VirusTotal is a free service offered by
Hispasec Sistemas meant to scan a
single suspicious file. You upload the file using their web site and it scans
the file with 27 different anti-virus programs. Sample1Sample2 (both open in
new windows)
Kaspersky online scanner (IE only, ActiveX).
Much like VirusTotal, Kaspersky also offers a
file scanner. You upload a file (up to 1 MB) to them and they scan it for
viruses (but only with their own software). Alternate
file scanner link
Internet-Security from Symantec.
This scans every file it can find. There is no way to limit it to one
directory or just the C disk, for example.
Alternate Link.
Panda Software has two free online scanners.
Both are ActiveX based so they only work in Internet Explorer, not in Firefox.
Both scan for viruses and Spyware. The older one is ActiveScan.
The newer one is available at www.nanoscan.com.
The new one is sometimes called NanoScan and other times called TotalScan. As
of March 2007 NanoScan is in beta and the website says there will be a Firefox
compatible version in April 2007. ActiveScan requires an email address before
scanning, TotalScan does not. ActiveScan will remove viruses.
Housecall from
Trend Micro. Works with IE (using ActiveX) or Firefox
(using Java). Java
version of Housecall. Housecall used to be great, but it has been broken for months (as of
December 2006). In March 2007 Brian Krebs
said that he found the program annoying and had it crash while scanning. I
haven't been able to get a scan even started in a very long time.
Avast from Alwil is free for home users and non-commercial use.
avast! 4 Home Edition Download.
The default user interface is confusing, try installing the Vista like skin.
The PersonalEdition Classic of Avira AntiVir offers free virus protection
for Windows 2000/XP/Vista 32Bit and for Linux/FreeBSD/Solaris. It's the one with the cute red umbrella.
Avira also offers paid versions that come with anti-spyware and anti-adware software.
McAfee AVERT Stinger is a free
program you download to your PC that detects and removes some viruses. It is not a substitute for full anti-virus protection, but rather a tool to assist
you when dealing with an infected system.
Sophos has
stand-alone anti-virus software as well as an entire security suite. However,
they don't target consumers, the minimum quantity they offer is five.
Earthlink customers can get free anti-virus software from EarthLink as part
of their Protection Control Center
In April 2007 Grisoft, the company behind AVG anti-virus, released a
free anti-rootkitprogram
that both detects and removes rootkits. The downside? No documentation.
BlackLight from F-Sure detects
and removes rootkits. It's free until October 1, 2007.
Are Security Vendors Tricking XP SP2? PC World
December 21, 2004. Windows Security Center may not know when your antivirus definitions are out of date.
Both Norton/Symantec and McAfee lie to it.
Fee or free in fighting viruses?
Computer users face tough choices in seeking software San Francisco Chronicle December 20, 2004
Biography of a Worm
Follow the trail of the Sasser worm to see how the security system works--and whether it can be fixed.
From the November 2004 issue of PC World magazine
Question: Two e-mail messages were returned to me because they couldn't be delivered due to viruses they contained. But I didn't send these messages. Someone has been using my e-mail address. An antivirus scan didn't show anything
wrong. How can I stop this?
Walter Mossberg, the Wall Street Journal, June 24, 2004
Colleges Move to Thwart Internet Viruses
AP September 4, 2003. At one school, students cited for infectious computers must show proof they've been fixed before they can log
back onto the campus network.
Fight Against Viruses May Move to Servers
The Washington Post August 28, 2003. Computer viruses are becoming so aggressive and sophisticated that they may soon be able to elude anti-virus programs installed on individual
computers.
Antivirus Subscription Inflation
Home users with multiple computers get gouged if they want to be conscientious. Things may get worse next year.
Security Supersite July 13, 2003.