help! I think we may have fallen for an anti-virus scam

[SummerChicken]

tried to post about this just now and no luck, so apologies for any repetition.

half-asleep at night feed, tried to bring up something mumsnetty from browsing history, a message comes on screen (have pop-ups blocked and McAfee enabled) advising us to run a free scan, wouldn't let me close it down with red x in corner so I got my husband (also half-asleep, bless him). He thought it came from the computer software so clicked "run" for the free scan which then reported malware. I don't know whether he then asked it to fix it or not. We then became suspicious. He's gone back to bed but I can't sleep for worrying in case something has now been installed that could get our financial details or wipe files. I have run McAfee and the scan found nothing. What should I do?

i use AVG free download
it picks up stuff that got missed by my other software

Super anti spyware was good too

They are both free downloads that worked for my computer when i fell for same scam

I second the use of super anti spyware free edition. found loads of stuff on mine that ntl anti virus missed.

Also spybot was reccommened to us by a computer geek. I use both and run scans every week or so. i still use ntl for real time protection.

Yes because the free edition has no real time protection so if you turn Macafee off while you are scanning they won't interfere with each other.

No you don't have to uninstall it. If you have windows just go into your control panel, security settings, turn off protection. You don't have to turn it off while you are downloading it only when you are scanning.

The only reason you are not meant to have more than one is (according to our computer geek) that if they are both running around looking for spyware they get in each others and find less things than they usually would.

you know you said 'go into your control panel, security settings, turn off protection.'

where is/are the security settings???

sometimes can't believe how this pc works at all.!

AVG free does not do what Windows Defender does, so you need them both.

loads of thanks for the tip-off re: free downloads - it's dh's computer so have passed info on to him as I feel nervous about downloading anything without asking...but am wondering what this actually is - I mean, I'm pretty sure it's dodgy but how dodgy, if you see what I mean. Do I need to nag him to sort it out right away? [worried look]

right, have passed info on to dh and he's downloaded avg but apparently needs to download a patch to make it Vista compatible...so have left it up to him to sort out. Thanks again for the tips. I really am going to have to stop being so technophobe and helpless about computers, I'm scared to log on these days and it's not exactly empowering...

we just had a smiliar problem and it knackered the PC. Ask DH if you've got a decent firewall, ZoneAlarm is a good one for free, and get SpyBot Search and Destroy to get rid of any spyware.