How To Remove Malware For Free (Video)

Maybe now I can retire. :emotion-2:

Maybe now I can retire. :emotion-2:

LOL, don't you wish! :emotion-14:

a very good instructional video (although on my machine/connection, it often seemed the video displayed was significantly out-of-synch with what the audio was describing... not sure if it was my connection, or an actual flaw in the presentation...)

i would, however, like to take exception to --- or perhaps, strongly "clarify" --- one point:   while it's fine for anyone (whose system supports these programs) to download, install, and run on-demand anti-malware scanners [in the case of this video (as well as our typical forum advice here) MBAM and SAS], i would like to stress that users should NOT automatically proceed to the video's third step, of downloading/installing/running avira's antivir.

if you already have a resident anti-virus program installed/running on your system, you should NOT install a second one!   doing so can lead to slowdowns and conflicts, perhaps ultimately crashing your system.

ideally, an antivirus [and a firewall] should have been the first program(s) installed on your machine.   In fact, I'm wondering why the PC in the video was apparently lacking one... unless it was purely for instructional purposes, to intentionally get that machine as infected as possible --- and if so, i believe that point should have been explicitly mentioned by the instructor.

if someone wishes to REPLACE their existing antivirus program with avira, that's certainly your prerogative, and it can be done [carefully]... but the user should clearly realize what they're doing.

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on a separate point, I know that the video suggested [and moreover, BugBatter routinely emphasizes in her posts that call for use of both] running MBAM first, and then, following-up with SAS.   

Without revealing any trade secrets nor confidential knowledge, I was wondering if BB could elaborate somewhat on the "rhyme-and-reason" (necessity?  pros-and-cons?) of running these two programs in that particular order.

on a separate point, I know that the video suggested [and moreover, BugBatter routinely emphasizes in her posts that call for use of both] running MBAM first, and then, following-up with SAS.    Without revealing any trade secrets nor confidential knowledge, I was wondering if BB could elaborate somewhat on the "rhyme-and-reason" (necessity?  pros-and-cons?) of running these two programs in that particular order.

Not to interject here or pretend to be as knowledgeable as BugBatter I think their are two main reasons for this.  From what I have seen/read MBAM is generally more effective at detection and removal for certain, if not most, malware.  Take AV2009 (hypothetically).  MBAM will probably do a better job at detecting and removing this booger, however, it may not remove all of the files/folders, etc.  The developers of SAS may have run across some samples of AV2009 that MBAM has not yet added, so running SAS after MBAM may detect some of the scragglers that MBAM did not detect.  

If this is not correct or there are other reasons, hopefully BB will provide more detailed knowledge.

Hi Beversoll, good to see you here again.

There's no doubt that running two [quality] on-demand scanners is better than running only one... each one has the potential (by virtue of different malware databases and different detection/heuristic algorithms) of finding either remnants/stragglers that the other one left-behind, and/or some completely separate problems.

SAS will look for adware tracking cookies... MBAM does not even consider them, because MBAM doesn't view tracking cookies as being a serious/signifcant problem.    [This is not a "slap" at MBAM, simply a statement of fact.   given all the GREAT work that MBAM does, I would never question their priorities here.]

To rephase my query, I'm trying to determine the basis for running MBAM first, followed by SAS (to pick-up MBAM's "stragglers")... rather than running SAS first, followed by MBAM (to pick up SAS's "stragglers").    Perhaps the concern is that, assuming MBAM to be the more effective, that running SAS first may partially delete a problem, in essence "hiding" it, enough so that MBAM won't subsequently find the remnants??

And what of A-squared free, which has fared well in several tests (including Donna's of CoU) -- how should that be sequenced relative to MBAM and SAS, for optimal detection/fixing of problems?

By the way, I too (based on what I've seen/read here) would choose MBAM as my first on-demand anti-malware scanner.  So I'm not trying to debate/dispute this, only to get a better understanding of why.

Hey Ky,

I've been lurking around, but very strained for time so I'm not able to post much.  Not sure how A-squared would figure in to this equation becuase I have never used it and have not seen it used that frequently on the forums.  A friend of mine had the AV2009 rogue and ran SAS first (as it was already installed) and then followed up with MBAM.  It seemed to be as effective as running MBAM then SAS.  SAS killed the infection and MBAM picked up a few left-over files and folders (this was the basic AV2009 without the TDSS rootkit).  I really think it just relates to helpers feeling MBAM is more effective so they use that first then follow-up with SAS (also a very effective program).

I really think it just relates to helpers feeling MBAM is more effective so they use that first then follow-up with SAS (also a very effective program).