Posted on 03/29/2011 11:26:05 AM PDT by Professional
Last week I got hit with a nasty set of viruses, malware, and trojans.
One of the first things I did, was to check out Freerepublic to get some free advice. Unfortunately, it didn't help much, so I've decided to try and add some value here for folks that have something similar happen to them.
My problems began, by using Google searches for information pertaining to the Japan Earthquake. Now, I suspect that part of these internet virus scams, is to embed the trouble in searches that are very popular at any given time.
I took the advice of this forum, and downloaded malwarebytes. Sure enough, it helped identify a bunch of the stuff, some that my avira virus scan could not detect. So, after identifying the problems, they were removed. I also did a system restore going back a few days in time, beyond the origination of the trouble.
Trouble is, that each time I restarted the computer, I got more viruses, etc. I also could no longer contact microsoft updates, it was being blocked. My browser was being hijacked, and I was getting all sorts of websites redirected, mostly about a survey and a free walmart gift card. While the computer ran, eventually I got a message reporting problems to WIN32 being shut down. This turned out to be a huge problem, because that would shut down the msft security center!
I did some searches about viruses, and that only brought me to MORE plague filled pages. This is a huge RISK, DO NOT DO SEARCHES about viruses!! Many fake leads using key words, then you wind up with more trouble than you started with.
I downloaded Microsoft Security essentials on another computer and put it on a thumb drive. I ran the program on the infected computer, but it could not solve the win32 problem, and I still could not use the internet to contact microsoft.
Ok, now I'm into this like 3 days, and I'm really, really getting ticked off. Nothing is working, and I'm about to call a guy and pay him to fix the computer. My concern there, is that they almost always just wipe out your computer, and give you a few of your old files back.... In my case, that means an enormous amount of work that I'd rather avoid.
Finally, I use the other computer to browse microsoft website about viruses. There was a toll free number available, so I gave it a shot, figuring that would be a long, long hold.... No, it rang straight through to Bombay. Raj does a remote takeover of my computer, and runs into one obstacle after the next. Finally he finds a way to get through, and do a virus scan. After 1/2 an hour or more....my computer is supposedly "clean". I get disconnected, and I go home and go to bed. But, Microsoft doesn't give up that easy. By Monday morning, I've gotten 2-3 emails at yahoo, and two voice mails at my office. Next thing you know, Bombay is calling me again.
Now, I've got one of their experts. He takes the computer over again, and this time he fixes the busted windows registry stuff. That was the heart of the problem. Once that was completed, I ran a few more virus checks, and did a msft update and got the system fully up and running again.
I'm very pleased with how microsoft helped me. I should have gone straight to them, and in the future that is what I'm going to do!
Right now, I have a paid computer expert in my office, and he's analyzing our operation. We have service through comcast, and he informs me... that norton antivirus is FREE, full version, due to our business with comcast. We were not aware of this.
I hope my description above is helpful for all freepers.
I don’t understand how you acquired these viri, except by downloading some files, or allowing a website to run a “scan”, which some of they try to do. It is to my knowledge not possible to catch a virus by merely looking at a site. And Avast is so good in that regard that it immediately warns you of suspected websites.
You, Sir, are a steely eyed missile man!
Malwarebytes only gets rid of viruses temporarily, and it’s not strong. It doesn’t protect your computer from new viruses. It’s worth paying for an anti-virus program. I had to reinstall windows a few months ago, and I paid for the help. The virus would shut down Internet Explorer. A message showed up saying, a problem has caused internet explorer to stop working. I got it after I downloaded something.
1. Restart computer
2. F8 while Windows boots and select safe mode.
3. Download Malwarebytes and Startup Mechanic
4. Use Startup Mechanic to clean any malware off your startup menu, use Malwarebytes to kill the virus.
5. Download WOT for firefox, it will stop scripts for bad sites.
Norton is what most hackers use to hack.
The virus had erased the anti-virus information files, so my Norton was helpless. I cured it all by downloading updated info files (also free)and running a full scan. Way at the end of the hours-long scan, it identified and destroyed the PDF file with the Trojan.
The report said the Trojan was a high risk one that read keystrokes and at least tried to connect with some outside source. Fortunately I did not have to worry about keystrokes because Norton has encrypted all my account signons and signs me in without keystrokes. All is back to normal now.
The lesson for me is to run full scans every once in a while because the limited background scan did not pick up on the Trojan.
I know this sounds like a commercial for Norton, but it sure felt good to get my old computer back.
Here is a easy Linux system you can run live surf all you want then shutdown your computer and everything is gone what ever you have picked up if any is only in ram. This link you can also see what it looks like.
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=pclinuxos
This does not have to be installed it will run on a computer that does not have a hard drive.
Hitman Pro is a great AV 2nd opinion scanner. I find it helpful when people get stuck with viruses.
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If you are going to download any programs, do it via CNET.COM, after reading reviews therein. The Chrome browser is pretty virus resistant, or else not a popular virus target. And it’s fast. Immediately stop any scanning scripts that websites overtly start, and never consent to allow them if they ask. All the anti-virus, anti-anything software you need can be had gratis.
For anti-virus, I’ve abandoned Norton & McAfee for Panda Cloud.
http://download.cnet.com/Panda-Cloud-Antivirus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10914099.html
I have an IMAC now, but when i had my HP for several years, I used Norton and had no problems and I go to many suspect sites. Speed was no problem.
Tagging this for later reading
Bookmark thanks
I'm not a computer expert by any stretch of the imagination, but malwarebytes is overrated. I once got a virus which led me to getting more viruses. I took other peoples advice about downloading malwarebytes (among other anti-virus software). Malwarebytes SEEMED to have fixed my problem and cleaned my computer of all viruses. Yet a couple hours later the viruses re-generated themselves.
In a search for other anti-virus software, I came across a post on a message board by someone who said he took his virus infected computer to a 60 dollar an hour computer expert who cleaned out his computer of all viruses and returned it, this time with an anti-virus software called avast installed. I figured that if a high priced computer repair expert thought highly enough of Avast anti-virus software, maybe I should give it a try.
I tried to download Avast, but the viruses I had prevented me from downloading it. So I used the malwarebytes to temporarily supress the viruses long enough to allow me to download Avast. It worked. I installed and ran Avast. It gave my computer the MOST thorough cleaning it ever had. It took many, many hours, and got rid of all the viruses for good. I swear by Avast now. And Avast is free.
Norton is a hog...get rid of it..
Yes, you can get stuff by just visiting a page from what I understand. Also, by clicking a x to close the window is a new trick with these things too. If you get a pop up, you are supposed to hit ctrl alt del, then shut that window down. If you click on the x instead, you’ve just started the destruction chain....
One thing for sure, the longer you try to fix it yourself, and restart, fiddle, the deeper hole you may be digging. In my case, if I’d just immediately called msft, the problem would have been solved much much faster, and I would not have gotten worked up enough to lose my marbles.
Yes, I read many of these web stories here at FR and it is quite irritating to see how a bunch of finger waggers really enjoy needling folks about porn, yada yada.
Any topic that is extremely likely to be a popular search, is a candidate for these problems. And again, web searches regarding virus removal, is just about the most dangerous of them all.
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