[Windows Only] McAfee is well known for it’s antivirus software, and you usually have to pay for their protection. They offer the free Stinger tool to help people clean out PCs that have been crippled by virus and trojan attacks.
There is no installation required. Just download it and run it. It works on all Windows PCs as far as I know.
I normally download a fresh copy of Stinger onto a USB flash drive or CD before I go off to help my friends with bug problems.
In addition to the standard Stinger, there’s a new version of Stinger out now called “FakeAlert Stinger”. It’s designed to specifically target multiple varieties of the FakeAlert trojans, such as, Kryptik, AVP Security, Fakespypro, Winwebsec, Antivirus Soft and XPSpy.
FakeAlert applications are a form of ScareWare that pop up fake warnings which attempt to trick you into running their scans and buying their premium products. It’s a huge money-making scam that’s been very effective against new PC users.
Download McAfee Stinger and FakeAlert Stinger
Notes: There are many other antivirus and anti-malware tools that can help you clean up an infected PC. Last year, Keith wrote about an application which will “Remove Fake Antivirus from Your System”. If all else fails and the PC is really trashed, I’ve got an article describing how to “Run AntiVirus on a PC That Will Not Boot”.
Techie Buzz Verdict:
There are two versions of McAfee Stinger. Both are very good, and there’s no reason not to use both of them when you need to clean up an infected PC. I have used Stinger for years and I’ve never had an issue with it. I only wish it was Open Source, so that more people could contribute to it’s effectiveness.
Techie Buzz Rating: 4/5 (Excellent)
