Removing an Annoying Little Virus?

Aes_Sedia5 · Posted: 08 Apr 2012 05:47:13 pm Post subject: Removing an Annoying Little Virus?

Ok so my moms PC (Running XP) Is randomly crashing, while doing Facebook and even just general web searching. It is getting worse. I tried doing a virus scan, after about 10 times of it crashing mid scan, it got through a quick scan. I tried many times to do a full system scan, and it crashes everytime. USUALLY right when I start the scan. The PC is running really slow as well. Is there a virus scanner that I can run in a Fedora Live Enviroment? Or do you have any other suggestions?

NOTE: I am using Norton 360 now, on that PC. Because my mom wants "the best" and we had 3 free licenses from a friend.

I am considering trying to download avast. and do a boot scan, but. Can I run avast while keeping norton installed? It was a pain to get it working right the first time, so I dont want to uninstall.
_________________

joshie75 · Posted: 08 Apr 2012 10:03:43 pm Post subject:

MalwareByes Anti-Malware (MBAM). Google it; save it to a flashdrive for future use.
Run Windows in safe mode without networking and try the full scan there with MBAM. good luck Smile

Aes_Sedia5 · Posted: 08 Apr 2012 10:06:51 pm Post subject:

Yes Problem is, I already used the trial version if I remember right. May have been my moms laptop, not her desktop. I wish they had a free version that lasted forever instead of just 30 days.
_________________

AHelper · Posted: 08 Apr 2012 10:27:47 pm Post subject:

Boot up Fedora, install clamav, (there is Kcalmav or some other frontend, install that as well) scan your windows partition(s). Be sure that after you install clamav to update the virus signatures. Works like a charm.

Also try microsoft's spyware removal tool.
_________________
°ᴥ° Get Lucky

<BrandonW> "You don't even want to know what TI Connect does when it's just detecting your calculator...It ACTUALLY ERASES THE SWAP SECTOR on every communication attempt...EVERY SINGLE ATTEMPT...Yes, TI Connect will kill your calculator..What do I have to do to get your attention?!....Such a bloated protocol."

Aes_Sedia5 · Posted: 08 Apr 2012 10:47:14 pm Post subject:

Yea. I have never used the microsoft spyware removal tool... but I will try calmav. Thanks ahelper.
_________________

DJ_O · Posted: 08 Apr 2012 10:55:37 pm Post subject:

According to some people's opinion, your computer might actually have two viruses right now: The virus you got, as well as Norton itself.
_________________

Former 83+ coder, now doing 84+CSE stuff, Omnimaga/TIMGUL founder.

Follow me on Bandcamp|Facebook|Youtube|Twitter

AHelper · Posted: 08 Apr 2012 11:34:51 pm Post subject:

Aes_Sedia5 · Posted: 09 Apr 2012 08:10:15 am Post subject:

Yes I know, but according to some peoples opinion (My mentor) Norton is the best.
_________________

seana11 · Posted: 09 Apr 2012 08:46:40 am Post subject:

shkaboinka · Posted: 09 Apr 2012 09:05:51 am Post subject:

Norton is good at looking like the best, and has had a good name in the past -- He used to be high up with Microsoft, but left and made stuff to combat it's issues (like all that antivirus software) ... However, within the last 5 to 10 years or so, Norton has become very fishy. The software actually does stuff that a lot of spyware does -- installing little invisible things and tracking things on your computer without telling you ... it's just iffy, and lots of people will agree. Stay the heck away from Norton! It will not even uninstall properly without a special tool (look for a Norton Uninstaller made by someone other than Norton).

If you want really good software, I recommend WebRoot or Symantec. MalwareBytes is good too. Having multiple internet security or spyware/malware programs [of the same type] on your computer will cause them to fight with eachother; so Get Norton off your computer (also because it does act like both a virus and spyware).

clark · Newbie Joined: 08 Apr 2012 Posts: 6 Location: Portugal

In my opinion your best shot is really MBAM (MalwareByes Anti-Malware), like joshie75 previously said. I use the pro version of this software that brings you firewall included, super fast scans and a whole bunch of extras and my computer is perfectly clean with this tool.
_________________
PRIZMB0YZ

technomonkey76 · Posted: 09 Apr 2012 10:51:37 am Post subject:

Everybody has their opinions on what software is best. Personally, I use avast! or AVG. I, personally, hate large brand-names, especially with anti-malware tools providing protection not much improved from what free software can provide. Anyway, the suggestion of clamav is a good one, if you were to ask me.
_________________

DShiznit · Posted: 09 Apr 2012 11:21:47 am Post subject:

I've had great success with ComboFix, but I've heard people's experiences with that program can vary. It's never failed me when I needed to get rid of something really nasty, and only once did I need to repair windows after using it(and that was when my brother had a rootkit in his TCP/IP stack). If all else fails, you could give that a shot.

That's just a one-time removal tool though for when things get messy. Think of it like a high dose of Penicillin for your computer. For regular real-time protection I've been satisfied with the free version of Avast! which many techies swear by.

elfprince13 · Posted: 09 Apr 2012 01:00:40 pm Post subject:

tifreak8x · Guru Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 9104 Location: Sol System

I have had huge amounts of success with Avast! and even Microsoft Security Essentials. Super AntiSpyware has helped rid computers of trojans and more when the anti-virus programs failed to grab at them

I have to agree that Nortons is a horrible software bundle. The last 2 computers I had to clean both had Nortons on them and it declared the machine as clean, when MSE and SAS found multiple infections. Also, using a USB to IDE/SATA cable to use a different computer to scan with helps. Those cables only cost $20 on newegg.
_________________
Projects: AOD Series: 70% | FFME: 80% | Pokemon: 18% | RPGSK: 60% | Star Trek: 70% | Star Trek 83+: 40% | TI-City: 5%

Look here for Assembly Resources.

elfprince13 · Posted: 09 Apr 2012 05:10:07 pm Post subject:

Aes_Sedia5 · Posted: 09 Apr 2012 10:00:41 pm Post subject:

Yea. I used anti malware bytes. And it found 4 adware. I removed them. It got done and it crashed right away. Rebooted. crashed again. only did a quick scan, tried full scan and the PC kept crashign and would not finish it. So I took it into my friend (Yes the LInux NAZI, but he knows what he is doing). He will take a look at it. and fix it free of charge.
_________________

DJ_O · Posted: 09 Apr 2012 11:40:53 pm Post subject:

Actually if someone is very careful, it's possible to browse the web without getting infected, even if you don't have any anti-virus installed, even on Windows. You just have to avoid file sharing sites, links sections on outdated websites or clicking suspicious links. However there is always that small little chance that one of your favorite site gets hacked one day and that malware gets uploaded to its server, surprising you on one of your daily visits.

If it wasn't for the links section issue on certain sites and possible unluckiness, I would not even have an anti-virus installed, right now.
_________________

Former 83+ coder, now doing 84+CSE stuff, Omnimaga/TIMGUL founder.

Follow me on Bandcamp|Facebook|Youtube|Twitter

KermMartian · Posted: 10 Apr 2012 08:01:32 am Post subject:

Aes_Sedia5 · Posted: 10 Apr 2012 08:14:42 am Post subject:

Yea I need to get one of those cables.
_________________