Tech Tools: FixMeStick

The FixMeStick is a USB key fitted with an antivirus scanner. Simply plug it into your USB port, and follow on-screen instructions on the screento ensure your PC or Mac is malware-free.

It uses antivirus scanning engines from Kasperesky, Sophos and Vibpre antivirusand claims to remove everything from simple viruses to the more difficult to tackle Ttrojans and rootkits. It's designed to works as a bootable device. When you plug the key in, you have to restart your machine and allow the key to do its work before the operating system kicks in. That means you can circumvent any oddities in the operating system and find out just what is going on in the background.

The main problem I had with the FixMesStickit is that I couldn’t find a PC it would work on. That’s because every computer in my possession has Windows 10 on it, which comes fitted with BitLocker automatically enabled.

This software encrypts the hard drive, and FixMeStick is not compatible with it. Thereforethe FixMeStick is effectively useless for machines fitted with Windows 10, or even Windows 8.1.

When I did locate a PC with Windows 7, FixMeStick waswas good to go.

The set -up is slightly tedious, but you can let the FixMesStick run; it’s not necessary to supervise it.

Despite antivirus software running on the apparently clean machine, FixMeStick found some suspicious files and quarantined them.

Buying the stick initially will cost €59; to renew the coverage for another year will set you back €49 annually. It may seem steep but it depends on how highly you prize your data security.

The good: It's easy to use, even for non--technically inclined people. Sure, you could probably create your own bootable antivirus drive, but that would leave many amateur computer users stumped. This is ready to go.

The not so good: Like many antivirus software programmes, this is a subscription-based piece of kit. That may be hard for some to get their head around.

The rest: Remember, this isn't compatible with any PC withthat has BitlLocker enabled.