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Do you have a nagging fear you might have a virus? Is the “not knowing” bothering you? Once again, the Internet comes to your rescue with FREE virus scan services available to help determine if your computer has tangled with a virus. Nothing is any better than finding out YOU DO NOT have a virus. The price is right for these online virus scans – FREE, and the exercise is easy. In today’s virus-infested cyber world, why not make scanning a frequent habit? Either of these sites will be useful in determining if your computer is sick or, preferably, virus-free.
Use Trend Micro's free online virus scanner called HouseCall to check your computer. HouseCall requires Internet Explorer (version 4.0 or later) or Netscape (version 3.01 or later). Trend Micro will request registration before scanning your computer, but reading a little further down their site, you will discover a scan may be run without registering, if you prefer. It may take HouseCall up to fifteen minutes to prepare for scanning. The amount of time depends on your modem speed. The next time you scan, there will not be such a long delay. HouseCall uses this wait time to offer you a fun virus quiz while the virus scan is loading. You probably know more about viruses than you think you do or than you want to know. House Call offers a quick and easy virus check-up as well as a clean option, so it is definitely worth a visit.
Another free virus scan can be found at Panda’s Web site. Panda claims ridding your computer of viruses is even easier with ActiveScan, their free online “disinfection.” ActiveScan is able to detect the very latest viruses because it is updated at least once a day. Downloading the scan program takes about ten minutes with a 28.8 Kbps modem. All you have to do is connect to the Internet and simply click on the ActiveScan button. ActiveScan will scan, disinfect, and eliminate viruses from all parts of your system, hard disks, compressed files, and e-mail. Panda’s program is capable of detecting and eliminating more than 60,000 viruses and Trojans. Remember, a virus scan such as HouseCall and ActiveScan can only detect viruses already on your system at the time of the scan. Protecting your system against computer viruses typically requires installation of a good antivirus software that is easy to update and capable of scanning Internet traffic. New viruses are appearing every day, and if you do not have an antivirus program installed that offers you permanent protection, you are vulnerable every time your computer receives external data. IMPORTANT NOTE: These online scanning tools provide a very useful service. Panda and Trend Micro are both reputable companies that are leaders in the antivirus protection industry. Be aware, however, that in using these online scanning tools, you are allowing these companies access to your computer.
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