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Computer Help Needed
Former Fetus

Posted on 04/22/2012 7:00:47 AM PDT by Former Fetus

First of all, since I am asking for help with viruses, let me say that I am posting this from my husband's computer!

My IP uses McAfee, I have Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware in my PC. So I felt pretty safe.

Fri morning, I was reading Jewish World Review when a pop-up claiming to be MSE claimed my PC was infected. It was not one of those pop-ups you can X out from. In my panic, I could not remember what someone here, at FR, had told me in the past that I could do. So I turned off my PC. When I rebooted, I ran MSE and it showed 9 trojans. After removing them, I ran MAM and it still showed 2 or 3. I kept this game going on all of Friday morning and most of the afternoon. I would "scan and remove" with one program, then the other one would find something. By midafternoon both programs claimed my PC was cleaned and finally I could breathe. It is hard to hold your breath for 8 or 9 hours, LOL!

I was gone all day Saturday, when my son was running at a track meet. This morning I got on-line to see the results of all events and, you guessed it, the pop-up was there again. Only this time neither MSE or MAM found anything.

Ok, so these are my questions:
1)do y'all think that this pop up is a phishing attempt?
2)How do I get out of it without turning the PC off?
3)If it is a case of phishing, why did both av programs show any problems last Friday?
4)Besides running both MSE and MAM, do you have any other suggestions?

Thank you very much.


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: antivirus; computervirus; malwarebytes; microsoftsecurity; virus
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1 posted on 04/22/2012 7:00:51 AM PDT by Former Fetus
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To: Former Fetus

For later


2 posted on 04/22/2012 7:02:04 AM PDT by llandres (Forget the "New America" - restore the original one!!)
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To: Former Fetus

Have you run them in safe-mode?


3 posted on 04/22/2012 7:04:49 AM PDT by ican'tbelieveit (Washington,DC is FULL of people with Political Experience... How's that Working out for you??)
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To: Former Fetus

When it comes up, Control alt delete and shut it down from your task manager.


4 posted on 04/22/2012 7:06:17 AM PDT by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
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To: Former Fetus

Google MSE and you will find posts from other people and their method of removing the app. Its probably more of an annoyance than a true virus, but you do have to dig deep to remove the tentacles of the app. This type is fairly common and removable with the right app.


5 posted on 04/22/2012 7:07:47 AM PDT by Thebaddog (Remember, Obama said he's only 60% done with his agenda.)
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To: Former Fetus
You're not alone. That's been happening to me all morning. I'm not geeky enough to know what to do to stop it. I checked my virus protection, Microsoft Defender, and it says my computer is running normally. So when it pops up, I just restart.

I'll be monitoring this thread for solutions.

6 posted on 04/22/2012 7:11:09 AM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: Former Fetus

Run a program called ‘Combo Fix’ from a disc after you start your computer in safe mode.


7 posted on 04/22/2012 7:14:43 AM PDT by 38special (Only fools believe the liberal media)
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To: Former Fetus

I had such a nasty virus from Drudge I had to restart my computer from day one. It would not allow me to restart it from previous days, weeks or even months.

I saved my pics on an external hard drive quite some time ago, so I lost everything but those.

I am not computer literate, so that was the only way I could remedy the situation.


8 posted on 04/22/2012 7:15:17 AM PDT by NoGrayZone (For evil to triumph it is only necessary for good men to do nothing.)
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To: Former Fetus

First thing you need to do is right click the network ‘icon’ in the task bar and click ‘disable’.

This prevents the trojan from accessing the internet to ‘update’ itself.

Secondly, reboot into ‘Safe Mode’ and then re-run Malwarebytes and your antivirus program.

Thirdly, reboot normally and re-run ‘Malwarebytes’ again to be sure the trojan is gone.

If everything checks out ok, then ‘right click’ the network ‘icon’ on the task bar and click ‘enable’.


9 posted on 04/22/2012 7:15:52 AM PDT by Bigh4u2 (Denial is the first requirement to be a liberal)
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First thing that I'd recommend is downloading two programs for use in the long-term:

Get AVG for your anti-virus software (it's free here)

Then.........download and install 'SpyBot Search and Destroy'

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/home/index.html

Then, remove McAfee - and don't use it again. Install AVG. It is the best anti-virus on the market (has been for 10 years, or so).

You can keep malwarebytes, just run it separately from 'SpyBot'. (always search for updates).

 

10 posted on 04/22/2012 7:16:01 AM PDT by NoRedTape
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To: Former Fetus

Couple things.

First, go to www.download.com and get AVG (Free Edition) 2012; a fantastic antivirus package.

Install it, UPDATE it, then update your Malwarebytes....then run both.

That said, two things: I suggest you run both, after you update, etc., from Safe Mode (reboot your computer, and before you see the Windows logo appear, just keep tapping the F8 button; have it come up in Safe Mode with Networking). Safe Mode loads just enough of the operating system for the computer to function.

Once in Safe Mode, THEN run Malwarebytes and AVG (full scan for each, and yes, you can run both simultaneously). Whatever they find, let the package*=(s) get rid of it/them.

Then....reboot again (”Start Windows Normally”). I suspect you’ll then be fine.

Here’s the thing: Packages like antivirus software and anti-malware software (e.g. your Malwarebytes....which is VERY good, by the way) are only as good as the currency of their definition files. IOW, they can only protect you from stuff they actually KNOW about. KEEP THEM CURRENT.....BARE MINIMUM, UPDATE ONCE A WEEK (I tend to do that more often, myself).

Malwarebytes is not an antivirus package. Between AVG and Malwarebytes, your system should get a very thorough cleaning.

Ping if you have any problems.


11 posted on 04/22/2012 7:18:26 AM PDT by RightOnline (I am Andrew Breitbart!)
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To: 38special; Former Fetus

The problem with Combo Fix is if you don’t ‘uninstall’ your antivirus program, it can,possibly, delete files that you don’t want to get rid of.

I would suggest going to the ‘Combo Fix’ website and following the instructions before just running it.

Even in ‘Safe Mode’.


12 posted on 04/22/2012 7:19:01 AM PDT by Bigh4u2 (Denial is the first requirement to be a liberal)
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To: Former Fetus
Pressing the "ALT" key simultaneously with "F4" should close the topmost window.

I'm not sure what you mean when you say your "IP" uses McAfee. "IP" is usually an abbreviation for "Internet Protocol".

Reboot into safemode, and run your scans from there.

Also, you might want to try Spybot - Search & Destroy

13 posted on 04/22/2012 7:22:41 AM PDT by holymoly (WTF? Is this thing double posting again!?)
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To: NoGrayZone

I stopped going to Drudge over ten years ago, due to the cooties.


14 posted on 04/22/2012 7:24:28 AM PDT by ErnBatavia (A conservative, a liberal and a moderate walked into a bar; barkeep said "Hi Mitt")
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To: NoRedTape
I actually got rid of AVG about two months ago, after running it for years.....it started acting goofy and bloated.

I replaced it with Avast, and all seems good.

15 posted on 04/22/2012 7:26:04 AM PDT by ErnBatavia (A conservative, a liberal and a moderate walked into a bar; barkeep said "Hi Mitt")
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To: Former Fetus

I had the same issue as well. I was looking at funny videos when i got whats called Malware. The virus essentially puts up false alarms that makes you go to there website to buy the software that is bogus. The thing is real deceptive and real difficult to get to the root of the virus.

The easiest way to remove this virus is to reinstall the Operating system, whether its XP or Windows 7.


16 posted on 04/22/2012 7:28:24 AM PDT by Psycho_Runner (I never voted for change, I prefer folding money.)
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To: Former Fetus

That particular piece of scareware can be a very tenacious little piece of garbage. Read all the above posts. Disabling the network adapter, booting in safe-mode and scanning are your best first efforts. Failing that, it will require more effort. Do you have your anti-malware, anti-virus set to auto-update? Are they set to “real time” scan of all traffic? Last time I had this on a machine, it took several hours and three attempts to eradicate it. Then, I locked the machine down and dumded-down my kids’ user privileges.


17 posted on 04/22/2012 7:28:35 AM PDT by dadgum (Overjoyed to be the Pariah.)
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To: Former Fetus
The fact that the virus software removes the trojan and yet it reappears in a subsequent scan suggests that the registry is infected and the virus is reinstalling itself after it has been cleaned from the disk. If you really want to be free of this you may have to format the disk and reinstall windows from disk. And NOTE this means you lose everything on the machine. You can always reinstall the software you really want and the associated files. But restoring a general backup risks undoing the whole process.

Note: the above is the most extreme solution. But it will in fact resolve the problem. It is probably not your first resort, but it may be your last. And in the interest of full disclosure I once had to resort to this last resort.

18 posted on 04/22/2012 7:29:29 AM PDT by trek
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To: holymoly
I'm not sure what you mean when you say your "IP" uses McAfee

Sorry, my mistake. I meant to type ISP.

19 posted on 04/22/2012 7:34:19 AM PDT by Former Fetus (Saved by grace through faith)
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To: ErnBatavia

The new AVG is so streamlined and smart. I’ve used AVG for 8+years and I’ve worked for many many years in the ‘computer’ industry. I’ve never heard of Avast, but, hey...if it works for you, then great. Speaking of “bloated”, Norton and McAfee bloated-away years ago, in my opinion.


20 posted on 04/22/2012 7:36:29 AM PDT by NoRedTape
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