-
Step 1
Beware of "smit fraud." This occurs when a virus scanner finds viruses that don't really exist and sends you to a website where you can purchase an antivirus program, which doesn't really work. These alerts often appear as alarming pop-ups while you're visiting websites or trolling the net.
-
Step 2
Read the fine print. Many antivirus manufacturers offer to scan your computer for free, but most won't eliminate the threat after finding them. Links to a couple of companies offering free packages that will cure as well as detect problems are listed below.
-
Step 3
Delete any old virus detection software before downloading and installing a new virus scanner. Some products will detect them and ask you to remove them, but others may not, and it could result in a conflict in which neither scanner works.
-
Step 4
Compare features and specs before downloading and installing any virus scanning/removal software. There are many out there that may not work with your operating system, especially Microsoft Vista.
