virus!

[Thanantos]

Originally Posted by Doc.Snyder

Guys... he cannot boot into safemode... :-D read.

AZB, +1 on Kaspersky. try burning the kaspersky iso to a cd on a clean computer and boot from it.
if that works, try starting in safe mode and - if it doesn't crash run anti malware bytes and / or try system restore.

ah, yes. Sorry about that.

When I get computers coming in that are that bad I usually pull out this:


$20 at Newegg

Backup the files necessary to save on another machine and reinstall the OS.

Then you can use Linux and never have these problems again!

[~DC~]

Originally Posted by AzB

I can't run anything or the system crashes. No malwarebytes, no system restore, nothing. That's why I need a bootdisk.

I am going to upgrade malware to pro, as it would block this stuff to begin with. But first I've got to repair the damage.

Az

One of the best things you can do for yourself in the future, remove yourself from the Local Administrator's group. Create and use an account that is a member of the USERS group only.

[Zapp22]

this is on the right track - Merits a warning to everyone: don't run your computer from the root account.
Later windows [7 for instance] inhibit, but don't prevent such a mistake - by default the account that will setup auto for you is not the root account - even then, I would counsel folks to setup yet ANOTHER user account and use that one as the daily driver.
Then when the inevitable happens, go in to the Admin account to run the remedies - much safer.

There are "rootkit" types floating around out there that can do enough damage that even AFTER you manage to disinfect, the core OS files are damaged enough that you really must rebuild on a fresh drive, or a wiped/formatted drive.

Good idea to download and run freebie "Belarc Advisor" and stash a copy somewhere so you have all your License Keys for rebuilding the system later. That way you can just download or borrow the install files, then put in your legitimate keys to get yourself whole again without too much expense.

p.s... just my opine but I think the linux community are Kool-Aided.... you want to spend your time hacking up drivers? be my guest.
I'll take a free copy of Windows XP and be getting useful work done while you're playing

Originally Posted by ~DC~

One of the best things you can do for yourself in the future, remove yourself from the Local Administrator's group. Create and use an account that is a member of the USERS group only.

[Gummee!]

As a note: Spybot S&D doesn't like the Malwarebyte program.

M

[Nytelyte]

Originally Posted by Gummee!

As a note: Spybot S&D doesn't like the Malwarebyte program.

M

Fight Fight Fight!!!!

Lol. One company calling a competitor 'bad'.

[Uncle Pollo]

Originally Posted by Nytelyte

Fight Fight Fight!!!!

Lol. One company calling a competitor 'bad'.

hijackthis

[AzB]

I think I may have gotten it. I nuked System Tools 2011, but then Windows Scan popped up.

Between Malwarebytes and deleting the .exe files that were associated with the shortcuts, it seems to be gone.

I've also downloaded and run Avira.

I'll look into that whole administrator thing.

Az

[BillsR100]

Originally Posted by AzB

I think I may have gotten it. I nuked System Tools 2011, but then Windows Scan popped up.

Between Malwarebytes and deleting the .exe files that were associated with the shortcuts, it seems to be gone.

I've also downloaded and run Avira.

I'll look into that whole administrator thing.

Az

Wow, congrats! When I had that virus, After I was able to boot my machine in safe mode(by repeatedly hitting F8) I ran every anti-virus/anti-malware/anti-rootkit tool available and it still didnt completely clean the system. I was amazed when I installed Microsoft Security Essentials, it found more crap than all the others combined.
I've been building PC's for years, I know a little about them.

[_vortex_]

I still wouldn't trust the damn thing.

Reinstall the OS. Most viruses these days do everything in their power to hide their presence, not show it. They don't want to fuck up your computer. They want to steal your CC numbers, your financial information, and use your computer to send spam or run DOS attacks. Virus scanners are, by design, a losing game. They can only react to known threats. And they don't know shit about all the real threats out there. They are months, and sometimes years behind sophisticated viruses. Remember the Sony rootkit? That was in the wild for more than 6 months, and not a single antivirus company even knew it existed.

When you reinstall it, do a proper layout, so your OS is on one partition, and your important stuff is on a second partition. That way, the next time you need to rebuild it, you don't have to copy all your stuff off. Just format the OS partition, reinstall, and reinstall a few programs.

Every time you go to buy something online now, you will have to ask yourself... did I really get the virus? Or is it still sitting there, silently stealing my personal info?

If you have proper backups, doing an OS reinstall should be a minor inconvenience, that takes maybe an hour, tops. Far less time than you spend mucking about with virus scanners.