Virus Vault

[GeorgeStGeorge]

Presently, my antivirus software is the free AVG 8.5. (I also use Spybot and Advanced System Care to keep things "clean.") Apparently, a Trojan virus has attacked my computer, and the AVG software can't "heal" it, so it puts it in a "vault." What does that mean? Why doesn't it just erase the virus program, since it can obviously detect it? I found the "vault" on my C-drive. Should I just delete all the files in it? Is there a good way to "heal" this Trojan?

George

[cman]

There is no healing a trojan. And most likely not with any other security product.

Virus Vault will keep it quarantined for a certain amount of time.

Then delete it.

You can check your options in the AVG program for this limit.

Might I also suggest these two programs.

After downloading them, update them and run a full scan.

But not both programs at the same time.

You must start the scans manually for the free versions.

If you buy them they will provide full time protection.

It's not necessary to buy them for the scan to work as well as a paid version.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/

http://www.filehippo.com/download_superantispyware/

These may take some time to run, but they are worth the trouble.

Watch that you don't download too much trojan and spyware programs.

There are some out there that are not good for your computer.

I currently have Avira AntiVirus Personal and Malwarebytes full time version, $25 I think it is. Although Avira does detect false hits/positives at times, it will show you exactly what it found and where, so you can decide what to do with what it found, it's easy to figure out. Malwarebytes has had no false positives to date for me, nor has SuperAntiSpyware.

These all have 'vaults' that keep them secured from your system for a certain amount of time, then deletes them forever.

[GeorgeStGeorge]

Thanks, cman. Incidentally, I first became aware of this when I got a warning that my virus vault was "full." I don't know how long it's supposed to go before deleting the files (I still don't understand why it doesn't do it immediately); but I manually deleted them (not the vault itself, of course).

George

[cman]

I haven't used avg in a long time but-

from http://free.avg.com/ww-en/faq

If you are not missing any data file and your applications are running, then you can delete these vaulted files from the AVG Virus Vault program.

You can do it selectively:

* Open AVG User Interface.

* Select the Virus Vault option from the History menu.

* Select file you wish to delete -> click on the Delete button.

Or you can delete all AVG Virus Vault contents in one go:

* Open AVG User Interface.

* Select the Virus Vault option from the History menu.

* Click on the Empty Vault button.

[WordWolf]

I just wanted to say that the free antivirus programs that consistently outperform AVG

are Avira Antivir and Avast!

and you might consider switching to one or the other.

(I first heard Avast! recommended here, but it's got an excellent track record.

And I was using AVG when I heard of Avast! )

[ChasUFarley]

Try Sophos - it's free and way better than AVG and similar programs...

http://www.sophos.com/

I use it for work and found it to be the best and most user friendly - along with great instructions on how to fix problems.... and it's free. How good is that?