This article discuss about some of most frequently asked questions about Antivirus....
1.What is the best antivirus to use?
The best antivirus software is the one that works best on your system, has the features you want, and is easy for you to use.
2.Do we need to have both an antivirus and an anti-spyware scanner?
It depends. Some antivirus products, notably McAfee Virus-scan, include stellar spyware protection - but many others do not. If you are experiencing ongoing problems with spyware, you might want to consider adding a dedicated spyware scanner to the mix.
3.Do we have to uninstall the existing antivirus program before installing a new one?
If you are changing to a new antivirus product, you will need to uninstall the previous antivirus scanner first. After uninstalling, you must reboot your PC before installing the new scanner.
4.What is the antivirus report you produce?
Our antivirus reporting is the feature that we offer for our users: programs authors and web site visitors. We publish the report in the program description,so, the visitors can see is this program clean to be downloaded and installed. Also it's useful for the authors because they can refer to this report to inform the visitors that they care for them and their software is clean.
5.Why do you send notification to the program author? Is this SPAM?
Of course it's not a SPAM. We send only the message for author one time after the program was checked.
6.How often do you check program files?
When the size or date of program file is changed. We check this periodically.
7.Which are the available antivirus programs?
Avira ,Bit Defender ,ClamWin ,ESET NOD32 ,F-Prot ,Kaspersky,McAfee,MSE,Network Associates,Panda Software, RAV ,Sophos,Symantec (Norton) ,Trend Micro,Vipre,Webroot
8.How do I remove a virus from a computer?
Before removing any file from your computer you should verify if the file is a virus or other malware.If you've determined that a file is infected with a virus the best method of removal is to run an antivirus scan on the computer. If the virus is preventing you from entering Windows or running the antivirus can boot the computer into Safe Mode and run the scan there. If you do not have an antivirus scan, but still believe a file is infected with a virus, try running an online virus scan. These web sites will scan your computer hard disk drive for any infections.
9.If I have a firewall do I need an antivirus?
Yes. A firewall will not protect you from viruses and other malware. A firewall limits outside network access to a computer or local network by blocking or restricting ports. This helps prevent your computer from communicating with other computers on the network and on the Internet you may not want.
10.Can two antivirus scanners be run on the same system at the same time?
It is never a good idea to run two antivirus scanners simultaneously. However, if only one of the scanners has real-time protection enabled and the second scanner is used only to manually scan selected files, they may possible co-exist peacefully. In some cases, an antivirus scanner will not install if it detects another antivirus scanner already installed on the system.
11.Why does one scanner detect a virus but another does not?
Antivirus is largely signature-based. The signatures are created by the individual vendors and are unique to their products (or the products that use those particular scanning engines. Hence one vendor may have added detection (i.e. a signature) for a particular malware while another vendor may not have.
12.What is mean by Real time protection?
Scanning of files stored on computer drives or disks
13.Can replace default antivirus software?
These companies usually pick something their customers have heard of, but make no mistake it's there also because the PC maker gets a cut of the purchase price when you purchase and renew that software. The thing is, everyone has their own needs when it comes to PC security so one size doesn't fit all.
14.What are DAT files?
Antivirus applications like Virus Scan require information such as virus signatures to detect viruses. McAfee refers to this information as virus definitions. As new viruses are discovered, McAfee releases new virus definitions files (DAT files) to enable Virus Scan to detect them.
15.What is Auto Update?
Auto Update is a feature in Virus Scan that automates getting DAT files. In Virex, this feature is called eUpdate. Auto Upate can be configured to obtain DAT files automatically at startup or scheduled to obtain them at any time. Auto Update can also download and install incremental DATs, EXTRA.DATs, software engine upgrades, Service Packs, and HotFixes.
16.What is MailScanner?
MailScanner is software that automatically scans all incoming and outgoing email on campus for viruses and suspicious attachments. MailScanner uses a Unix version of VirusScan to detect viruses. VirusScan is updated hourly to make sure the latest virus definition (DAT) files are used.
17.Can we block email with MailScanner?
At the present time MailScanner has been configured to block (that is, delete) email messages infected with all variants of the following viruses: SirCam, Klez, Yaha, Sobig, Bugbear, Dumaru, Holar, Bagle, Mydoom, and Netsky.
18.Why not block all viruses?
The current policy at Information Technologies is to block any virus that exceeds 300 detections per day on Mail Scanner and that is capable of sending infected messages using its own SMTP (Simple Mail Transport Protocol) engine. So far, only a few viruses have met these two requirements. These viruses however constitute the vast majority of the detections on Mail Scanner.
19.What is the purpose of an anti-virus?
An anti-virus program protects a computer from getting malicious viruses from the internet, through websites, email, and instant messenger. Usually it consists of a firewall, a virus scanner and remover, and sometimes other tools as well.
20.Common drawbacks of Signature-based detections?
Signature-based detections,it is possible for a computer to be infected with new malware for which no signature is yet known. To counter such so called zero day threats, heuristics can be used. One type of heuristic approach, generic signatures, can identify new viruses or variants of existing viruses by looking for known malicious code, or slight variations of such code, in files. Some antivirus software can also predict what a file will do by running it in a sandbox and analyzing what it does to see if it performs any malicious actions.
21. What are the different types of anti-viruses?- Antivirus Personal Edition (offers the effective protection against computer viruses for the individual and private use on a single PC-workstation.)
- Avast! 4 Home Edition ( full-featured antivirus package designed exclusively for home users, non-commercial users Home Edition is free of charge,)
- AVG Free Edition i( well-kn anti-virus protection tool. AVG Free is available free-of-charge to home users for the life of the product!)
- BitDefender Free Edition
- ClamWin is an Antivirus tool that comes with an easy installer and is open source code at no cost.
22.What is Spyware & Anti-Spyware?
Spyware is a type of malware that can be installed on computers, and which collects small pieces of information about users without their knowledge. Major anti-virus firms such as Symantec, PC Tools, McAfee and Sophos have come later to the table, adding anti-spyware features to their existing anti-virus products. SymantecAnti-Virus, for instance, categorizes spyware programs as "extended threats" and now offers real-time protection from them.
23.Define Malware& Anti -Malware programs?
Computer virus is used for a program that has infected some executable software and, when run, causes the virus to spread to other executables. Viruses may also contain a payload that performs other actions, often malicious. A worm is a program that actively transmits itself over a network to infect other computers. As malware attacks become more frequent, attention has begun to shift from viruses and spyware protection, to malware protection, and programs have been developed specifically to combat them.
24.Common Features of Antivirus Software?- Scans of incoming files
- Scans of the computer
- Tools to clean up computers
- Tools to prevent spam
25.What is difference between antivirus,anti spyware and internet security?
Anti-virus programs scan for viruses and related malware by examining the files on your system for patterns of data that have been identified as being viruses. ,Anti-spyware programs monitor your system as you use it for behaviours that are known to be spyware-related. ,Firewalls prevent malware from reaching your machine through your network. They don't prevent things you control, like downloads or email, but rather stop attempts to connect to or infiltrate your machine without your knowledge or participation.
26.What is the Need of USB Drive Antivirus ?- Data leakage: account information, bids, contracts and much more commercial confidentiality data can easily be downloaded onto any removable media devices- from a memory stick to iPod . And once it leaves your computer, the integrity of that sensitive data is at risk.
- Virus infection: more and more viruses,worms and Trojans infect computer via USB drives, once an infected USB drives is plugged into computer,the virus in it will spread through the whole system.
27.Advantages of USB Drive Antivirus uses?
Prevent data leakage via USB removable devices,100% protection against any virus via USB drives,Remove USB virus in your infected system,The best solution to protect offline computer,The world's fastest and smallest antivirus software,100% compatible with other antivirus,Easy to use,No recurring payment, the license key is lifetime.
28.What are the Identification methods of virus?- Signature based detection.
- Heuristic-based detection,like malicious activity detection, can be used to identify unknown viruses.
- File emulation-File emulation is another heuristic approach. File emulation involves executing a program in a virtual environment and logging what actions the program performs. Depending on the actions logged, the antivirus software can determine if the program is malicious or not and then carry out the appropriate disinfection actions.
- Root kit detection-Anti-virus software can attempt to scan for root kits; a root kit is a type of malware that is designed to gain administrative-level control over a computer system without being detected.
29.What is Cloud antivirus?
Cloud antivirus is a technology that uses lightweight agent software on the protected computer, while offloading the majority of data analysis to the provider's infrastructure.
30.What is the Need of a Network firewall?
Network firewalls prevent unknown programs and processes from accessing the system. However, they are not antivirus systems and make no attempt to identify or remove anything. They may protect against infection from outside the protected computer or network, and limit the activity of any malicious software which is present by blocking incoming or outgoing requests on certain TCP/IP ports. A firewall is designed to deal with broader system threats that come from network connections into the system and is not an alternative to a virus protection system.
31.What do you mean by online Scanning?
Some antivirus vendors maintain websites with free online scanning capability of the entire computer, critical areas only, local disks, folders or files. Periodic online scanning is a good idea for those that run antivirus applications on their computers because those applications are frequently slow to catch threats.
32.What is Antivirus Specialist tools?
Virus removal tools are available to help remove stubborn infections or certain types of infection. Examples include Trend Micro's Rootkit Buster and rkhunter for the detection of root kits,Avira's AntiVir Removal Tool,PC Tools Threat Removal Tool, and AVG's Anti-Virus Free 2011.
33.What is Traditional Antivirus Programs?
Generically labeled "Antivirus Software" is the main type of antivirus software used by consumers. It eliminates most viral infections, but does not always detect specialized malware and other less overt infections.
34.Which are the most Powerful and Efficient Antivirus for PC?- ESET NOD32
- Avast
- Kaspersky
- Norton 360
- AVG Antivirus 2011
35.Which are the different types of Scanners and Other Antivirus Software Protection?
Conventional Disk Scanners.,Memory-Resident Scanners,Behavior-Based Detection,Startup Scanners,Inoculation.
36.What is the most powerful Anti-virus of all?
ESET Smart security but is it not free.in free avast works fine.
37.Which are the different types of Spyware?
Parasite Ware,Page Hijackers,Dialers.
38.What is Anti-Spyware Programs?
Spyware can take a viral, self-replicating form. Spyware viruses are removable with most types of antivirus software, but more benign, non-viral spyware may be overlooked; anti-spyware is important for protecting financial information.
39.How Anti-virus Programs Work?
Real time protection,Repair the file that has the virus. Usually this is attempted first.Quarantine the file that has the virus so no program can access it but it could be restored. Usually this is done when a virus laden file cannot be repaired.Delete the file that has the virus.
40.Define Anti-Virus Measures?
Viruses transmitted through e-mail messages are one of the more significant threats to your organization. E-mail viruses can attack individual computer systems or your entire e-mail environment. Therefore, you must ensure that you have adequate protection against viruses in your Exchange 2003 environment.
41.Does Linux operating system need anti-virus protection?
Linux is for the most part Virus free.
42.What is Open Source Antivirus?
Clam Av can only detect viruses and move any infected files into a quarantined folder; it cannot remove them from files. Clam Av detects viruses on all platforms, but it is primarily useful for Windows viruses and malware.
43.What is Heuristic approach on virus detection?
Heuristic approach, generic signatures, can identify new viruses or variants of existing viruses by looking for known malicious code, or slight variations of such code, in files. Some antivirus software can also predict what a file will do by running it in a sandbox and analyzing what it does to see if it performs any malicious actions.
44.What are the Issues of concern with anti -virus?- Unexpected renewal costs
- Rogue security applications
- Problems caused by false positives
- System and interoperability related issues
- Effectiveness
- New viruses
- Root kits
45.What is Anti-Adware Programs?
As with viral spyware, most viral adware programs can be removed using traditional antivirus programs, but benign adware requires specialized anti-adware software; adware is usually more of a nuisance than a security threat.
46.What is Trojan Horse Programs?
Trojan horses are not technically viral, but many people call them viruses. Trojan horses are designed to remain dormant until active, making them hard to detect. Anti-Trojan programs are necessary for most web users.
47.What is Inoculation?
This is a totally different approach to virus detection. Instead of looking for the viruses themselves, this technique looks for the changes that the viruses make to files and boot sectors. Starting with a clean system, the software "inoculates" each boot sector and program file by storing a snapshot of information about it based on its content and size.
48.Can two antivirus scanners be run on the same system at the same time?
It is never a good idea to run two antivirus scanners simultaneously. However, if only one of the scanners has real-time protection enabled and the second scanner is used only to manually scan selected files, they may possible co-exist peacefully. In some cases, an antivirus scanner will not install if it detects another antivirus scanner already installed on the system.
49.Why does one scanner detect a virus but another does not?
Antivirus is largely signature-based. The signatures are created by the individual vendors and are unique to their products (or the products that use those particular scanning engines. Hence one vendor may have added detection (i.e. a signature) for a particular malware while another vendor may not have.
50.Which are the best Free Antivirus Software for Windows Operating Systems?- Avira AntiVir Personal for Windows
- AVG Free Edition for Windows
- Microsoft Security Essentials
- Avast Home Edition for Windows
- Panda Cloud Antivirus
- Comodo Internet Security