, that we are aware of.

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

I highly recommend Malwarebytes. It has a reputation for detecting malicious software that some antivirus programs miss. The free version of malwarebytes once rescued a PC of mine that had been rendered completely useless by malware. I was very impressed and immediately subscribed to the paid version, which I continue to use on a PC and on MacBook Pros several years later, along with antivirus programs.

If you consider CCleaner (for trivia aficionados, the "CC" stands for CrapCleaner, the program's original name), make sure to download it from the ccleaner.com website. CCleaner became so popular that it was actually hacked and turned into malware twice (in 2017 and 2019).

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

I've been using Malwarebytes for 10+ years. It runs quietly in the background, automatically scans in the early AM, and simply does the job. My computer runs 24/7 with an occasional restart.
Mark

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

Look into MalwareBytes. I've been using it for years and it runs in the background all the time.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Another vote for MalwareBytes. In addition, keep Windows defender up to date by installing regular Windows patches (go to Settings>Updates). Plus I like SpyBot Search and Destroy. If you opt to use CC Cleaner, be careful that you manually select what it removes. It can remove things like Cookies that are very useful to personalize your experience with sites you visit regularly. If they’re not already enabled, turn on Windows system restore points ( https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-a-system-restore-point-77e02e2a-3298-c869-9974-ef5658ea3be9 )

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Your comments re CC Cleaner are interesting. I have been letting it clear all cookies every night for more years than I remember and never noticed sites I visit regularly being any different. Of course I prefer sites that I don’t actually log into to not remember me. If I log in to a site, then of course it does remember me. I clear ALL cookies every night, first with CC Cleaner then any left are picked up by Disk Cleanup. I really don’t want any sites tracking me with cookies, just slows down the system eventually. It doesn’t affect passwords.
To me, most are just crap tracking cookies but some can be a lot worse than that and contain real nasties. Get rid of them all I say.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Certainly tracking cookies can be an issue, but for sites you visit regularly, they’re a big benefit. Plus, every site I visit asks you upfront if you’ll accept cookies. Unless you accept them, your computer doesn’t store them - simple. The concept that all cookies are bad is a misunderstanding. Per Wiki:

“HTTP cookies (also called web cookies, Internet cookies, browser cookies, or simply cookies) are small blocks of data created by a web server while a user is browsing a website and placed on the user's computer or other device by the user's web browser. Cookies are placed on the device used to access a website, and more than one cookie may be placed on a user's device during a session.

Cookies serve useful and sometimes essential functions on the web. They enable web servers to store stateful information (such as items added in the shopping cart in an online store) on the user's device or to track the user's browsing activity (including clicking particular buttons, logging in, or recording which pages were visited in the past).[1] They can also be used to save for subsequent use information that the user previously entered into form fields, such as names, addresses, passwords, and payment card numbers.

Authentication cookies are commonly used by web servers to authenticate that a user is logged in, and with which account they are logged in. Without the cookie, users would need to authenticate themselves by logging in on each page containing sensitive information that they wish to access…”

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

I second the motion, David, I have the paid version of Malwarebytes and it keeps my computer safe from malware, I also have Windows Defender, comes with Windows 11, it does a great job. Between the two of them I have not
had a single problem. I have no other antivirus program on my computer.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

'Certainly tracking cookies can be an issue, but for sites you visit regularly, they’re a big benefit.'
Exactly what big benefit do you get? I've just logged in to a site I visit regularly without having stored a cookie and accepted this time to agree (as I usually do). Looks like what I always see. Didnt close the site down, then gone and deleted all the cookies stored in Disc Cleanup. Go back to the site and it still looks the same even tho Ive deleted its cookie. Absolutely still the same. No benefit to me as far as I can see.


'Plus, every site I visit asks you upfront if you’ll accept cookies. Unless you accept them, your computer doesn’t store them - simple.'
I dont find every site asks if I will accept a cookie. However if they do and I dont get a warning from Firefox that its dodgy, then I accept the cookie. But at the end of the day, that cookie is removed from my computer.

'The concept that all cookies are bad is a misunderstanding. Per Wiki:'
I'm not saying 'every' cookie is bad, just mainly unnecessary for my benefit. But when you said earlier be selective in what cookies you delete, I'd love to know how you identify the good and the bad?
I cant so I just play the game and delete all of them.
Each to his/her own.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

I am in favor of MalWareBytes (I have the paid version) and CCleaner. I also have one called SUPERAntiSpyware that does a pretty good job. There is a free and a paid version of SAS.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

…But when you said earlier be selective in what cookies you delete, I'd love to know how you identify the good and the bad?
I cant so I just play the game and delete all of them.
Each to his/her own.[/quote]

The answer is that I can’t remember the last time I visited a reputable site that didn’t ask if I would accept cookies, and at that time I choose whether or not to accept. If I’m planning on using the site again, I accept, but if not, I decline. I don’t need to constantly clean my computer, because I use safe computing practices, manage my storage, and keep my machine patched to the latest rev on all frequently used aps and windows. As an experienced computer professional, personally I find CC Cleaner to be too “course” a tool for my liking, but if it suits you, God bless and carry on. I don’t need a tool to remind me to empty my recycle bin or temp folder occasionally, and I don’t run my storage so close to the limit that I worry about the space it uses - just so easy to periodically do it manually.

My opinion is that the vast majority of virus/malware/ransomware attacks are caused by poor computing practices - visiting sketchy sites, download questionable aps from unknown sources, opening bogus email and attachments and not keeping the OS and browser aps up to date. There are those among us that just like to constantly mess with their machines, running various aps to “clean” their machine every night, but I prefer to just use my machine and keep it patched and run MalwareBytes and Search and Destroy periodically on principle. If my machine isn’t behaving correctly (which is very rare), I look at the tak monitor and logs to see why.

Whatever turns you on.

Nodpete Loc: Naperville, IL

I've used the paid version of Malwarebytes for years, also Spybot, both good programs.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

The answer is that I can’t remember the last time I visited a reputable site that didn’t ask if I would accept cookies, and at that time I choose whether or not to accept. If I’m planning on using the site again, I accept, but if not, I decline. I don’t need to constantly clean my computer, because I use safe computing practices, manage my storage, and keep my machine patched to the latest rev on all frequently used aps and windows. As an experienced computer professional, personally I find CC Cleaner to be too “course” a tool for my liking, but if it suits you, God bless and carry on. I don’t need a tool to remind me to empty my recycle bin or temp folder occasionally, and I don’t run my storage so close to the limit that I worry about the space it uses - just so easy to periodically do it manually.

My opinion is that the vast majority of virus/malware/ransomware attacks are caused by poor computing practices - visiting sketchy sites, download questionable aps from unknown sources, opening bogus email and attachments and not keeping the OS and browser aps up to date. There are those among us that just like to constantly mess with their machines, running various aps to “clean” their machine every night, but I prefer to just use my machine and keep it patched and run MalwareBytes and Search and Destroy periodically on principle. If my machine isn’t behaving correctly (which is very rare), I look at the tak monitor and logs to see why.

Whatever turns you on.[/quote]

Well that’s strange, you not remembering a reputable site that hasn’t asked re cookies. I’m almost the opposite. I rarely get asked. Have spent an hour on Steve Perry’s Backcountry gallery. Never got asked. UHH, never got asked. Mansurov’s Photography Life, never been asked. In fact I’m having trouble today finding a website that asked me to accept cookies.
Makes one wonder about your interests a little.

O, of cause, you are a self confessed experienced computer professional so i guess your interests probably range far wider than mine. Well god bless you too