Computer Problems

[awf170]

Alright, I will try to explain this but will most likely fail. Like many other important things in life I thought a ski forum would be the best place to ask.

Yeah, so my computer got a virus, my computer has no virus protection at all. The virus makes it so that my computer cannot go online, the only way I am on now is because I am in safe mode.

When I log in a window pops up saying that it is has and virus and to scan for it, but i can't because i don't have any virus protection.

Then another window pops up saying something about an unknown image, which I'm almost positive is the virus. I delete it but it comes right back.

I did an ad-aware scan many times and the same two "keys" come up, once again probably the same virus.

So I need to be able to scan to get rid of this, right? But I can't access the internet in regular mode. So I tried just any "free virus scan" that came up in google in safe mode, but it didn't work because the drive is locked up. It is locked up because I am in safe mode, correct? So I need to do a scan is regular mode right? But I can't get to the internet and scan for virus because the internet won't work in regular mode because of the virus. I'm just a little confused as you can tell...

 

[Greg]

my computer has no virus protection at all

Your problem boils down to this.

Go buy a real virus scanner app, Symatec or McAfee. Download the latest virus definitions from another computer and burn to a CD. Install, update, and scan. That's you're only reasonable option.

 

[awf170]

Your problem boils down to this.

Go buy a real virus scanner app, Symatec or McAfee. Download the latest virus definitions from another computer and burn to a CD. Install, update, and scan. That's you're only reasonable option.

Yeah, I know I have to do that some time. I was just hoping for an easy way to get rid of this now, and also I'm scared of losing all of my pics on the computer(over a 1000). Should I go out and buy some blank dvd's and start burning most the important stuff onto to them?

The impressive part about this is that my computer went almost 2 years without freezing or having to be restarted without even having any virus protection. I guess my luck was going to run out one day...

BTW: where should I go, best buy?

 

[SkiDork]

the drive shouldn't be "locked up" in safe mode. It should be accessible.

Anyway, whats the name of the image file? Maybe a google search on that will help you identify what you're dealing with. Knowing that may help with a strategy on how to rid yourself of it.

 

[ctenidae]

You can download a pretty goof free antivirus program from AVG. Even if you're in safe mode, you should still be able to download.

 

[Greg]

Yeah, I know I have to do that some time. I was just hoping for an easy way to get rid of this now, and also I'm scared of losing all of my pics on the computer(over a 1000). Should I go out and buy some blank dvd's and start burning most the important stuff onto to them?

The impressive part about this is that my computer went almost 2 years without freezing or having to be restarted without even having any virus protection. I guess my luck was going to run out one day...

BTW: where should I go, best buy?

Staples, Office Max, CompUSA. It's like 40 bucks. If you can burn the images, it's probably not a bad idea.

Chalk this up as a learning experience. Not only should you have good, up-to-date virus protection, you should also have a robust backup strategy so if (uh....when) something like this happens again (or worse like an HDD failure), you won't lose data. The OS and applications can always be reinstalled. Data, stuff like Email, documents, images, etc. cannot be replaced.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

With all due respect I think trying to fix it yourself will result in alot of frustration and wasted time. Dollars to donuts you probably have hundreds of viruses, you just didn't realize it.

Chalk it up to a learning experience and call a freelance computer tech. Shouldn't cost you more than $100, my guy charges about $75. It will get done right and you will learn from an expert right at your computer how to protect it in the future.

 

[Marc]

The drive should not be locked in safe mode. Windows just loads the minimum number of drivers to function.




If you get this cleared up, I'd recommend doing what I do. Partition your HD, or just get a seperate one. Keep your apps on one and your files on the other. If you get a virus or copious amounts of spyware, just reformat and re install your apps. You start over clean.

You also avoid running expensive virus software that just ends up hurting your performance and requiring periodic updates that aren't guarenteed to be comprehensive or complete in the first place.

Using firefox will help too. Or you could switch to a linux OS and really solve your problems.

 

[Greg]

Partition your HD, or just get a seperate one. Keep your apps on one and your files on the other. If you get a virus or copious amounts of spyware, just reformat and re install your apps. You start over clean.

Just realize that if a partitioned drive fails, that data is bye-bye too.

 

[Marc]

Just realize that if a partitioned drive fails, that data is bye-bye too.

Correct, this isn't to replace normal back up practices, this is just to combat virus and adware problems.

I wouldn't expect Austin to be installing a nice raid 5 array in his home PC.

 

[skibum9995]

You could take your hard drive and put it in another computer as the second HD and copy the pics and any other data you want to save to the good computer and then reformat the infected drive. This is what I usually do when a freinds computer gets toasted. There is a small possibility that the virus can transfer to the good computer assuming both are running Windows. I use Linux so I don't have to worry about that but as long as you don't run any programs from the infected drive you should be all set.

If you're looking for a free onlive virus scanner try Trend Micro. I've heard it works pretty good, but never used it myself.
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

 

[molecan]

Honestly, 'cleaning' a virus infected or otherwise compromised computer is a really bad idea.

Increasingly, viruses are installing spyware/adware/malware, key loggers, 'backdoor' programs, etc. Also, many viruses replace essential system files (e.g. explorer.exe svchost.exe) with modified versions.

Many well designed viruses will kill the process of commonly names antivirus software.
Macafee has a good (and free) tool called 'Stinger' which is designed to remove especially destructive viruses, and those that shit VirusScan down.

The only secure solution is to back up all your data, format and reinstall the OS, then install and update antivirus software, install all available patches for your OS and then reinstall your programs, and move your data back.

Doing so is standard procedure, for production systems in any IT environment.


Anti-virus software, is meant to protect. Thats why virus scanners run 'on access' scans, so that viruses are detected prior to execution.


- Stinger available at:
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/


-Coleman

 

[riverc0il]

i would recommend a second hard drive over a partition, especially with newer operating systems. just make sure your download folder is not on your 'safe' drive if you are downloading suspect stuff from the net (so just how did you get this virus any ways? ). a top notch virus program like mcafee or norton with the latest update should clean it up. try running those in safe mode. i had a similar infection at one point in time and loading in safe mode made sure the bugs didn't load at start up which prevented the files from becoming active so the program can not delete them.

 

[Greg]

Honestly, 'cleaning' a virus infected or otherwise compromised computer is a really bad idea.

Increasingly, viruses are installing spyware/adware/malware, key loggers, 'backdoor' programs, etc. Also, many viruses replace essential system files (e.g. explorer.exe svchost.exe) with modified versions.

Many well designed viruses will kill the process of commonly names antivirus software.
Macafee has a good (and free) tool called 'Stinger' which is designed to remove especially destructive viruses, and those that shit VirusScan down.

The only secure solution is to back up all your data, format and reinstall the OS, then install and update antivirus software, install all available patches for your OS and then reinstall your programs, and move your data back.

Doing so is standard procedure, for production systems in any IT environment.


Anti-virus software, is meant to protect. Thats why virus scanners run 'on access' scans, so that viruses are detected prior to execution.


- Stinger available at:
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/


-Coleman

This is all partly true. It really sort of depends. If it's just an infected file that SAV or McAfee detects, probably little harm is done. Often times viruses and trojans just open up a vulnerability whereby a malicious hacker can then access the system and compromise it more detrimentally. Determining that is a matter of running some security utilities to detect open ports or some sort of rogue service like an FTP server. In a non-power user home environment, probably just installing the virus protection and scanning will suffice. Of course, if Austin's PC has been running without virus protection for 2 years, I suspect it hasn't had appropriate security patches applied either; in which case that machine probably has all sort of things beyond just viruses and spyware going on in the background. If that's the case, yup back up and then blow that drive out and start over.

 

[kcyanks1]

Using firefox will help too. Or you could switch to a linux OS and really solve your problems.

Yes. Use Linux.

Obviously, though, since that won't help you now, you should do what others have suggested and use a virus scanner. I haven't used it, but a free/open source one you might one to test out is ClamWin: http://www.clamwin.com/.

Good luck! (And then when you are ready for an upgrade, abandon Windows.)

 

[ski_resort_observer]

IMHO, both Mcafee and Norton are worthless and moneypits. My kid's computers had Norton, full scans showed no viruses but when the tech checked their computers after it continually froze up he found 200+ viruses. We now use AVG and Avast, both free and automatically update. I also use Firefox on my computer and have not had any problems.

 

[Jonni]

I work for NH Computer Specialists in New London, NH and we use AVG and Ewido exclusively for all of our new computers, refurbs, and virus and spyware removal. Ewido is only a 30 trial, but I've found that it works really really well. If you get the combination package from Grisoft (AVG and Ewido anti-spyware/adware) you get both full products for around $50. AVG is definitely a no bull virus scan program that is quite a bit better than McAfee or Norton.

 

[BeanoNYC]

Yes. Use Linux.

Obviously, though, since that won't help you now, you should do what others have suggested and use a virus scanner. I haven't used it, but a free/open source one you might one to test out is ClamWin: http://www.clamwin.com/.

Good luck! (And then when you are ready for an upgrade, abandon Windows.)

Since you'll be needing a laptop for college, don't rule out a Mac either. The new 13 inch with intel is quite reasonable. ...As far as viruses on Macs? Never had one over here.

 

[riverc0il]

IMHO, both Mcafee and Norton are worthless and moneypits. My kid's computers had Norton, full scans showed no viruses but when the tech checked their computers after it continually froze up he found 200+ viruses. We now use AVG and Avast, both free and automatically update. I also use Firefox on my computer and have not had any problems.

doesn't sound like norton was setup correctly if 200 viruses had accumulated. this virus protection software is meant to be setup to run in the background and scan every file that is downloaded and every executable that is opened. if the software is setup to automatically check for updates and install updates everyday and is installed when the computer is fresh out of the box, i would be amazed much would get by it let alone 200 viruses. i can't think of the last time i found a virus on my norton protected computer but it has rejected some stuff i have downloaded due to virus issues. as a previous poster mentioned, this software is meant to be used before the viruses latch on, not to clean them up. also, i question the download activities of a computer that accumulates that many viruses. sometimes smart surfing is just as important as good protection software. glad to hear that AVG and Avast work great and you have been virus free, but norton is the superior program.

 

[catskills]

Yeah, so my computer got a virus, my computer has no virus protection at all.

:blink: :smash: :dunce: Let me guess, I bet you do your banking online. hahahahahaha . I went to an all day disaster conference run by the IEEE at the local college a few months back with about 8 speakers. One of the speakers was a computer hacker expert and Unites States Army Captain from West Point. Interesting talk. Basically you plug your computer into the internet using high speed cable or DSL without virus protection, down level security fixes and more important no firewall protection, it doesn't take long before it is compromised. Their are folks out their that want to control your computer so bad that once they break in, the hackers will install software to protect others from breaking into your computer. Once they own your computer they just put it into their arsenal list of computers. Then on any given day months later they can attack the entire internet using your computer and any other computer they control in their arsenal. That is when you get the knock at the door from homeland security.

The scary part is how easy it is to obtain your trusted passwords. How many skiers have a password that contains letters about skiing? The best password is a sentence that you remember and you take the first letter from each word in the sentence.