Posted on 09/08/2007 8:28:30 PM PDT by girlangler
I have spent several days trying to rid my computer of a spyware virus, downloaded several "fixes," yet still have a popup telling me I have a spyware virus and need to download a winvirus.
I don't often post vanity threads, but would appreciate any help, advice, you freepers can offer.
I am pretty stupid when it comes to computing, except for sending email and surfing some websites.
I appreciate any help or advice offered.
Bumpin’ with interest in the fix.
i’m sure that you will get much good advice here. i would recomend the following site for your benefit. i check it out every day for a good tip.
Do you know the name of the virus.
Might be a Vundo variant, they are becoming a problem. Best fix I have found is at
http://www.atribune.org/content/view/24/2/
Download the tool and run it, pretty simple.
12 gauge.
“” yet still have a popup telling me I have a spyware virus and need to download a winvirus.”
I’m a zero when it comes to expertness in such issues, but a question jumps out at me.
Where does this pop up come from? Is it while browsing? or is it coming from your system?
There are virus and trojan type setups that pop up a warning and when you click on the download to “fix” the problem the pop up says you have, you end up installing the virus or trojan.
For spyware I use Ad-Aware SE from LavaSoft. And also ccleaner ( http://www.ccleaner.com/ )
Others will have better info and options for you but if you can give more detail in what’s popping up and what you are doing when it pops up, that might help them.
What software are you running now:
For antivirus?
For spyware and malware?
For a firewall?
Which operating system are you using and what version? Which browser do you use?
I know answering all these questions is a pain in the ass. But the answers will make helping you much easier.
Make sure you download all the updates first.
I have 5 computers at home. None have any virus software. Never any problems.
They are all Mac’s. :-)
What's the operating system? Do you have a firewall and is it on? Sounds like a Chinese script kiddie is just causing a popup message on Windows message service.
www.hijackthis.com
It costs $35 or $40 but it will catch things that the other spyware and adware programs don't.
Here’s the site for the one I use, just download it to program files, it puts an icon on your desktop and has caught many on my ‘pooter.
SPYBOT SEARCH & DESTROY
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
Get webroot spy sweeper. We have used it for the last year and it’s been great. We also use the AOL spy software also.
Oh wait, you mean you want to get rid of spyware...
Disregard it or you will pay for it later.
I would go to a recognized anti-virus/anti-spam site and get a test from there do’nt fall for those pop-ups that tell you you have a virus.They are B.S.
Here’s another-the site for AVG ANTI-VIRUS. The free program is ok, you just have to download updates manually, the same as with Search & Destroy.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/20/us/frt/0
What have you run so far to attack it, what operating system do you have, and what, if any, current antivirus software do you use.
If you don't have paid-for protection, you should have and run with current defintions the following (all have free versions, ignore offers to sell you upgrades)
Ad-aware
Spybot Search and destroy
AVG anti-virus software (not my favorite, but free is free)
Zone Alarm from zone labs.
Download, install, update and run all of those and your system should be in fairly good shape.
If you have an old system (like a Pentium 166), the AVG will really slow it down. You will probably want to unload it after you run it. The others don't cause any real operating problems.
More than Real Audio?
Are you sure you check her site every day just for tips? LOL She’s pretty hot.
If so, it is a scam -- WinAntiVirus is the problem, not anything it warns you about. Most antispyware programs, even the free programs, will remove it. If you feel like spending $30, I like Spyware Doctor OK. It is not perfect, but it is very good, and is much better than the freeware programs.
dont forget the host file.
>>12 gauge<<
I’d go for the 30.06
No chance for the virus to spread.
/flee
She is probably running a scan right now, doesn’t it take about an hour or more?
That "popup" is part of the malware you have inadvertently downloaded. It's asking you to download a program that will cost you money---correct? If correct, then you got a tough problem to fix. I'd find a friend who is very computer-savvy and invite him over. You'll end up having to remove this bit by bit since it resides all over the place, including making changes to your registry. When this popup runs, hit properties and you'll find some filenames that you can search for using the search function of Windows. Follow the paths to the locations and delete each and every instance you find.
This is the one that I used.
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-2007/3000-8022_4-10731194.html?tag=pop.software
I have only used the free version of it. It cleared out all of the spyware, etc., from both my personal PC and my Mother’s PC. I had to run a scan 3 times on each computer to completely remove all of the spyware, but what a difference it made. I try to scan at least monthly, if not more frequently.
Concerning the pop-up, what I learned when researching how to remove the adware, was that some spyware programs will disable pop-up blockers. (I would enable my pop-up blockers and the next time that I would log on online, I would find the pop-up blockers disabled.) Once I removed the spyware, and reset the pop-up blockers, surfing the net has become a virtual joy.
It was also recommended that I delete all cookies. This I did and I reset the security setting for the 2nd highest setting. Warning, if you delete the cookies, be sure that you know your username(s) and password(s) to any websites that require them.
Finally, be sure that your firewall is enabled. I found that the Windows firewall works much better than my Norton firewall.
I hope this if of some use.
goto: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
I agree. Also use this:
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-2007/3000-8022_4-10731194.html?tag=pop.software
i’m just a techie, such things dont interest me.
I run various MP3 players, and the only reason I use RP is because it launches faster than any other player. Their music database is also usefull at times.
AVG Antivirus and Ad-Aware
If you go with it, read the instructions carefully, and set the settings accordingly. Make sure all boxes are unchecked, and you are good to go! Also runs in conjuction with spyblaster, also free, and available through spybot.
LOL I see you love it too!
That and don’t let it automatically decide what file types to associate with — it will set itself up to be your player for everything. Go into the option to manually decide what to let it play, then deselect all. The real player file extensions will still use it, everything else remains the same.
(I don’t like to let users set up Real bu themselves. They get in over their heads.)
Fortunately, Real Audio seems to have lost it's dominance over web based video to Flash Video and Windows generic player. So there is no burning need to subscribe to RA.
Over several years I've downloaded several codec packs that allow me to play about 99% of all web based videos without a hitch.
Here is a PC World review of Spyware Doctor dated 8-21-07.
I tell people this, I clean all their paths and eliminate the sources, yet they always come back a few months later asking me to do it again despite “idiot-proofing” their systems. I gave up.
Some good tips from other people. It you still need help go to http://forum.malwareremoval.com/ and in the Malware Removal section post your hijackthis log. (see http://www.hijackthis.com/ to get the hijackthis program.) An expert will give you help for free.
+1 for Spybot.
I had a similar problem and Spybot identified it for me but couldn’t eliminate it. Norton didn’t even know it was there and Ad-Aware couldn’t find it either. In the end, I backed up all my data files, nuked the hard-disk and started over. It took about six hours but I’m a whole lot wiser now and Spybot seems to be keeping abreast of whatever else might be trying to get to me.
Appears you have some "adware". I would suggest downloading Ad-Adware SE and scanning with "Restore" disabled. You can do your viral scans with "Restore" disabled.
bttt
save
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