I got a computer virus I cant get rid of.

[gibsonguitar1988]

Run HitmanPro

download @ Downloads - SurfRight - You'll need to know which OS you are running (32 vs 64bit).

Do a one time scan and remove anything it finds.

---

Run MalwareBytes

download @ https://www.malwarebytes.org/ - select free version

Update and run a scan - remove anything it finds

---

Run AdwCleaner

download @ AdwCleaner Download

Click Scan and when it finishes, click Clean. It will ask you to restart the computer.

---

Run Junkware Removal Tool

download @ Junkware Removal Tool Download

It will open up a command prompt. Hit enter to begin scanning. When finished it will show up with a Notepad window with the results.

---

My guess is this is adware - it's very rampant right now and will cause popups, redirects, etc.

 

[DHBucker]

All of the above are good choices. Good post gibsonguitar!

 

[gibsonguitar1988]

All of the above are good choices. Good post gibsonguitar!

Thanks! I'm a computer tech and my specialty is Malware removal. Most of the other area techs send me their difficult cases. That's most of what I do.

 

[Kashmir]

Thanks to some computer savvy folks on here i was made aware of 2 free programmes to use, Microsoft's Security Essentials and ThreatFire, i'm running both and have few, to zero issues anymore, thanks mlpf.

It's all personal choice, but I chose to stay away from Microsoft Security Essentials. It's way too big and it uses a lot of memory and slows down operating systems badly.

And most of those problems probably had something to do with the user clicking YES or NO on a popup instead of knowing how to close it safely and properly. That will happen no matter the browser in use. It also has a lot to do with the operating system itself. Many people who complain about IE, happen to be XP users - which is a very poorly secured operating system to begin with.

Windows Vista, 7 or 8 with Internet Explorer 9 or newer running in protected mode, becomes the most secure combination possible. The biggest problem with any computer or browser is the same as it has always been, lack of knowledge on the user side. They expect computers to be like a television, turn it on and surf the net like changing channels. It simply doesn't work that way. A computer is not a household appliance yet, no matter how prevalent they have become in the home.

In my opinion. Windows XP has been the best operating system to date, bar none. And I never had security issues with it. It's old fashioned and outdated now, but I miss the tightness of its operation. I agree that amateur users are the biggest problem.

microsoft safety scanner, start it and walk away, come back - done.

Microsoft Safety Scanner - Free Virus Scan with the Microsoft Safety Scanner

Not a bad scanner, but you have to keep downloading the latest version with each use. It expires ten days after each download. There are a lot of better free scanners out there.

I use: Malwarebytes
Lavasoft Adaware
and AVG along with my Norton Security Suite (free with Comcast).

 

[nauc]

i use Defender (primary), Malwarebytes (secondary) with Chrome + Adblock. every once in a while, i run CCleaner

been doing this since W8 came out. no problems yet

BUT you gotta keep all your sh!t up to date

 

[Barcham]

It's all personal choice, but I chose to stay away from Microsoft Security Essentials. It's way too big and it uses a lot of memory and slows down operating systems badly.



In my opinion. Windows XP has been the best operating system to date, bar none. And I never had security issues with it. It's old fashioned and outdated now, but I miss the tightness of its operation. I agree that amateur users are the biggest problem.



Not a bad scanner, but you have to keep downloading the latest version with each use. It expires ten days after each download. There are a lot of better free scanners out there.

I use: Malwarebytes
Lavasoft Adaware
and AVG along with my Norton Security Suite (free with Comcast).

Microsoft Security Essentials is too BIG? It has probably the smallest footprint of all anti virus programs on the market.

As for your comments on XP, any operating system where users require administrative rights to be functional, and are given those rights by default, is not a good operating system and is one of the reasons XP has always been such a virus distribution factory. As the number of XP systems being used decreases, so does the amount of malware floating around the net.

 

[Kashmir]

Microsoft Security Essentials is too BIG? It has probably the smallest footprint of all anti virus programs on the market.

As for your comments on XP, any operating system where users require administrative rights to be functional, and are given those rights by default, is not a good operating system and is one of the reasons XP has always been such a virus distribution factory. As the number of XP systems being used decreases, so does the amount of malware floating around the net.

Not sure about size, but I thought it was probably the reason for my pc running slow, that is until I uninstalled it. Then it was back to normal speed. Do a google search on MSE causing pc to run slow. It goes on for many pages.

I don't know about you, but I've had Windows 3.1, 95, XP, Vista, 7, and 8. And for me, the best running version without issue was XP. I realize each version is supposed to get better and more secure as technology allows, and XP is now considered old outdated and vulnerable; however, maybe because I keep my PCs secure, XP was a great running system for me.

 

[101ABN327]

I used to get viruses all the time. I finally got tired of it, trashed my PC and bought a Mac. I haven't looked back since...

101

 

[Barcham]

Not sure about size, but I thought it was probably the reason for my pc running slow, that is until I uninstalled it. Then it was back to normal speed. Do a google search on MSE causing pc to run slow. It goes on for many pages.

I don't know about you, but I've had Windows 3.1, 95, XP, Vista, 7, and 8. And for me, the best running version without issue was XP. I realize each version is supposed to get better and more secure as technology allows, and XP is now considered old outdated and vulnerable; however, maybe because I keep my PCs secure, XP was a great running system for me.

XP was fine in it's day, but they let it hang around about 3 years too long. And yes, now that I think about it, MSE did have a talent for bogging down XP but it was never designed for that operating system and IMHO should never have been released for it. But then, I'm one of those who think that 32 bit operating systems should have ended with XP.

 

[QBob]

Malwarebytes, its the best of the free stuff and better than most the pay stuff.

 

[chasenblues]

Wow, 48 post to get to the obligatory "Get a Mac" post. You Mac guys are getting slow..

 

[Engel]

Wow, 48 post to get to the obligatory "Get a Mac" post. You Mac guys are getting slow..

Get Linux.

 

[six-string]

And how many years did you work in the tech industry? I was a field tech for 35 years so I really don't care what the average person happens to think of my opinion. People love to recommend sites like Bleeping Computer, well I'm the kind of guy that those sites come to for help and advice on fixing things. Take it for what that's worth.

actually i work writing and building software for gov't applications and have been doing it successfully for many years.
the point of this thread however was not about your attempting to bait me into an argument or pissing contest, but rather about someone asking for some free advice about how to deal with a virus problem.
i offered some. as did others.
you offer your credentials, but nothing useful to the OP. good for you.
have a nice day.

 

[Barcham]

I guess you failed to read the earlier posts I made in the thread. Amazing how all that code writing didn't help you in your comprehension of the English language.

 

[Neofelis Nebulosa]

Wow, 48 post to get to the obligatory "Get a Mac" post. You Mac guys are getting slow..

Actually post #4 got there first if I am not mistaken

(that's how I read it anyway...)

 

[Guitarhack]

I use Norton, Spybot, Adware, CC Cleaner, and Super Anti Spyware. The Super Anti Spyware was able to get ride of this malware that I had a heck of a time eliminating "Scorpion".

 

[AngryHatter]

And most of those problems probably had something to do with the user clicking YES or NO on a popup instead of knowing how to close it safely and properly. That will happen no matter the browser in use. It also has a lot to do with the operating system itself. Many people who complain about IE, happen to be XP users - which is a very poorly secured operating system to begin with.

Windows Vista, 7 or 8 with Internet Explorer 9 or newer running in protected mode, becomes the most secure combination possible. The biggest problem with any computer or browser is the same as it has always been, lack of knowledge on the user side. They expect computers to be like a television, turn it on and surf the net like changing channels. It simply doesn't work that way. A computer is not a household appliance yet, no matter how prevalent they have become in the home.

ALT-F4 for the win.
Even clicking the red x to close a window can be an issue on some sites.

 

[twst1up]

f- all that noise

D-BAN then reformat and reinstall windows and all your software. Then make an image of your hard drive. Keep all your shit on another drive. If it happens again re-image from the image you made...nice and easy.

make sure your other drive is clean and run all the malware et al on it frequently

I've NEVER had any luck with getting rid of bad things...it may tell you it found x, y, and z and that's it's taken care of it. But it never runs the same

DBAN...it's the only way to be sure

 

[Kashmir]

XP was fine in it's day, but they let it hang around about 3 years too long. And yes, now that I think about it, MSE did have a talent for bogging down XP but it was never designed for that operating system and IMHO should never have been released for it. But then, I'm one of those who think that 32 bit operating systems should have ended with XP.

I used MSE for a short time and had problems with it on Vista. Dont remember if I used it on XP or not.

 

[D-POLAND]

Well just for future reference, make sure the toilet seat is clean next time, okay?