Would like user comments on reliability of the free online virus scan PCCillin [not sure of spelling.]http://housecall.antivirus.com/housecall I have used it for at least a year-- with never a virus detected--- but I notice that sometimes with checkups just a month apart it will show approx. 4,000 files scanned ,then next month 17,000 files scanned, & then following month 4,000 files again --but I know my HD hasn’t changed that much & I believe there are no settings which I have changed when I request the scan---there are are very few ,minor options anyway.

Believe you can go out to Symantec.com and do a free scan. If nothing is detected there maybe it's working just find. I still believe you get what you pay for and wish to protect my stuff with Norton. If you are not that concerned about losing your stuff to a virus, I'm sure most any anti-virus software will be somewhat reliable, but if you are really concerned, I would pay the price now rather than later.

I used the housecall virus scan one time. It told me I was free of viruses. I then used Norton and it found the Klez virus. goto www.mesich.com. Follow his link to freeware and try the AVG antivirus program.

I'll second the motion to install an AntiVirus program onto your PC. Mesich site I downloaded it directly from AVG and it went at about 11kbps on cable. 5.4mb. Bryan

The critical thing is to stop a virus from entering your computer. Detecting it after it has entered is very often too late.

Hi, i agree with paul, you HAVE to install an antivirus prog on your system. The "housecall" from any anti-virus softwarehouse is good to scan your system in case you have doubt's, but prevent the entrance of a virus, a hoax, a trojan,... is alway's better. There are several anti-virus progs on the market, like PcCillin, Norton Antivirus, MacAfee, eSafe Desktop,.... You should choose one of them (free or paid). Me, finally I've chosen for PcCillin, after using Norton an McAfee. I found McAfee not secure enough and (in the past) the support was rare. Norton was far securer but what a pain if something else got mixed up on your system. Even now it's a hell to get rid of norton. Using PcCillin (the free version) now for approx 4y now, I've got 1 (yep 1) virus. It was one which was just released and PcCillin warned me about it but could't stop it. I immediately took contact with pcCillin's support, and 2 hours later (!!!!) I got a reply with a remove proggy and the latest update of my viruspattern. None of my friends and colleges had a such quick reply, not from Norton nor from McAfee.