Many of us have received this message from time to time.

The message looks like a legitimate Microsoft or other antivirus software message. You are asked to click on an icon in order to remove the virus. Upon clicking the icon, you're asked for your credit card number and a $49 or so fee.

Here's what happened.

Someone in a European country, a prison, or a local high school wrote a little program that infected your computer. Actually, the program was sent to millions of susceptible computers automatically.

What did you do wrong? You could have opened up an attachment to an email. You could have gone to an infected website that passed the virus to you upon clicking an icon. You could have downloaded a file disguised as a photo. It's almost like catching a cold? You can wash your hands a dozen times a day. You can stay three feet away from the nearest human. You can use gloves all day. You can still catch that cold.

If you are using Windows XP, you are more likely to be infected. If you are using updated versions of Windows Vista or Windows 7, you are less likely to get infected. (According to Computer World, 14 out of 1000 XP computers are infected, 8 out of 1000 Vista computers are infected, and 2.5 out of 1000 Windows 64bit computers are infected).

If you are using one of the better more recent Internet security programs like Norton Internet Security 2012, you are less likely to get infected.

If you are the type of computer user that clicks on email attachments offering $9.95 Apple iPads, you are likely to get infected. 

Let's say you followed all the rules. You are using Windows 7 with an updated Norton Internet Security 2012, never open up email attachments, never go to "bad" websites, and yet still get a virus.

You get that evil message on the screen indicating that you have been infected by a virus. You try using your favorite antivirus software and it won't work.

You keep getting annoying message on your computer telling you that your have a virus or spyware. 

Here is what you can do.

Run Malwarebyes. It's a free program that can clean up your computer. It works almost all the time. I suggest that you place it on your computer and run it at lease four times a year. It is an unintrusive software program. When you run it, it takes up some of your computer resources. When you shut it down, it releases all your computer resources and does not run again until you decide to run it.

If you don't have Malwarebytes on your computer and get a serious virus, you could have a problem going to the Internet site and installing it. So, it would be better to install it before you get a virus.

Or just download Malwarebytes and place it on a USB Flash Drive for future use.

Sometimes if  you have a serious virus or spyware, you may want to run Malwarebytes in Windows safe mode. To boot your computer in the safe mode, press the F8 key while booting.

If you are interested in getting a copy of Malwarebytes, click on FREE Stuff For Your Computer located near the bottom of this and all of our other newsletters.

Now here's the purpose of this article. I've found an excellent alternative to Malwarebytes.  

Comodo Cleaning Essentials won't cost you a penny. This is another tool that you can use if your computer appears to be fried.

First, use your antivirus software. Next use Malwarebytes. If you still can't get your computer up and running, use Comodo Cleaning Essentials. When one of these virus or spyware programs gets into your computer, it sometimes adds software that is very difficult to find and remove. Every time you reboot your computer, it reinstalls the offending software. You keep getting pop-ups warning you of a virus. Comodo finds the offending software and removes it.

It is best to download Comodo and place it on a flash drive for future use. If you should get a serious virus, run it from your flash drive.

Comodo Cleaning Essentials earned an exceptional rating at PCMag.com. Read the PCMag.com review of Comodo Cleaning Esssentials at:

Comodo Cleaning Essentials (PCMag.com Review)

Download Comodo and read more about its features at:

Comodo Website