http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger leads you to one of the best free virus detection and removal tools that are currently available on the Internet. This anti-virus software utility has been developed by McAfee Avert Labs, a reputed name in the world of computer security software providers. The best thing about this anti-virus software is that its total download size is just around 1 MB. This means that you will not have to spend much time on downloading this software. What is even more noteworthy is that Stinger is downloaded as a ready executable file and not as a setup file that is usually the case with other anti-virus programs downloaded over the Internet. You can thus start using the software as soon as the download is over.

Stinger is meant specifically for home users, evident from the easy to use Graphic User Interface (GUI) and the easily understandable scan and removal options. For using Stinger, you just have to add the Directories that you want to scan and click on the “Scan Now” button.

Stinger allows you to set your preferences such as what you would like to do in case an infection is detected. You can choose from options such as ‘report only’, ‘repair’, ‘rename’, and ‘delete’. I would recommend that you select the ‘delete’ option because Stinger recognizes only around 55 known viruses. As such it’s highly unlikely that you would end up deleting anything else other than the viruses that might have been detected.

The only problem with Stinger is that it cannot be used as a replacement for a complete computer security system. But, its still good because it is anti-virus software that does not occupy too much space, does not slow your system, scans faster and does exactly what it is designed for. Given below is the list of viruses that the Stinger can successfully detect and remove from your computer system:

BackDoor-AQJ
BackDoor-ALI
BackDoor-CEB
BackDoor-JZ
Bat/Mumu.worm
Downloader-DN.a
Exploit-DcomRpc
Exploit-LSASS
Exploit-MS04-011
HideWindow
IPCScan
IRC/Flood.ap.dr
IRC/Flood.bi.dr
IRC/Flood.cd
NTServiceLoader
ProcKill
PWS-Narod
PWS-Sincom.dll
W32/Anig.worm
W32/Bagle@MM
W32/Blaster.worm (Lovsan)
W32/Bropia.worm
W32/Bugbear@MM
W32/Deborm.worm.gen
W32/Doomjuice.worm
W32/Dumaru
W32/Elkern.cav
W32/Fizzer.gen@MM
W32/FunLove
W32/IRCbot.worm
W32/Klez
W32/Korgo.worm
W32/Lirva
W32/Lovgate
W32/Mimail
W32/MoFei.worm
W32/Mumu.b.worm
W32/MyDoom
W32/MyWife.d
W32/Nachi.worm
W32/Netsky
W32/Nimda
W32/Pate
W32/Polybot
W32/Sasser.worm
W32/Sdbot.worm.gen
W32/SirCam@MM
W32/Sober
W32/Sobig
W32/SQLSlammer.worm
W32/Swen@MM
W32/Yaha@MM
W32/Zafi
W32/Zindos.worm
W32/Zotob.worm

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McAfee AVERT Stinger works as a stripped down virus removal utility. It comes without the sophisticated technology that the major anti-Virus programs use, but it’s also extremely effective at eliminating specific threats to your system.

When we say specific, we really mean specific. McAfee have made great strides to brand Stinger so that it’s not seen as a full anti-Virus suite. If you want comprehensive protection against the latest and obscurest threats, you should be looking at one of the more reputable suites.

However, where Stinger excels is in its ability to eliminate viruses that are already present on the system. When you buy a package an anti-Virus package, you normally do so with the intention of eliminating threats before they infect your system. On the contrary, Stinger is a problem solving software. You can use it when you know your computer is under attack, and the advanced scanning will be able to locate and correct the problem more often than not.

McAfee has taken a different approach to fighting the problem of malicious users on the Internet. Instead of releasing a single package, or building a moat around the castle, they’ve opted to release separate “Stingers” which are specifically designed to remove viruses as and when they are discovered. The upside is that the removal process has a much higher success ratio.

By catering for individual threats, McAfee can offer sophisticated technology which targets specific attacks. This is why you should only really be considering the AVERT Stinger if you know that you’ve got a problem, and simply can’t work out how to fix it.

For example, if you know that you’ve got a W32/Polip infection, yet your current anti-Virus software isn’t capable of removing it, you can log on to the McAfee website and download a targeted stinger called, quite appropriately, the Stinger W32/Polip. This small stand-alone utility can be utilized to remove that one particular virus.

Of course, it won’t remove any other problems that you have. This is why it’s still vitally important to have a good scanning suite installed. The general Stinger application comes with a list of Viruses that it has definitions of, but this is a much shorter list when you stack it up against the major anti-Virus programs on the market.

When you download then small setup file, you’ll be asked to select a location for installation (as per usual). Given the small nature of the utilities, they can be downloaded very quickly and you can be up and running in quick time. Upon opening the utility, you’ll notice a few basic options. There is a scan button, preferences and a virus list.

If you click on the virus list and see a sprawling page of threats, don’t worry. The list only explains what viruses the software is capable of removing. It’s not a results table of the viruses on your hard drive!

As far as virus removal tools go, the McAfee AVERT Stinger utility has made an excellent introduction on to the market. It shouldn’t be relied on as the one-stop for your anti-Virus needs. If you have found a virus and still haven’t managed to remove it, give the Stinger a go and take advantage of technology that has been carefully designed to tackle such threats when everything else seems to be failing!

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