The collective term for viruses, trojans, worms, spyware, etc. is "malware" (malicious software). Protection programs scan files as they are downloaded, copied, and executed... as well as perform full scans of your hard drive, and newer software has behavioral analysis. All of this is great, when it successfully identifies malware... if it's able to remove it is often another story.

No protection program offers 100% protection, and none ever will. Some malware is extremely difficult to remove even if successfully 'detected', and protection programs often fail at automated removal. Check my software page for my recommendations on protection software and scan with them, I only recommend the best, and it may save you your service call today. Once a virus successfully runs itself on your computer, it can take complete hold of your system. I'll list off some of the common things malware does behind the scenes to give you a better understanding of what is probably happening to your computer right now.

Malware can :

* Block windows updates
* Block antivirus updates
* Block protection programs (antivirus/firewall) from running
* Disable your windows firewall (leave you open to exploits)
* Disable your task manager, registry editor, command line, and other tools used to fix problems
* Block websites that might help you fix the problem
* Redirect you to fake (phishing) websites to lure you into entering confidential data
* Install fake/rogue anti-virus software that claims it's out-of-date, trying to get you to pay
* Cause lots of popups to generate the author money (per click) online
* Steal all the data on your hard drive (documents/etc) and send to the attacker/author
* Steal all your saved passwords from your internet browser (emails, bank logins, paypal, etc.)
* Takeover your e-mail account, lock you out, and send virus spam to all of your contacts
* Log your keystrokes in order to filter out usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, etc.
* Open backdoors on your computer for snooping, data theft, and remote control (trojans)
* Use your computer (and thousands of others) to attack websites or other computers
* Use your computer as a file-server for illegal files or to distribute the malware
* Use your computer to exploit other computers and inject them with the malware (worms)
* Encrypt all of your data (documents/etc) and hold the data hostage for randsom
* Remote control your computer, literally move your mouse around
* Install more malware so even more people have control of your computer
* The list goes on, and on, and on...

I take a completely different approach to malware removal. There are 2 golden rules that apply to all malware, and that's that the files are going to be new (recent infection), and that the malware is going to attempt to start/run itself every time your computer reboots. Programs can start themselves from a large number of locations and in many different ways.

I examine these startup locations on your computer, looking for things that do not belong. Over a decade of experience allows me to recognize malware entries in these locations with ease, and I come armed with a powerful toolkit of utilities to manually remove anything that crosses my path. If this tactic doesn't work, I'll start looking in malware's favorite hiding places for new and hidden files, like c:\windows\system32. Same as with the autostart locations, I pick the odd men out by experience.

There is a special kind of malware, the nastiest and worst kind, that is called a rootkit. Rootkits are invisible to your computer and load themself low-level into your operating system, taking control long before you even login (your autostart programs run after you login). Most repair companies and techs do not have the skill or experience to even detect, let alone remove a rootkit.

In 4 out of 5 cases, I can clean a computer in less than an hour. If your computer has severe or multiple infections that require more than an hour of work, there is an additional $25 charge for the extra time spent cleaning your computer. I cap it at an extra 25, even if it takes me 3-4 hours to fully clean your computer.

No hidden charges here! As stated above, if it takes me 2 hours to clean your system, that's an extra $25 - That'd make the worst-case scenario come to a total of $75. When it comes to rootkits, and multiple infections... many other places will lie to you at that point and tell you that the malware is "not removable", still charge you for the service, and try to sell you the additional services of recovering your data and reinstalling your operating system, or if they're really bad, try to sell you a new hard drive or computer. Don't be taken advantage of and ripped off.