Computer Virus: Help Requested

March 30, 2004 | Self

[Keith in Iowa]

Download AdAware & Spybot Search & Destroy - install, update, then run both - you likely got hit with a spybot/adbot type thing - one of those 2 programs should find and remove it for you.

[Psycho_Bunny]

 TrendMicro Sysclean

Download the executable

SysClean

And then download the latest pattern:

SysClean Pattern

Put them both in a folder and run the SysClean.com file.

You can run them right off the desktop if you'd like.  They'll create a bunch of temp files that may alarm you but once the program's run, all the temp files will be deleted except the original files and a .log file.

Sysclean is a free "Command line" AV program that will only help find and remove viruses: it doesn't install anything on your system and it won't prevent your getting viruses.

The SysClean homepage is here, just incase you don't trust my links.  lol.

Hope it works.

[dfwgator]

Then after that install a firewall, I recommend Zone Alarm, you can download it for free. I did it a year ago, haven't had a problem since. (knock wood)

[edeal]

Download the computer users best friend, AdAware.

This program removes unwanted spyware, and best of all is free.

[Squantos]

Go to grisoft.com and get the free..........FREE........AVG software. I run it in addition to my Norton Pro and it catches a whole boatload of germs ! Also Spybot and Ad-Aware 6.0 are free and work extreamly well......... They are all FREE FREE FREE and the updates require no subscription crap.

Stay safe

[MarMema]

Spybot is wonderful.

[GeronL]

I'm almost afraid to open this thread. Scary. Hope I won't catch anything. Adult content huh?.. and you told your wife it was all politics didnt you?

Seriously though, I am sure there are Freepers who can help. Don't pay any attention to the ones who advise you to reformat the hard drive =o)

[GeronL]

why would someone not trust a person who calls themselves Psycho_Bunny? =o)

[bd476]

Thanks, Keith. Great idea. I forgot to mention that I also ran LavaSoft's Adaware when the Norton AntiVirus Scans failed to find the virus the Norton Alert had found earlier.

LavaSoft's AdAware found only the typical annoying cookies which I also removed.

According to Norton's site, this Trojan virus has been around for awhile, unless that space between the dot and "Trojan" signifies a new one.

I'm wondering why the Norton Scan couldn't find what the Norton Alert engine found, couldn't fix yet still reported. I am wondering if Trojan viruses migrate within a computer to other files.

[ccmay]

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

1. Buy a Mac.
2. Never run MS Internet Explorer. Use Safari or OmniWeb instead.
3. Never, never, never install anything made by Norton. You can run Virex once in a while if it makes you feel better, but it will never find anything.
4. Promptly and permanently forget about viruses, worms, pop-ups, pop-unders, Trojan horses, whack-a-mole porn ads, and all the rest of the filth that comes with being a Windows user.
5. Get your work done, go to bed early, and as you fall into a sound sleep, snicker at the folly of those whose businesses depend on the good will and competence of Bill Gates' minions.

You're welcome.

-ccm

[bd476]

Someone recommended Kerio's firewall awhile ago, I downloaded it but had disabled it because it slows the computer down to a snail's pace. Lesson learned hard.

[Redcloak]

Allow me to be the first to make a snide remark about upgrading to Linux.

OK... Now that I've gotten that outta my system...

It sounds like you've gotten hold of a nasty variety of ad-ware. Spybot can probably kill it off in short order. Spybot Search and Destroy can hunt down and eliminate ~13,000 threats.

Zone Alarm is another "must-have" with a Windows system. Zone Alarm asks permission before allowing programs access to the Internet. It's easy to use and I haven't heard of anything that can get by it. You would have caught the trojan with it the first time it tried to run off and download an ad to display.

[edeal]

you forgot some more that follow when you buy a mac

6. Become a vegan
7. Stop bathing, start to smell
8. Only wear sandals
9. Become a fashionable male (if you know what I mean)
10. Build a small shrine to Steve Jobs

Hey, lighten up! I actually like macs.

[kingu]

Nahh, why waste all that money buying a Mac? One could easily just get Linux and install it on the same hardware.

[bd476]

Thanks Squantos! That's right! I forgot about Grisoft's AVG. Going to go download that right now. It's a bit peculiar that we have to supplement Norton despite its cost.

[kemosabe]

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download1666.html

download the 30 day program...

run it...

then redo AdAware, Spybot S & D...

AVG anti virus is better that McAffee, it's free.

or choose one of these others.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=trojan+killer&btnG=Google+Search

good luck...use Zone Alarm Basic, it's free

personally I use Frisk Software F-Protect AV.

http://www.f-prot.com

[FairOpinion]

check this out too:

http://swatit.org/

It specifically removed Trojans, in some tests they claim it performed better - found more,than Norton.

I also concur with others suggestions about Spybot search and destroy.

[jimwnola]

In addition to adaware, and zonealarm, another great free product is the avast antivirus program at avast.com. After 2 years of Norton, I didn't pay for the the 3rd update, uninstalled it and went with avast. It does everything, if not more, than Norton and is completely free with no catches that I can ascertain. Since I installed it, it has intercepted several of the recent worms and virused from my email. It automatically keeps updating its virus database.

[Rodney Dangerfield]

AdAware actually places spyware on your computer.

Run Spy Sweeper instead as it is far superior and finds and quaratines things that AdAware can't.