How much would you pay for virus removal?

[808smokey]

Hi,
I was just wondering how much you have paid or would be willing to pay a computer business to remove viruses if you didn't know how to remove a virus/spyware. Or maybe som of you out there that have your own company charge. I only ask because one lady said she would pay me $10per virus. SHe had 57 viruses and 392 spywares. When she found out how many she had she almost had a heart attack


If this post isn't allowed, sorry admins, I didn't anything about it in the rules

Thanks

[gitreel]

I worked on a persons computer b4.

She had 62 viruses and 400 cases of spyware.

[ViRaL1]

I'd just stick with a flat-rate, whatever your 1 hour rate is. No sense in charging per virus. It's not like it would make sense to pay to remove some of them for less money.

[Ripper2860]

Bill on an hourly basis with a minimum charge.

[The village idiot]

And remember to state that there is no guarantee that you can remove all virus without wiping the drive clean!

[808smokey]

And remember to state that there is no guarantee that you can remove all virus without wiping the drive clean!

Well I only charge a Flat hourly rate $25.00. I never thought of charging per virus until that lady mentioned it. That computer had 15 viruses I couldn't remove. They were backdoor trojans and Web browser hijacks. NAV corprate found them but couldn't remove them. When I physically deleted the file it copied itself to another folder Nortons website offered some assistance but the "Plan B" option was "Clean Install". I told her only a "Clean Install" would completely remove it but she refused. She had no firewall and no AV software and she was on a cable modem. I figure she'll call me back in the next week or two and want the clean install. Found some XXX on there too. Which is definitly the culprit. Lot'sa porn sites.

Oh well means an income in the future. Stupid people with no protection keeps me in business

Thanks for the input

[Reaper88]

I have done spywear and virus removal for a few people. I usually charge them about 35 dollars. When i am done they are usually so happy they give me more. I told one guy i did it for in advance it would be $30. He had over 1,000 spywear on his pc. He was so happy with how much better his pc was running when i was done he gave me $70.

[stiltman]

I have a copay of $10 each time I see the doctor

[johns0]

Be wary of dell,hp and compaq computers cause if you are going to do a virus scan they have 150,000+ files installed and will take over an hour so dont quote but charge after the hours of sitting and waiting.

[indolikaa]

I do this from time to time. It depends on what kind of temper tantrum Spybot and Ad-aware have the first time they are loaded.

I charge $50 flat-rate if they allow me to install Spybot, Ad-aware, SPF and AVG. $100 if they don't.

The fun ones are the parents who find out there's porn on their computer. You have to wonder if their covering their own tracks by blaming their kids.

[Reaper88]

I also talk them into letting me put ad-aware and spybot on there pc's. I then show them how to use it and update it so they can scan themselves. Funny thing is that i have actully gotten repeat business form this people cause they dont scan thier pc like i showed them. You think they would learn after paying me to come out once or twice but they dont.

[indolikaa]

I also talk them into letting me put ad-aware and spybot on there pc's. I then show them how to use it and update it so they can scan themselves. Funny thing is that i have actully gotten repeat business form this people cause they dont scan thier pc like i showed them. You think they would learn after paying me to come out once or twice but they dont.

Some people just don't feel comfortable enough with the computer to risk a "what-if" situation if the scan came back positive. I have many clients with that phobia. They get the minimum rate on the return call.

We barter for goods.

[Reaper88]

[ They get the minimum rate on the return call.

:

I also charge them less second time around. Usually dosent take as long as the first time to fix.

[pyscrow]

Me - I would not pay anything. If I did not know how to do it myself, I would ask a mate to do it, and not only would he not expect to be paid for it, he would be insulted if I tried to pay.

Different culture and different attitude I supose.

[ViRaL1]

Most people WILL fist ask someone who they think knows, unless they're worried about that friend seeing all the porn. :P

[Reaper88]

Me - I would not pay anything. If I did not know how to do it myself, I would ask a mate to do it, and not only would he not expect to be paid for it, he would be insulted if I tried to pay.

Different culture and different attitude I supose.

I never charge friends and family.

[808smokey]

Me - I would not pay anything. If I did not know how to do it myself, I would ask a mate to do it, and not only would he not expect to be paid for it, he would be insulted if I tried to pay.

Different culture and different attitude I supose.

I never charge friends and family.

me neither

but a 35 year old guy with gigs of porn and game hacks/cheats is my typical virus type customer. They don't want there neighboor to know they surf porn all day long so they call me. I always show the customer how to install, use and update there AV software then they don't need me again. But 9 times outta 10 they call me back and I only charge them $10. Unless they need a reinstall of the OS. Then that's more of course. The lady I fixed a few days ago, I spent 20 minutes helping learn to use the program, scanning and everything. You'd be surprised how many people out there have no idea how to do simple things like "Cut & Paste", send attachments, let alone protect there computer

[Reaper88]

You'd be surprised how many people out there have no idea how to do simple things like "Cut & Paste", send attachments, let alone protect there computer

Actully i am not suprised at all. I see it all the time. Nothing against these people cause some people just dont understand and thats ok. The worst kind of people are the ones that think they know whats going on but really have no idea. I did work for a guy once and his pc so so screwed up it wasnt even woth fixing if i could even be fixed. I told him the best thing to do would be a re-install and he disagreed with me. He cliamed that he saw a program that says it will fix all your problems so he would just go get that and it would work. At that point i just said ok and the guy gave me 20 bucks for my trouble. I could tell by the way he was talking to me that he thought i was crazy and didnt know what i was talking about. Funny thing is that when i was on his pc i noticed that he had all these programs that were sposed to optimize your pc. They are probaly what messed it up in the first place. I think those programs are crap personaly.

[Greg12]

i dont charge but i do acept donations.

[DVD_Ripper]

Hi,
I was just wondering how much you have paid or would be willing to pay a computer business to remove viruses if you didn't know how to remove a virus/spyware. Or maybe som of you out there that have your own company charge. I only ask because one lady said she would pay me $10per virus. SHe had 57 viruses and 392 spywares. When she found out how many she had she almost had a heart attack


If this post isn't allowed, sorry admins, I didn't anything about it in the rules

Thanks

If they don't have Norton or McAfee loaded already what stand along scanner do you use to scan for viruses (or is it virii)?

[Jayhawk]

For Virus / Spyware (or other unspecified calls) I charge $50 for the trip and 1st hour, $25 for every hour after that. My experience has been that 2 hours and in some really bad cases 3 hours is a about the rule. I'll negotiate lower if they will drop it off and pick it up.

The shops here in town all start around $70 and usually that involves you taking it in / picking it up a couple days later, or waiting 5 - 7 days for an opening on their schedule. There are a couple of 'low-ballers" that advertise $25 for a complete "tune-up". I doubt that's the "final charge".

In a lot of cases people have called me after the "big name shops" have recommeded wiping the hard drive. I've only had to do that twice this year.

I always include free virus / spyware software if they don't have it already (usually the case) and instructions on how / when to use it.

Short answer: $75 to $100 in most cases.

[BobV]

I think I'd charge a flat hourly rate, but a minimim of $25. I can't see it being worth my time for anything less.

I recall the first time I installed spybot and AV software. In the hundreds..
Heaven only knows where they all came from, must have been my step-son. It ran like I had just bought a new PC. Now I don't surf without them. Oh, or my son.

[pyscrow]

Me - I would not pay anything. If I did not know how to do it myself, I would ask a mate to do it, and not only would he not expect to be paid for it, he would be insulted if I tried to pay.

Different culture and different attitude I supose.

I never charge friends and family.

me neither

but a 35 year old guy with gigs of porn and game hacks/cheats is my typical virus type customer. They don't want there neighboor to know they surf porn all day long so they call me.

Hey maybe I should get in the repair man and charge him for access to my huge porn collection while he is fixing it?

[SIRCOOKS]

i just charge 30$ down here in the bahamas, its pretty low compared to the other guys at 60$ but i have my steady customers, nad through word of mouth, im doing pretty good

[indolikaa]

i just charge 30$ down here in the bahamas, its pretty low compared to the other guys at 60$ but i have my steady customers, nad through word of mouth, im doing pretty good

That's the ideal situation.

I don't advertise. I don't need to. My regulars do that for me.