Think I have a virus on the laptop

[VivaLeBeaver]

My Norton ran out, so I did a free 30 day AVG thing. That ran out a few weeks ago.

Now everyone in my yahoo email address book has had a nonsense email from my yahoo email address. Has my yahoo account being hacked or is it a general virus?

Can anyone recommend any anti-virus programme. I'm sure on an old computer I had free AVG , but now they want me to pay!

www.avira.com/ I use the free one. Been fine for me

free.grisoft.com is where I normally get AVG Free but I know they make it more and more awkward.

If you go to www.Download.com (part of the CNET magazines set of websites) then search for AVG Free you can download it there A-OK. :)

If you do decide on AVG, I suggest you download the new version, disconnect from the internet (disable wireless, or unplug ethernet cable)..

Then uninstall the current AVG (because that is the bit pestering you to upgrade) which might need a reboot... Then install the AVG Free, (again reboot if necessary)... and then you are safe to go online, download any updates, and scan your laptop.

Oh, and in case your password was snaffled, after you have scanned your laptop, go on to Yahoo! mail and set a brand new password (not used on anything else).

Worth always keeping e-mail site passwords and banking site passwords different from any others you use. Definitely don't use same password for FaceBook, FriendsReunited, etc with your e-mail account.

All too easy for someone to send a message inviting you to see some video / download a screensaver / whatever and the site you go to requires registration... If you sign up on the website... the user will typically enter their e-mail address and then use the same password as for their e-mail (so making it easy to go into the user's e-mail account and once in, get 'password reminders' to any other sites the user uses...

I use dozens of different websites and am confident that every password is unique.

Have downloaded avira for now, thanks for the link.

Will investigate free AVG later. Have also changed various passwords, thanks for the advice on that.