Trojan virus detection: Are they always Viruses?

[the_green_dragon]

I recently scanned my computer with AVG Free and it found about 10 trojans in games which I have had forever. I was also reading somewhere that sometimes normal files or certain types of files can be mistakenly identified as viruses even if they are not.

Does this happen alot? I know sometimes if you have 2 anti-viruses installed they will detect each other has viruses.

And can you recommend a good anti-virus software title?

 

[Shepard's Shadow]

McAfee it came with my Alienware laptop. I don't think there is a free version of it though.

 

[juvemisfit]

Microsoft Security Essentials.

Don't immediately dismiss it because its Microsoft. It auto-updates and scans like any other AV, and if it breaks it doesn't have the nasty habit like AVG, and others, preventing any internet connection. It also is completely free too. It has gotten to the point we have been installing MSSE on student computers when we have to reformat them here at NCSU.

I would also recommend installing Malwarebytes, the freeware one not the paid one, as a dedicated scanner. They push multiple updates a day and that as a dedicated scanner will get 95% of known virus definitions.

Between MSSE, Malwarebytes, and common sense ive been virus free for a long time.

 

[the_green_dragon]

Cool thanks guys

 

[Cain_Zeros]

AVG Free finds false positives like a mofo. If they're games you bought and installed, they'd damn well better be fine. If not, well, you might not want to admit that here, but they're a little more iffy anyway.

 

[EllEzDee]

AVG is a piece of shit. It has more false positives than your mum has had sunday meals.
The best way to be sure if it's a virus is to google what it detected. It'll have a name, like Win32/packed.wma.dogshithorse or something.

I've used Nod32 for about 2 years, never had a security issue. Of course, even if i did, there'd be no way of telling, would there?

 

[Naheal]

Trojan is the best protection that you can possibly get for your computer. You want to download and apply as many as you possibly can.

 

[Rylot]

I bought my laptop used from a friend and after a few weeks of having it, it popped up with viruses on everything and nothing would open. It turns out that my auto-update was try to force updates while my Microsoft anti-virus was blocking it and the whole computer was freaking out. Finally got rid of the Microsoft anti-virus and got AVG free. I've had one virus since then that it took care of.