How to Check for a Virus Online
Online scanners are free services provided by developers of well-known and proven anti-virus programs. Visitors to the site can use the online scanner integrated into the page to scan their computer for viruses and other known forms of malware such as trojans, worms and spyware. Online scanners are useful when a user does not have the required privileges to download and install security software. Another advantage is that, unlike a traditional scanner, an online scanner does not continuously consume system resources, which can slow down a computer's performance. Notable online scanners include Trend Micro HouseCall, CA Online Threat Scanner, ESET Online Scanner and F-Secure Online Virus Scanner.
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Instructions
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Open a web browser such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. Type in the URL of the online scanner site of your choice and hit "Enter." If prompted, set your region and language. The Resources section contains links to some popular online scanners.
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Click on the "Scan" button. Depending on the site, the "Scan" button may be marked "Start Scan" or "Scan My Computer." This will initiate the scanning process.
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Install components. Online scanners need to add components to the browser in order to perform a scan. Click on "Install" if a security warning message pops up, or click on the yellow bar at the top of your browser prompting for user confirmation. Wait for the components to be installed, and restart the browser if prompted.
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Read the license agreement. Scroll down to reveal the entire text of the agreement. Confirm by checking the box adjacent to the title "I Accept" or click "Accept."
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Set scan type. Most sites offer multiple scan options such as "Quick Scan," "Full System Scan" or "Custom Scan." If you do not have anti-virus software installed on your computer, choose to perform a thorough scan. On the other hand, if your computer is adequately protected, or if you have a slow Internet connection, choose to perform a quick scan. Click "Next."
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Configure scan settings. Specify what kind of data to scan, which locations to scan or exclude and what type of threats to scan for. If the option is available, choose to scan both programs and documents and to look for all types of malware. Specify whether to employ specific scanning technologies such as advanced heuristics. Click the appropriate radio buttons or check the appropriate boxes and proceed. Click "Next."
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Review the scan options and click the confirmation message. At this point, the online scanner may have to download essential components or databases to perform the scan. Wait for the download to end; the scanner will start automatically as soon as the download is complete. Time for components to download will depend on quality of Internet connection.
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View scan report. After the scan process completes, the site will generate a list of identified threats. Review each item and take appropriate action by choosing to disinfect or delete the files. Save a log of scan activity for future reference.
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Tips & Warnings
Scan your computer regularly for optimal performance.
Do not visit or download from questionable websites.
References
Resources
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