Nasty Viruses and Spyware - Tech Support Forums

RootbeerInACan · August 21st, 2008, 08:37 PM

I noticed last night that my background had been changed to an alert saying that I have spyware on my computer. I ran a program named STOPzilla and it came up with 45 infection on my computer. Since then I am unable to access most anti-virus or spyware website and cannot get and updates on my virus protection ( F-Secure PC Protection Plus ). I've ran F-Secure and quarantined 5 infection it came up with but I'm still having trouble.

JPMiller · August 21st, 2008, 08:47 PM

Welcome...
Theres scads of threads on this already...
Security and Privacy Issues - Tech Support Forums - TechIMO.com

those top stickies should more than cover everything

--------------
For my own 2 cents...
Start by turning off System Restore...
To turn off system Restore, simply right click on the "My Computer" icon on your desktop, and choose "properties"
Click the "system restore" tab and check the box that says turn off system restore"
Click "Apply" and then OK, You can always turn it back on later when your sure the system is clean, by reversing the procedure
The reason you should turn it off, is because many of the nastier Trojans and spyware insinuate themselves into the system restore points and reinsert themselves after you've gotten rid of them

Run C-Cleaner
If you don't already have them...
Use Spybot, Adaware, and Super AntiSpyware as well
Update all the Spyware removers...
Then reboot in safe mode and run the scans from there...
Then run C-Cleaner again and don't forget to scan for issues to clean the registry...

Remember to run msconfig and turn off anything but Antivirus and Super Antispyware......

Most people use a combo of Spybot and Adaware to weed out spyware, but I have also been using SuperAntispyware as well lately as a realtime scanner with excellent results.
And there is NO reason to purchase security software when the majority of it is no better than the available freeware.

Most people are split between AVG and Avast for antivirus...
I use AVG, and have never had any issues

All can be found at filehippo.com

I dont particularily care for ANY of the paid for security programs...
More often than not they are poorly executed and end up doing less than the free alternatives I've posted above..

RootbeerInACan · August 21st, 2008, 08:52 PM

Ok. I've turned off system restore.

I do have Adaware 2008 and C-Cleaner. The rest I am unsure if I can download them. When I do make and attempt at downloading them at Download.com ( Which seems like the only website I can access that allows me to download Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware programs ) the downloader will say the file is corrupt. Since yesterday every time I download something it will skip. For example, it will be at 10% then it will skip to being done and when I click to open the program I will get a message saying the file is corrupt.

Anyway.. I did the HighJackThis thing in the sticky and it seems alright. I will make an attempt at download AVG or something as good as that and I'll see how that goes.

Tried Filehippo.com and I cannot access it.

Oh and before I forget. I left out how when I google something I get redirected to a random website. Most of the time its a rogue spyware site. It seems to be getting better. Not sure how I made it stop but atleast I can google once more.

RootbeerInACan · August 21st, 2008, 09:21 PM

I'd also like to say that I cannot get any updates for any program, not just F-Secure. So I'm not sure if that will stop me from getting this crap off my computer ( Which I'm sure it will ). Spybot comes out corrupted. I'm getting no where fast. I've been working on getting rid of this for 8 hours now not including last night so ANY help is much appreciated.

Also, I've noticed that font on some websites seem bigger than usual. Maybe this has something to do with all this?

Also Also, Some pages don't load completely.

Also Also Also, I can't download Super AntiSpyware. Coming to the conclusion that I'm somewhat screwed.

JPMiller · August 21st, 2008, 09:34 PM

Do you have another computer handy?
Are you comfortable removing hardware and working inside the case of your computer?
If so, you could slave this drive to another computer that you first have set up all the aforementioned security software on and scan it from that machine.

If not... I might suggest a "live" cd that will let you scan without initiating windows...

UBCD for Windows

RootbeerInACan · August 21st, 2008, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPMiller

Do you have another computer handy?
Are you comfortable removing hardware and working inside the case of your computer?
If so, you could slave this drive to another computer that you first have set up all the aforementioned security software on and scan it from that machine.

If not... I might suggest a "live" cd that will let you scan without initiating windows...

I'd rather not do that. I'm not the handiest with computers and I will probably mess something up.

Where can I get one of those?

JPMiller · August 21st, 2008, 09:44 PM

I updated my post.. sorry..
You should be able to download the ISO, and burn it to CD
Do you have a spare machine with a CD burner that you can use?

RootbeerInACan · August 21st, 2008, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPMiller

I updated my post.. sorry..
You should be able to download the ISO, and burn it to CD
Do you have a spare machine with a CD burner that you can use?

Yes I have a laptop but I'm not sure if you can burn CDs on it.

JPMiller · August 21st, 2008, 09:56 PM

well you may have to download the ISO on the laptop, and use a USB thumbdrive to transfer it to the PC to burn, if you cant download it on the PC

rodhudson · August 21st, 2008, 10:27 PM

Hi. I've had the same thing ! I don't think it's 'Spyware' at all. That's just a 'cover' ! I think it's a boot sector virus, which is why I've just posted a question about that issue.