Computer virus...
 

Alright, admin account is infected and not functional. Guest account is not affected. Do I trash the pc? Or is there a way to fix the admin acct?

Re: Computer virus...
 

Mmmmmmm... You don't throw out a PC because it becomes infected. Unless of course your just using the virus as an excuse to your spouse to get a new one. :) nudge nudge wink wink say no more

Re: Computer virus...
 

Not married... After the virus scan I am prompted to pay for antivirus software. I tried to dowload a free virus scan. The page loads then it goes blank. Then I get a message prompting me to pay for an antivirus software. The page looks like a "windows" message of sorts.

Re: Computer virus...
 

That IS the virus. Just download malwarebytes and install and run it in Safe Mode (which you get to by pressing F5 repeatedly during the bootup).

Re: Computer virus...
 

Yeah, I thought that was the virus. Malwarebytes? If I have to dl something, that's not going to happen.

Re: Computer virus...
 

Can I do this from the guest acct? No, right?

Re: Computer virus...
 

You can do it from the admin account if you boot up in Safe Mode.

And on the first menu select Safe Mode with Networking. I believe it is the second option of a list.

Re: Computer virus...
 

What are malwarebytes? where can I get them?

Re: Computer virus...
 

Here is the link you can use.

http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail...e/1186760019/1

Re: Computer virus...
 

Reminds me of a new (to me) breed of scam email. Looks like it's from the FBI, wants my cooperation in nabbing a scammer. Hilarious.

Re: Computer virus...
 

If all else fails, format the sucker of a hard drive. That will fix it. NEVER get a new computer due to a virus.

Re: Computer virus...
 

Unless you happen to need a new computer anyways and can use the virus as an excuse to your wife. :)

Re: Computer virus...
 

Hmmmm.... yeah. :lol

Re: Computer virus...
 

use another PC and go here
http://www.superantispyware.com/port...g=SAS_HOMEPAGE

Download to a thumb drive. Boot your PC in safe mode (f8) then choose safe mode without networking. Run the program.

Also try downloading and installing Malwarebytes anti-malware program and installing in safe mode

Re: Computer virus...
 

Oh, then once it's fixed make two accounts, an Admin account then another user account and only use one.

Another thing to do is if you can log into Admin, create another account with full admin powers then from there download the right programs and run them

The program on the previous post I made does not need to be installed. The malwarebytes one does

Re: Computer virus...
 

lol..that virus scan you ran is a fake scanner. It IS the virus. The more it runs the more malware it downloads

Re: Computer virus...
 

I prefer without networking in case there is something left behind that connects to the internet.l

Re: Computer virus...
 

Here is the instructions for removal using Malwarebyte
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/viru...antivirus-2009

If this does not work or you can't get it to run (other malware will disable it) let me know

Re: Computer virus...
 

Download and run Adaware. www.lavasoft.com (Free download, top right hand side.)

Re: Computer virus...
 

The reason I would choose '...with networking' is so he can download Malwarebytes. Most of these fake antivirus viruses don't operate (much) in Safe Mode.

I'd do Malwarebytes first.

Re: Computer virus...
 

Got this advice from a full time computer expert who maintains/troubleshoots the entire College computer program in our County.

First, all of these downloads are FREE!! You don't have to buy anything.

Download AVAST (Antivirus), do 3 full scans, rebooting after each scan. Then SPYBOT, Search and Destroy (Malware), do 3 full scans, rebooting after each scan.

He told me this would work, and it did on my daughter’s computer. If for some reason this doesn't, a new Hard Drive may be next.

This scanning will take some time, so if you choose to do this, be patient. Like others have said, you may need to access your computer in Safe Mode to perform these scans.

A hint to anyone who reads this; Bad emails are the number one cause of computer viruses. Good luck!:thumbsup

Re: Computer virus...
 

For one thing you only need a new hard drive if it is physically bad or damaged. If not in a worst case, just reformat and start over.
I'm also in charge of an entire (private) school and am frequently fixing hard drives. We have a ton of Mac's so it doesn't tend to be virus removal so much as data recovery and hard drive replacements. And yes, the Mac's are being sent to Applecare constantly.

I personally like and use Malwarebytes and do NOT like Spybot. You usually have to run it in Safe mode since quite a bit of malware will prevent it from starting in the first place. In a really bad case I will physically remove the hard drive and connect it via USB encloser to another computer and run that PC's antivirus software on it.

Re: Computer virus...
 

Come to think of it, my friend told me the same thing about the Hard Drive. Thanks for the correction.:thumbsup

Re: Computer virus...
 

You might also want to consider running back ups regularly. That's how I fixed my last nasty virus. I just went back a few days to before the problem and it was all better.

Re: Computer virus...
 

That's why I recommended downloading the update first. The reason I like without is I have experienced things that even MWB won't remove at first and are calling home over the internet and downloading more malware or executing some command.

The fake antiviruses might not work but the malware that installed it might or the fake antivirus itself may have downloaded other malware that can.

Re: Computer virus...
 

I can promise you that the above won't work. The above is what you should have done BEFORE the infection.

There are specific "targeted" tools to use once you are infected. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is one of them.

SuperantiSpyware is far better than any antispyware program for free and even removes root kits.

One of the better ways, in case you can't get into Windows even in boot mode, is to use a boot disk. There is one you can download and use that will make a bootdisk that will run WinXP in RAM and has several antimalware programs installed. You have to have your own copy of WinXP though and do this on a machine that works obviously

Re: Computer virus...
 

Here is another tutorial
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tuto...torial101.html

the two main tools I am using now is Malwarebytes and SuperantiSpyware. I just talked a friend through the procedure over the phone using these two. The cool thing about Superantispyware is the have a stand alone program. It does not need to be installed, though if you do not have the latest download you will need networking as Randy points out

Re: Computer virus...
 

The only thing I use SB anymore for is to immunize browsers, though it does have nifty features for killing programs or startups...but I suppose Hijackthis is better

Re: Computer virus...
 

A "good" virus won't be fixed that way. By "good" I mean one that was well written.

This is why another technique when all else does not work is to empty the recycle first, turn off system restore first THEN run Malwarebytes or whatever else. Some viruses are smart and clone themselves and hide them in places where they can't be removed even by a system restore.

Re: Computer virus...
 

Thanks for all the info. I won't get to it until Saturday...

Re: Computer virus...
 

soooooo? What's the update?

The kid did a restoration point and was satisfied with the results.