Posted on 01/30/2012 5:07:43 PM PST by Don@VB
Booted up my Acer Aspire One with Win XP and found this Win XP virus. Have Microsoft Security Essentials running and up to date and it got thru. Don't know how but it disabled most applications so could not run virus scan. Everything backed up but still a hassel. Its out there, any tips on avoiding this appreciated.
Through the advice of my son, I downloaded Microsoft security essentials.
My advice - never use MSE again! Within 1 week I had a complete system meltdown! It was to the point that I had to lock myself out of the internet to prevent anymore intrusions onto my computer. The only way I was able to save my computer was by booting into safe mode and doing a system restore to the point before I downloaded that security software.
It doesn’t work worth crap. Seriously I was unable to boot up my computer at all. Everything was missing! I had viruses and trojans totally reeking havoc on my computer.
Get a different security software - if looking for free, my oldest son uses Avast and says its great. I use Norton since it’s free through my internet provider.
Mark, didn’t know that. Thanx for tip!
There is a very, very nasty thing out there now. File name VKNT.EXE Heur. Agent/ Gen-Whitebox. Apparently origin in Vietnam. My Super Anti-Spyware picked it up the other day. Trashed it before any damage to PC. I hope...
I hear ya..
ALL of my rootkit and malware removers are free (OTL/OTS, DDS, Avenger, Combofix etc). I get my AV free from Avast in exchange for volunteering on the Avast forums as an “evangelist”. AV’s, even the paid ones are not foolproof that’s why but having a free version is like having a one night stand with a hot chick who might have the clap.
Heuristics are part of the full scan features of most paid AV’s. Everyone of these bastards are unique. TDSS types can easily be killed by TDSSkiller, but TDSSk is useless against HJ or hijack types, which can be neutralized by GMER. GMER is useless against SSDT rootkits but Combofix can destroy it. I wish I can strangle the creators of these malwares..
Hey Don,just my two cents’ worth...I loaded Avast! a few years ago and I just love it. Also, I gave up using IE in any capacity and stick strictly to Firefox as a browser. I’m a happy camper!
Very true. Win XP is a virus.
And you will be happier still tomorrow when Firefox 10 is released.
Go to where the executable file for your virus software lives....that is, navigate to the directory where it is installed...then rename it "explorer.exe". (The virus usually needs explorer.exe to be left untouched) Then double click on your newly named program file and run a virus scan.
I used avast and got a virus there too, but I might couple it with Firefox.
This virus often disables system restore. You get a message that tells you it is turned off when you try to use it.
The bleeping computer website has good directions for getting rid of it.
100 agreement. I’m in the same boat as you. Bought at $29.00.
All my computers have been Apple since 1985. The last virus I had must haven around 1990. There is no reason to not own a Mac.
Note quite the same, but both are unix, so you get credit for that.
It could run just as well not on a Mac, a whole lot cheaper.
somehow, I was able to use an F button, went into safe mode and eventually got it to reboot and then was able to do a system restore....after that, ran Norton just to make sure everything was okay....and I have no knowledge of computers except I am a button pusher...push enough buttons in the right sequence and sometimes you can make hay....LOL
I have Vista Home Premium (I know, it sucks), and run Kaspersky AV with MSE. Never ever had problems. And visit some bad sites. Catches em every time. I tried to load Malwarebytes, but it conflicted and gave me the BSOD, so simply unloaded it. All well and good again.
I am using it on five computers. Not one issue since I installed it. I have young sons all over the internet and my wife is a gullible for those pop ups that install these trojans.
I like MSE.
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