Computer QUESTION: About "Packed.Win32.Krap.hm!A2"

www.threatexpert.com/report ^ | Aug 11, 2010

[Yosemitest]

My Firewall/Antivirus detected an infection of the "Packed.Win32.Krap.hm!A2" and http://www.threatexpert.com/report.aspx?md5=45e98426fafd221ffb7d55ce8a1ae531 says it's:
A malicious trojan horse or bot that may represent security risk for the compromised system and/or its network environment.

I tried to block it and delete the infected files, but that just set off an attack against my computer, which caused me to reload from backup several times.

How do I get rid of this nightmare, and prevent it from coming back?

[roamer_1]

My motherboard will NOT support SP3.

That seems highly unlikely. I do a gazillion installations a year, and I have never seen SP-3 unable to go on... In fact, my install disks are made from an XP SP-3 master.

Now, it IS possible on upgraded systems - I have seen that - Where a retail upgrade was used to install WinXP with... But if you are using a stock, OEM installation disk, Just find someone with an SP-3 OEM installation disk and use it instead.

It seems more likely that some configuration is preventing a clean load from the SP-3 distributable, rather than hardware. Maybe something BIOS related (you should have the newest BIOS available).

SP-3, and updates following, are pretty critical to security. Many exploits that worked on SP-2 are no longer functional in SP-3. The same is true of Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer, to include DirectX... All of these subsystems are where your vulnerability lies.

I would highly recommend befriending a local guru to figure out what/why. Even if you had to start from a clean rub, it would be to your advantage.

Otherwise, chuck it, and get a newer used system. 2600+ to 3g boxes are readily available under $100 (or at least they are around here). One way or another, your system has to receive critical updates. There really isn't any good prevention (in Windows) without that solid base.

I'll check out what you suggested, but Online Armor++ 4.0 is my current firewall.

I am unfamiliar with OA++. I know the firewall, which is good, and I believe the AV component is by Ikarus, which is no terrible slouch, but I am not in favor of "one-step wonder suites." I MUCH prefer a layered defense - Due to that, I haven't tried it.

I DO know Ikarus, though, and I would suggest that there are better solutions available.

[Yosemitest]

My bios is 1999 on a Toshiba Satellite A-75 S226.
Service Pack 3 won't work on my computer.

[Yosemitest]

"Otherwise, chuck it, and get a newer used system.
2600+ to 3g boxes are readily available under $100 (or at least they are around here).
One way or another, your system has to receive critical updates.
There really isn't any good prevention (in Windows) without that solid base."

I want an "Apple Laptop" and I'm trying to make this one last until I can afford a new one.
I'm sick of "Windows" and the virus headaches.

I can take it back to factor specks and load SP2 from a disk and then get my firewall up and running, and then get the updates from windows.
But I still worry about getting viruses the first time I get on the internet, while I'm updating Windows XP.
It may be time to buy a new computer.

[roamer_1]

I want an "Apple Laptop" and I'm trying to make this one last until I can afford a new one. I'm sick of "Windows" and the virus headaches.

load your present laptop with Linux - Ubuntu is as easy as it gets, providing it will run everything from the Live! disk. Go dld the Ubuntu Live! ISO, grind it, and boot to it. Try it out. If everything works, then shove it on there. Why pay for the Apple, when you can get the tree for free? *snicker*

I can take it back to factor specks and load SP2 from a disk and then get my firewall up and running, and then get the updates from windows.
But I still worry about getting viruses the first time I get on the internet, while I'm updating Windows XP.

THERE's the problem. Screw "factory specs." Get ahold of an OEM XP SP3 disk

*ahem* *mumbles "torrent"* *cough*

Pardon me... something in my throat...

As I was saying, find an OEM SP-3 Installation disk (make sure Home vs. Pro)
Go to toshiba's site, dld the drivers for your box, unpack them and grind them to a second disk.
Boot up the OEM Install disk, rub off the system partition, and install.
After it is up and running, install the drivers, starting with the chipset drivers, then video, and whatever after that.

It will work. If it doesn't, you can always restore it to factory again

**NOTE** Do not remove the recovery partition (if it has one) when installing Windows, or the restore/factory function will not work.

**NOTE SOMMORE** Be sure your windows key is legible on the bottom of the box, ELSE use this to suck it out of the current installation before you rub it off... Similar problems exist for MS Office, etc...

***NOTE SOMMORE EVEN, YET*** Only a total moron wouldn't understand that this process will result in the loss of all data on the box. Get all important files off the box before you begin... Not sayin', just sayin' :D

OR, if your box is clean now (viruses gone):

You can try loading SP-3 from the IT distributable version. These work better than Win Update.

It may be time to buy a new computer.

It is ALWAYS time to get a new box. :D
If this is your excuse, it is as good as any...

But as far as laptops go, A Win7 64bit is the cat's a$$. With back 2 skewl going on, you should be happening in $450-$600 (think Acer).

Disclaimer: I am not a Win fanboi. Just don't like spending heavy bucks for fruit.

[roamer_1]

BTW, If you haven't upped the ram in that box, 2- 1g. sticks would make it scream... Even another 512 stick would make it a whole nuther thing. It's about a 3g processor (IIRC), so it is still way useable...

If you can get it running SP-3+, I would stuff a big drive (250+) and big ram in it, and drive it into the ground.

Befriend a good service tech in your area (back alley, not bow-tie)... good used parts are cheap.

[roamer_1]

BTW sommore,

You say you are loading your AV before allowing update to SP-3 - Some AV’s screw with installation. try disabling it, or use a different AV.

SP-3 update can look like it is totally froze up... it will sit there looking at you for 10 minutes. Let_it_finish.

[Yosemitest]

I've got an SP3 OEM CD I paid $12.00 for several years ago that was mailed from Microsoft.
After I loaded it, it wiped out my Realtec Audio, and created other problems.
Microsoft Windows Technical Support is who told me that SP3 wouldn't work.
It took their technician's 3 days to get my system to where they could see that my motherboard wasn't compatible.

I tried to get the "BitDefender RESCUE CD ISO to load on boot up from the CD drive.
It wouldn't load the 319.5MB file.
I don't know what went wrong, but I'll try to figure it out.

[Yosemitest]

I went to Bit Defender's site and am now downloading the new rescue cd iso file, and I'll try it after I burn it to a CD.

[Yosemitest]

1.5 gig is all this system can take.
I've got a couple of stick drives and a "My Passport" 320 gig USB drive (lots of room to hid a malware or virus.

A service tech in am area is at least 30 miles away,and it's not really doable. I really do live in the sticks.