Not All Online Virus Scan Tools are Alike

Signs that a computer may be compromised by some form of malware include frequent system crashes or freeze ups, slower than normal boot time, unexplained loss of hard disk space, strange software behavior, the inability to access previously accessible files or folders, and a slow running computer in addition to other symptoms. An online virus scan is a useful tool if you suspect that your computer is infected with a virus or some other form of malicious software. However, it is best used as a supplementary virus-protection tool.

An online virus scan is in no way a substitution for real-time virus protection. For real-time virus protection, your computer must have active antivirus software with up-to-date virus definitions installed on the system. Even if an online virus scan is successfully able to detect and (in some cases) remove malicious code from a computer, without real-time virus protection, your computer is still at greater risk of acquiring another virus in the future. That’s why many online virus-scanning services offer their services to the public free of charge as a marketing tool for their commercial product lines that offer real-time virus protection.

There are many online virus-scanning services available on the market. Trend Micro’s free on-demand online “HouseCall” virus scanner, for instance, is designed to detect and remove viruses, worms, Trojans and other malware from Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 computers. You have the ability to perform full or customized targeted virus scans using Trend Micro’s online scanner.
Unlike Trend Micro, Symantec’s free on-demand online virus scanner will check a computer for malware but will not remove the detected threats. It is purely a diagnostic tool that will merely offer follow-up action suggestions on how to deal with any discovered malware.

The Jotti free on-demand online virus scan is useful to individuals who want to check an individual file, no larger than 20MB, for viruses using several free-to-download antivirus applications such as AVG, Sophos, Panda Security, Virus Buster and BitDefender. Panda Security and BitDefender also offer a free online virus scan diagnostic tool in addition to their free antivirus software downloads.

You should exercise caution when opting to use an online virus scan service. Not every online virus-scanning tool is legitimate. For example, if a security alert pop-up window appears on your computer’s display advertising a free online diagnostic virus scan while you are browsing the web, do not trust it. This is a common tactic employed by rogue security software aimed at scaring users into purchasing bogus antivirus software and exposing their private information. The fact that such a pop-up window appears in the course of normal browsing activity, without prompting from the user, means the computer has already been compromised by a Trojan.

Caution is also appropriate even when you deliberately seek out an online virus tool. Some web-based virus scan services are designed to infect computers that access their website with malicious software. As a precaution against falling victim to such a scam, it is best to regard any online virus scan service that is not affiliated with a known antivirus provider with suspicion. When in doubt, check the web for consumer reviews and feedback before accessing an online virus scan services website.

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