Antivirus

  • Thread starter Thread starter JoeB
  • Start date Start date
J

JoeB

I'm a fairly new computer user and still learning the
do'e's and don'ts. For virus protection my system has
something call 'Computer Associates eTrust Antivirus'.
Is this product any good? I never see any indication of
updates or poxxx protection alerts. Does my Windows XP
have virus protection, if so, should i enable it and
remove eTrust?
 
XP has no built in virus protection. eTrust is an excellent product but in
order to get updates, you must subscribe, this is the case for all
antirvirus applications except for the free applications. There should be a
link in your eTrust application or you can try one of the free versions,
many people use AVG: www.grisoft.com.
 
In re: AVG (free version), I have that on my computer, but it can't check
some files because it says it can't open them. Is there any way to get those
files to open so they can be scanned?
 
This is not isolated to AVG. When files are in use or sometimes protected,
they cannot be opened. You can try scanning in Safe Mode, that should
eliminate most open files as an issue. Boot the system, start tapping F8,
when the menu appears, select "Safe Mode."

Some things might be protected. If AVG can create a log, have it do so with
file details and you can get an idea of which files they are. However, if
they are protected files, some such files simply cannot be opened. You
might try checking AVG's online support for more information.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

"constantcomputertrouble"
 
This is not isolated to AVG. When files are in use or sometimes protected,
they cannot be opened. You can try scanning in Safe Mode, that should
eliminate most open files as an issue. Boot the system, start tapping F8,
when the menu appears, select "Safe Mode."

Some things might be protected. If AVG can create a log, have it do so with
file details and you can get an idea of which files they are. However, if
they are protected files, some such files simply cannot be opened. You
might try checking AVG's online support for more information.
Click to expand...

It seems to me (I may be wrong) that if the Antivirus program can't
open a file to scan it, neither can a virus open a file to write to
it, so you are probably safe if the Antivirus program can't open
certain system files. When a file is locked, it is locked to
EVERYONE, "saint" and "sinner" alike.

Donald L McDaniel
Keep the thread intact
Post reply to original newsgroup
=======================================================
 
That does make sense but it's not always the case. Remember, viruses are
written to specifically bypass various security features and/or to get the
user to do something that opens the system to attack and that might include
making normally locked files vulnerable.
 
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