Virus Removal - How and How Much?

[ChileMass]

OK - my computer is full of crap. Adware, pop-ups, etc., and it runs slow as molasses. It just started over the past few weeks, and I believe is related to my daughter downloading music and spending too much time on AOL Instant Messenger. The pop-ups are driving me crazy, and the performance of my computer just sucks right now.

My company's IT guy was kind enough to install Ad Aware and Spybot and told me to run these with Norton Anti-Virus every week, and I have been for about a month. Every time I run them, Norton finds about 50 items, Ad Aware finds hundreds, and Spybot finds an additional 25 or so. Problem is, they keep finding the same stuff and can only remove about 2/3 of the problem files, so it never goes away. And the pop-ups stay and my computer runs slow as shit.

I spoke to a private Mr. Fix-It guy here in my hometown, and he wants $300 to back up all my files on disks and hit the system reset button. Hell - I can do that, or maybe I can......Or I can go out and buy a new system for a little more than that.

What's the best way to get all this crap out of my computer, configure the firewall so it doesn't come back? Should I just take out all the files I want and buy and new PC? How much is typical to pay to have your PC de-bugged? While I was typing this, I had to stop 4 times and close pop-ups that hijacked my cursor........Help.......

 

[riverc0il]

run norton in safe mode, ensure no programs run on start up, take a look at Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs and remove anything suspect (might try doing that in safe mode to ensure it isn't running), run AdAware on start up and Norton on startup. be sure to Alt+Cntrl+Delete to close anything that is running during start up as they can't be deleted if they are running.

if the music is being downloaded via a P2P program such as soulseek, that's probably not the issue. usually spyware and adware is packaged into free programs that are designed to look cool and be free, but you really pay for them in the end. warez is especially packed fun of that junk.

good luck. i'd recommend a scan disc and a defrag after everything is cleaned up to tweak performance slightly. also, using firefox for your internet browser may reduce your popups if all else fails.

 

[snowsprite]

Just a suggestion, but why not teach your daughter to run spybot? If you have her run that every night before she logs off, you won't have such an accumulation of stuff.

I have the same prob because of my 10 yr old son's computer usage, and I find if we run it every day or every other day things are great. He knows how to do it, it's very user-friendly.

Good luck!

Sprite

 

[ctenidae]

To add to riverc0il's suggestions, if you don't know what a process that's running is (from when you hit ctrl-alt-delete), Google the name. There are several good databases out there of spyware/etc process names (though I can't think of the names right now) that will tell you what they do and how to remove them. Anything that's not part of your OS or something you want, remove.

I'll also second the Firefox suggestion. Prior to switching, Ad Aware would turn up about 100 items every week, and I know better than to download crap. With Firefox, the number is down to a few a month. Not bad.

 

[snowsprite]

As cteniade says...do an alt-ctrl-delete. Under "processes" note which .exe are running and see if any have an especially odd name. Note that some perfectly legit applications have odd names.

You can go here for a list of "good" process names:

http://www.neuber.com/taskmanager/process/

Don't stop a process if you're not sure what it is because it can screw things up.

Sprite

 

[BeanoNYC]

What is your isp? Many now give free virus/adware protection with service. I know Time Warner road runner does, as well as AOL (well they are the same company really)

 

[ski_resort_observer]

With 3 teenagers, regarding your problem...been there, done that. One easy thing that I don't think has been mentioned is to regularly clean out the cache of temp internet files. Also, check the space on your hard drive(c).

Once a year had to have a IT guy come over and clean the CPU out. Kids will be kids.

I recently bought them a new Dell with a huge hard drive capacity and big RAM and everything has been running fine, so far. Also, make sure they do not have one of those file sharing programs like Limewire or Kazaa set up as it takes up a huge amount of bandwith and will slow your machine down.

 

[dmc]

Also, make sure they do not have one of those file sharing programs like Limewire or Kazaa set up as it takes up a huge amount of bandwith and will slow your machine down.

Not to mention load up your PC with spyware... Which can really slow your PC down...

I run McAfee as my basic antivirus - it auto updates itself with new virus defintions all the time..

Also have EMail protection on my firewall(ZoneAlarm) that won't let any scripts in email attachments though...

Also run "Ad Aware", Microsofts new Spyware tool AND SpyBot too....

 

[cbcbd]

Some good tips being said already.

I use PCcillin as anti-virus, run Adaware once in a while, and use Firefox.

Switching to Firefox made a huge difference in the # of spyware I get now.

Downloading from Kazzaa will definitively fill your computer up with stuff.

I like snowspritect's idea about teaching your daughter basic spyware maintenance.

 

[pedxing]

I rely primarily on Zone-alarm, McAfee, Spybot and Adaware (be sure to use the full scan) and keep them updated. With the exception of McAfee these can be had for free. But I also use supplements. Explorer has a spyware scan, and Microsoft is allowing free use of a beta version of thier antispyware - both are worth using from time to time. It's good to have overlap, since some programs miss things from time to time.

I have to echo what others have said about kids using the computer. You need to teach them some safety precautions. I noticed that when my kids hadn't been on the computer, my bug scans didn't find much.

 

[hammer]

Bump...what is the latest and greatest in anti-virus programs?

My Norton AntiVirus subscription just ended on me, and I'd like to consider using something else...Norton seems to be a real resource hog. :-x

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Bump...what is the latest and greatest in anti-virus programs?

My Norton AntiVirus subscription just ended on me, and I'd like to consider using something else...Norton seems to be a real resource hog. :-x

I use AVG free. It works, and it's free. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I spent a few years as a network/systems administrator, and I've tested just about every anti-virus software program on the market, and AVG is more than acceptable and reliable for home use. It also isn't a system resource hog like many of the others, particularly Norton.

You can download it at free.grisoft.com.

I refuse to EVER pay for antivirus software, when all you pay for is something else to slow your machine down!

It's not a full internet security package, so if that's what you're looking for, it doesn't quite fit the bill. But for reliable virus protection without any cost, it's the way to go.

They also offer a free anti-spyware program now as well.

 

[bigbog]

....another $.01...

Take some time to configure your firewall for everything!

ZoneAlarm Sec. Suite
SpyBot

...both have worked at home well so far...and is underneath whatever RoadRunner is running...;-)

*Have worked with Adaware on the job...and I think I have seen AVG..running on a few systems.

 

[andyzee]

Best protection against viruses and spyware :

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[riverc0il]

I utilize AVG and AdAware in tandem on my WinXP boot. Never had any problems. Most of the crap out there comes from sucker down loads. Don't download random applications unless you trust the source. Most especially avoid Internet Browser tool bars and add ons. Many shareware applications come with AdWare crap too, just be careful with your downloads.

 

[ajl50]

Stop Surfing Porn!

 

[wa-loaf]

There's no adware on my mac. :wink:

Just a tease, cause mac vs pc threads are kinda like political threads.

 

[ctenidae]

There's no adware on my mac. :wink:

That's because Mac is for suckers. Windows rocks.;-)

 

[hammer]

That's because Mac is for suckers. Windows rocks.;-)

They are both useless...;-)

 

[ski_resort_observer]

After reading an article in PC Mag I started using Avast, it's free. Automatically updates. Seems to be working great for about a year, I use Spybot to remove adware.