Computer virus

Desert Orchid

Desert Orchid

Senior Jockey
Joined
Aug 2, 2005
Messages
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I'm getting a message telling me computer is infected but according to my AVG everything is OK and up to date. Which do I believe?
 
The message claims:

'Windows has detected spyware infection. Then it prompts me to download anti-spyware, then I get an error report. Another message comes up listing two 'trojan horse' thingies.
 
I'm tempted to think I can trust AVG (as it's never let me down before). I just wondered whether this 'Windows' message I'm getting is for real or whether by activating a protection download I'm allowing some other 'malware' to get into the PC.
 
I've had something similar before, that AVG failed to pick up, that came through windows. It was a spyware package designed to look like AVG and might have been called windows 2009 or something, and was mocked up to look a microsoft with its multi-coloured shield etc Download it and you'll get the spyware. There's normally something in google if you post a few key words into a search, as people tend to discuss how to remove these things quite quickly. It tricked me into downloading it, even though I realised pretty quickly what I'd done but couldn't cancel the command. I think I had to then download something called Malbytes to remove it. I think it's harmless for the most part, but pretty annoying as it keeps telling you that it's found all sorts of trojans that don't exist
 
Last edited:
Desert Orchid said:
The message claims:

'Windows has detected spyware infection. Then it prompts me to download anti-spyware, then I get an error report. Another message comes up listing two 'trojan horse' thingies.
Click to expand...

Sounds as if you might have allowed it in already. That's pretty well what happened to me. It was a quick repair (took about 15 mins) and if an ignoramus like me could do it, it couldn't have been that difficult
 
Ive had that. I agree that AVG is good but also try Malwarebytes anti malware (which is free) and is I think, more targeted at these infections
 
Desert Orchid said:
They're telling me it isn't free. Any other free ones out there?
Click to expand...

It used to be!!! Rather than download the whole kaboodle it be the case that they produced a free patch specific for this attack?. Try putting the name of the spyware into google, as I'm sure I did it this way round and used a link that was provide dby something like wikianswers or similar
 
Warbler said:
It used to be!!! Rather than download the whole kaboodle it be the case that they produced a free patch specific for this attack?. Try putting the name of the spyware into google, as I'm sure I did it this way round and used a link that was provide dby something like wikianswers or similar
Click to expand...

It said free when I went to the site but once I downloaded it it scanned for infections (found a number) but wants me to subscribe to sort them.
 
I removed PC Tools ('Malwarebytes') and installed Ad Aware. It tells me its operation was successful. Looks promising.
 
never had a problem until tonight - i found a new file called "Relevant Knowledge" - its a trojan - piggybacked on a free Wav/MP3 converter I downloadede the other day.

i've renamed the file by knocking the "e" off the end, then deleted it - now running Ad Aware to try and remove anyhthing remaining - I'll bet I haven't got rid of it all

any tips welcome.
 
Desert Orchid said:
I removed PC Tools ('Malwarebytes') and installed Ad Aware. It tells me its operation was successful. Looks promising.
Click to expand...

I went into
>control panel
>add/remove programmes

and removed pc tools there. However, the icon is still on the task bar and I can't see any way of removing it. Any suggestions?
 
DO, the problem is, these things tend to respawn themselves unless completely purged from the system, including the registry. If you are running windows xp, download two bits of software. you need to download rootkit which will detect and remove any traces of it, and download startupmonitor which when installed, keeps track of anything trying to install itself on your system, and will warn you about it in advance. Obviously, if you are installing software, you can ok it, if not, deny it form doing so.
 
I googled rootkit but it seems to be supplied by PC Tools, which is what I'm trying to get rid of. I don't really know what rootkit is. Is it a generic term or a trade name?
 
Despite having worked in IT for the best part of 25 years, I am somewhat of a computer illiterate, and would like to ask the gathered experts about a problem which seems similar to those expressed previously in this thread.

I recently upgraded my Norton Anti-Virus......based on what appears to be an automated prompt from Norton............and the upgrade appeared to go fine. I have the green "tick", and when I launch the application, all my stuff is "Secure".

All hunky-dory you at face value, however, my laptop now gets completely locked-up on a regular basis, with the message "Norton Internet Security is performing background checks", and the only escape is to power-down/up the machine. I cannot even break-out to Task Manager.

Are any of our IT experts familiar with this, and does anyone know how to stop it happening (maybe disable a utility within Norton?) without my PC being opened up to all manner of malicious attack?

Cheers in advance
Grass
 
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