Virus

[Dick7Access]

Not sure where to put this?
Caution!
Just had a virus and/or as one has has called it a ramsomware. Why my virascan didn’t catch it is the big question. While reading a news web site, suddenly a screen popped up and said your computer has been locked by the FBI. Pirated MP3 files have been discovered on your computer. The fine is $200.00. Transferring funds to xxxx will unlock your computer. Not only did it sound fishy but I have never downloaded any music file on any kind in my life. Nothing I could do to get out of the lock. My computer is now at a profession shop to remove it.

 

[Dick7Access]

Does anyone know of inexpensive software that I can purchase that will remove a virus and this other type of junk. I am on my backup computer right now and in fear that will happen again. It is going to cost me $150.00 to have it removed from my main computer.

 

[kipcliff]

That ransomware showed up on my dad's computer a few weeks ago.

I rebooted it in safe mode and rolled it back to a recent restore point.

I then rebooted it normally, and all seemed as it should be. As a precaution, I updated virus definitions and ran scans with antivirus and antimalware utilities.

I installed Spybot Search & Destroy, updated it, and 'immunized' IE.

Finally, I had a chat with my dad about safe browsing habits.


There are several free antivirus utilities available. I think Avast gets the most favorable reviews. Microsoft Security Essentials is another option.

One can search for free antivirus and decide which package fits best.

The first line of defense against malware is the user.

 

[Dick7Access]

What is considered save browsing? I didn't download anything and in twenty years my virus scan always caught everything. Was you Dad's virus supposedly from the FBI?

 

[kipcliff]

A Bing search of 'ransomware fake fbi' brings up several links that discuss the Reveton virus and how to address it.

 

[Anakardian]

Sadly there is not really such a thing as "safe" browsing.

Indeed just by coming here you can get a virus through the commercials. You don't need to click anything, just coming to page is enough for it to infect.

You might get around if you use a text-only browser but then you loose a lot of the bling from the internet and a lot of pages won't work.

 

[Fifty2One]

Lots of good software for defense out there, but you need to also relate to the idea that all anti-malware, antivirus (etc) is reactive and not proavtive, so most protection is always at least one step behind, the freeware protection is more then just one step behind...

 

[Dick7Access]

Lots of good software for defense out there, but you need to also relate to the idea that all anti-malware, antivirus (etc) is reactive and not proavtive, so most protection is always at least one step behind, the freeware protection is more then just one step behind...

so right, so what do we use to clean it up after it missed a damaging virus?

 

[speakers_86]

You could always do a fresh install. When your computer is in a known good state, create a recovery disk, and never loose it.

 

[Dick7Access]

Yes I have a recovery disc, but I panicked and didn't think to use it. I even have all the data backed up on an external hard drive.

 

[Vassago]

Recovery is usually not necessary. Neither is paying someone to remove it in most situations. Check out Spybot Search and Destroy as previously mentioned as well as Malwarebytes Anti-malware. Both programs consistently remove most malware and the effects they bring. Some malware can be tricky, especially when they delete or move shortcuts and documents. Usually that requires manual fixing, to recover shortcuts and such.

As stated, it's hard to do "SAFE" browsing short of using very good constant anti-virus protection or using a sandbox program, such as Sandboxie. Sandboxie is actually a very good program to use when handling downloads from email or websites to make sure they are legit. If something is infected, it will be isolated inside the sandbox environment and not write to your hard drive.

I recommend using Spybot, Anti-Malware, and Avast to keep your computer safe.

 

[speakers_86]

Im using microsoft security essentials now. I used to use avg, but i think it was causing a random blue screen.

 

[Alansidman]

If you subscribe to cable internet, I know that two of the big providers, Comcast and Time Warner offer free Norton or McAfee depending on the provider. Check your cable account and see if you have this available to you.

Alan

 

[Dick7Access]

The one anti-virus software that I've been using for years, and seems to have worked well, is AVG (the free version).

Correct me if am wrong, but I am assuming that AVG is not the same as Avast. This is what cracked my nuts over all this. I have use Avast (free version) for over 5 years on the advice of a friend that is the IT guru for the accounting department for the city of Huston, TX, without any problems. I bought a new computer and decide to go for broke and paid for the advance Avast. On the way home from dropping off my computer I was listing to the digital goddess and she had a call that they had the same virus. Now somebody correct me if I am wrong (not spelling Bob or Beetle) <G> on this, but ransom ware is just a cute name for a virus that tries to exhort money. Am I correct on that?
Now as I use the web with my back up computer, I do so with fear and trembling with fear the big bad wolf will lock up this computer and I can’t find my system disk for my back up computer, and I don’t remember how to make them. Somebody please clue me in. On my new computer the store did them for me, and they did it on memory stick which I hang around my neck. <G> I hope these jerks that do these viruses get struck by lightning. It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.

 

[Vassago]

Correct me if am wrong, but I am assuming that AVG is not the same as Avast. This is what cracked my nuts over all this. I have use Avast (free version) for over 5 years on the advice of a friend that is the IT guru for the accounting department for the city of Huston, TX, without any problems. I bought a new computer and decide to go for broke and paid for the advance Avast. On the way home from dropping off my computer I was listing to the digital goddess and she had a call that they had the same virus. Now somebody correct me if I am wrong (not spelling Bob or Beetle) <G> on this, but ransom ware is just a cute name for a virus that tries to exhort money. Am I correct on that?
Now as I use the web with my back up computer, I do so with fear and trembling with fear the big bad wolf will lock up this computer and I can’t find my system disk for my back up computer, and I don’t remember how to make them. Somebody please clue me in. On my new computer the store did them for me, and they did it on memory stick which I hang around my neck. <G> I hope these jerks that do these viruses get struck by lightning. It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.

Antivirus software doesn't always look for malware the same as it does viruses. It's important to be protected from both.

 

[hobbes99]

For recovery:
If you have file backups and a recovery disc then I would do a clean install. Some viruses and malware can hide from security software in the registry so it's probably the only way to be sure you're clean.

For the future:
The free security software mentioned (AVG, MSE, etc.) are all good, but are only one part of a robust protection plan:

I use AVG free, but I also have Malwarebytes Anti-malware free version. I have AVG update and scan once a day and I update and run MBAM every week or so. But as others pointed out, these are not proactive measures.

The main security guard to your system is your FIREWALL. Most PCs have Windows Firewall running as a default, but if it's not working for you there are other alternatives with more options/protection and many paid security suites include one. There is also probably a good firewall built in to your router that should be activated (I'd check to make sure).

As far as safe browsing goes, I ran far away from Internet Explorer. A lot of people still prefer it, but it seems to be more vulnerable than Chrome and even Firefox (IE just had to patch a major vulnerability this week). When I do a search, I always look for results from sites I trust or have heard of first (read the address, NOT the search link).

Even when I'm on a site I know I keep an eye out for strange links or buttons that seem out of place. And if I do see a "warning" pop up of some kind, I NEVER EVER click on or near it; no matter how legitimate it might appear. I have notifications from virusscan and firewall turned off so I know those kinds of warnings would not be legit. The best thing you can do if you get a warning like this again is hit CRTL ALT DEL, close your browser from the task manager, and run your security programs directly from your program list.

Malware doesn't normally just appear on your computer randomly. It's usually the result of an inadvertent invitation from the user. Clicking a fake link or opening a bad page can be enough so safe browsing is mostly about paying attention to where you are going. My measures aren't 100% effective by a long shot, but they have helped me avoid any serious threats to this point. I hope they can do the same for you.

Good luck!

 

[rainman89]

malwarebytes is a program i use frequently to clean off peoples computers. its not a "active" protection, unless you pay for the subscription. I have never tried the active part of it, but that along with combofix seem to fix 97% of all the bad infections that i have seen.

AVG got too bloated for me and seemed to slow things down on scans. im using avast atm and have had no issues (knock on wood)

 

[mrjohn12]

I am now using an Anti virus called G-data I don't know it is familiar to you or not .
I want to solve a problem related to this .
This is showing a message that I need to update signature for updating the software .
If there anybody who can help me solving this problem .

 

[kipcliff]

Open the UI for the program and click the button to update signatures. Also, check whether there is an auto-update setting, if you want the program to handle this automatically.