Spyware, viruses, & security forum: Seeking sound advice on antivirus/security software

Here's why. If we continue to have a machine in which the users are allowed to install apps then BAD APPS would only be blocked by the antivirus if the antivirus knows it is a bad app.

This means that almost all these infections that the user installs could be missed as the antivirus companies will not have a signature for these bad apps until such infect users and a sample is found.

-> This brings the security back to us. We have to be diligent about what we install and where we browse.

Look up WOT or Web Of Trust. I think this is a great addin. Try that.

Bob

B..

'This brings the security back to us. We have to be diligent about what we install and where we browse.' ... Bob

The above is "first and foremost", as far as I'm (also) concerned.

You've already figured out, many of the removal guides leave a lot to be desired. As a starting place, some of us at this forum, refer to Grinler's removal guides at Bleeping Computer. Such as, "How to remove AV Security Suite (Uninstall Guide)"

You "wished you knew what you clicked on or downloaded". There are quite a few possibilities. As noted in the above guide, AV Security Suite (and other's) are typically installed via other malware that are installed via vulnerabilities in Adobe Reader, Internet Explorer, and from Trojans that pretend to be online video codecs. The list goes on.

You asked how to avoid the problem in the future. For the sake of being repetitive, you might want to consider installing Web of Trust (WOT). It's FREE and might help you avoid any future headaches.

At the bottom of the above referenced removal guide, you'll see where it's stated that Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (with its real-time protection) "protects against these types of threats in the future". The same holds true for SUPERAntiSpyware. It would be important to know, what other applications you have installed, prior to installing either of them. Especially, those running in real-time.

Best of luck..
Carol