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My anti-virus software reciently ended and now I'm actully having anti-virus companies GIVING me fake viruses so I'll buy their product. However the last "virus" is more intolerable then others. I tried to download another free anti-virus software(Avast I think) but the virus didn't give me permission to do so. Does anyone have any advice for what I could do, I'm at my wit's end?

It actually sounds like your computer was infected, not by something from an "anti-virus company," but by malware masquerading as security software. That's fairly common, these days. You will need to at least download a try-before-you-buy product such as Kaspersky Internet Security 2009, or McAfee, or Norton, in order to get rid of it. If you can't do that, try posting over in one of the company's forums. Many are very active, and such problems are not uncommon. I'm sure they'll be able to figure out what virus you've got, and how to circumvent its activities.

Avast - in my opinion - is properly one of the best anti-virus programs you can use, so if that can't remove the virus, I suspect the other brands can't either.

You didn't say which virus it was you had, but occasionally specific tools exists to remove specific virus outside the more general virus software.
Perhaps finding one of them would be helpful.

Otherwise, there might only be the reformat/reinstall option remaining.

And never, ever, use the "free online scanning" tools. They're bogus most of the time and it can be difficult telling the right ones from the bad ones.

Years ago I was in a similar situation.
I ended up downloading Avast with another computer and transferring it to my own via a CD.
After much pain and tinkering, I was able to get Avast to run and it killed the infection.

I don't know if that will work for you, but it might be worth a shot if you can borrow a friend's machine.

You also might try booting your machine in Safe Mode with Networking enabled to try and get Avast downloaded and installed.

Eurika! I got my computer fixed, even fixed some small problems from a year ago. I contacted Kaspersky for help, and, after some difficulty entering safe mode, fixed it all.

Sain wrote:Eurika! I got my computer fixed, even fixed some small problems from a year ago. I contacted Kaspersky for help, and, after some difficulty entering safe mode, fixed it all.

Kaspersky's the one I actually use. That doesn't make it better than the rest, but they are among the best when it comes to staying on top of the latest kinds of problems out there.

Just did an interview with a Kaspersky VP. What he had to say about the state of security on the Web was pretty mindblogging, in a bad way.

Ditto. Kaspersky is excellent. I have been using the Security Suite since getting my new computer a couple of years ago and whenever I do any kind of a malware scan my results are completely clean. Every so often there's the odd cookie, but that is about it.

I'd also suggest not browsing with Internet Explorer and using something like Opera or Firefox.
One nifty little application I'd recommend downloading is: [url="http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html"]Spyware Blaster[/url], it does an excellent job of keeping junk off your computer.

I also concur with Xandax, I've tried a number of the free AV products, and Avast is by far and away the best.

dragon wench wrote:I also concur with Xandax, I've tried a number of the free AV products, and Avast is by far and away the best.

AVG comes in at second place. It takes up less resources in comparison to Avast!, but the latter is more complete than the AVG free version and does a slightly better job at filtering viruses... which is why i switched.

Loki[D.d.G] wrote:AVG comes in at second place. It takes up less resources in comparison to Avast!, but the latter is more complete than the AVG free version and does a slightly better job at filtering viruses... which is why i switched.

The various reviewers seem to have Avast and Antivir jostling for top spot, with AVG coming in third...
Apparently Antivir's detection rate is slightly higher, but overall I find Avast to offer the better package. I also prefer Avast's stripped down interface.

Sain, you may want to read this. Quite interesting, and points out the problem you've more than likely been having, too.

Loki[D.d.G] wrote:AVG comes in at second place. It takes up less resources in comparison to Avast!, but the latter is more complete than the AVG free version and does a slightly better job at filtering viruses... which is why i switched.

I dislike AVG with a vengeance. Their network editions works and functions very spyware-ish when it keeps enabling various tools bars and what not. Many people at work have a big problem where AVG keep activating a Yahoo toolbar with some sort of mention that "the software have noticed the toolbar is missing, so it has been reactivated because perhaps it was removed by mistake"
Their scans also seems mediocre in comparisons.

And AV software which does that, does not deserve to be installed on my computer(s)

Xandax wrote:Their scans also seems mediocre in comparisons.

No arguments there. But as i gave already stated, AVG is quite popular because of the fact it doesnt put as big a strain on the system's memory in comparison to other AV software. The price for this though, is a seemingly quite basic AV with mediocre protection... enough it seems for 80 million users.

Loki[D.d.G] wrote:No arguments there. But as i gave already stated, AVG is quite popular because of the fact it doesnt put as big a strain on the system's memory in comparison to other AV software. The price for this though, is a seemingly quite basic AV with mediocre protection... enough it seems for 80 million users.

Not to overly belabour a point... But I find it hard to believe that AVG's light footprint could exert *that* much appeal..
I had Avast running on my old computer... a P3 with 384 MB RAM... it worked just fine..

dragon wench wrote:Not to overly belabour a point... But I find it hard to believe that AVG's light footprint could exert *that* much appeal..
I had Avast running on my old computer... a P3 with 384 MB RAM... it worked just fine..

I've not done any deep comparisons or checked any official sites, but based on my experience from work and home, I'd say AVG seems to hog more resources then my avast at home. Might just be because it is some network, expanded edition or something at work though.
The avast process right not is taking up about 1.2MB on my home computer when idling.

dragon wench wrote:Not to overly belabour a point... But I find it hard to believe that AVG's light footprint could exert *that* much appeal..
I had Avast running on my old computer... a P3 with 384 MB RAM... it worked just fine..

Well, when you are trying to multitask on a system with 512 MB of physical RAM and 256 MB VRAM, every little bit counts. Comparing AVG with Avast!, i can see a discernible difference on boot times and also in game FPS for the more memory taxing games im playing such as Oblivion.
Or perhaps my comp is getting antsy and its time for another reformat.

fable wrote:Sain, you may want to read this. Quite interesting, and points out the problem you've more than likely been having, too.

:laugh:LOL. Exactly what I told my parents when they came up. The same two people hacking my computer over two days. Either worlds slowest hackers, or B.S. Warnings that sounds like a threat, caused by the same Virus. Ya right. Once I calm down I actully laugh at them and the idiots that fall for those tricks(then I remember that I can't search the internet"fixed" or start my applications"fixed")

This [url="http://www.techsupportalert.com/how-to-secure-your-pc.php"]page[/url] is well worth checking out for security tips. The same site is dedicated to reviewing the best freeware available on the web.

@ Loki,
when I had my old machine I would disconnect from the internet when playing more demanding games so that I could safely turn off my scanners. You might want to consider the same approach

dragon wench wrote:@ Loki,
when I had my old machine I would disconnect from the internet when playing more demanding games so that I could safely turn off my scanners. You might want to consider the same approach

I already do that whenever possible. But i suppose i should also have mentioned that there are some games i play via steam or other online clients that don't allow me that luxury such as Team Fortress 2 and L4D. A drop in FPS there usually equals to getting fragged... or in the case of L4D ripped to shreds by the infected.