Virus/spyware help...

[big daddy russ]

Hey all you software gurus, I downloaded a trojan horse last night that I can't get off my desktop for anything.

I have Norton, but realized a long time ago that it's not worth the money I spent on it. I also have AVG and Avast (which I always thought was great) for viruses and Ad-Aware for spyware, but those didn't get everything.

I now have a huge red screen with a biohazard sign as my desktop background. It says "Your computer is at risk: download protection now" under the biohazard sign and has turned my entire desktop background into a hyperlink to some "protection software."

Yeah, right.

I also keep getting a popup that says I have the looksy w32 trojan horse, but I'm unable to exit out of that popup. I get a couple more protection popups also, but they're all adware/viruses.

Is there anything I can do in this situation to save all my files, or do I need to just re-install Windows?

[pirate4state]

Only you Russ :doh:

[Snyder_TigerFan]

Have you tried booting up in safe mode and running a virus scan?

[Emerson1]

If you had only just paid the $1.99

[dutchman]

Try this link, let me know if you have any problems:

Trojan.Looksky from Symantec.com (http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2006-060512-1520-99&tabid=3)

Dutchman

[carter08]

Thats nothing.

One day I accidently converted all my .exe files into .txt files. Nothing opened. Took a long time to figure that out.

[Emerson1]

I had a virus install itself on my desktop. I couldn't access the desktop folder so I lost everything I had saved on it, plus I had to delete my entire login.

[Highschoolfan78]

if you search google, spybot search and destroyer is pretty good. I use that after using AVG. I call it my closer ... either it will seal the deal and remove the problem or blow the game and cause me to eventually recover my hard drive

[KTA]

what is the name of the trojan?

[KTA]

spybot search and destroyer

Its actully spybot search and destroy, and its good to get rid of spyware, but I wouldnt suggest trying to use it to gtet rid of a trojan. If you could give the name of the trojam that would be huge

[Emerson1]

Download ewido anti-malware to. It gets stuff other programs don't

download CC Cleaner to. It gets rid of all your temporary useless files. I used it on my sisters computer and she had 4 gigs of deletable files.

[luvhoops34]

Originally posted by big daddy russ
Hey all you software gurus, I downloaded a trojan horse last night that I can't get off my desktop for anything.

I have Norton, but realized a long time ago that it's not worth the money I spent on it. I also have AVG and Avast (which I always thought was great) for viruses and Ad-Aware for spyware, but those didn't get everything.

I now have a huge red screen with a biohazard sign as my desktop background. It says "Your computer is at risk: download protection now" under the biohazard sign and has turned my entire desktop background into a hyperlink to some "protection software."

Yeah, right.

I also keep getting a popup that says I have the looksy w32 trojan horse, but I'm unable to exit out of that popup. I get a couple more protection popups also, but they're all adware/viruses.

Is there anything I can do in this situation to save all my files, or do I need to just re-install Windows?

Wow, I thought I was the only one that had computer problems.

[DDBooger]

no way im having so many problems with norton internet security 2007 seems like once a week I have to uninstall and reinstall it or go to the website look up a problem follow directions and go through some long drawn out process just to update my virus protections. FRUSTRATING

[LH Panther Mom]

Originally posted by DDBooger
no way im having so many problems with norton internet security 2007 seems like once a week I have to uninstall and reinstall it or go to the website look up a problem follow directions and go through some long drawn out process just to update my virus protections. FRUSTRATING
My husband gave up on Norton a few years ago because of all the frustration.

[DDBooger]

anyone have an alternative to it? I paid for it, but its not worth all this hastle! i also have vista so i wonder if that has anything to do with it

[shankbear]

I have had great luck with free AVG anti-virus and Ad-Aware SE, free also, for spyware.

[jason]

Originally posted by Emerson1
I had a virus install itself on my desktop. I couldn't access the desktop folder so I lost everything I had saved on it, plus I had to delete my entire login. no,i had to recreate your profile...

you might try that russ, create an alternate profile, log in as it, and delete the one that has the virus...MIGHT work...

[Snyder_TigerFan]

Originally posted by DDBooger
anyone have an alternative to it? I paid for it, but its not worth all this hastle! i also have vista so i wonder if that has anything to do with it

All you really need is a good anti-virus program and a good spyware program. AVG antivirus and Avast are both good antivirus programs and they are both free. You can download windows defender or ad-aware for the spyware programs, they are both free as well. Norton comes with to much useless crap and it's a major resource hog.

[luvhoops34]

Originally posted by Snyder_TigerFan
All you really need is a good anti-virus program and a good spyware program. AVG antivirus and Avast are both good antivirus programs and they are both free. You can download windows defender or ad-aware for the spyware programs, they are both free as well. Norton comes with to much useless crap and it's a major resource hog.

;)

[Snyder_TigerFan]

Originally posted by luvhoops34
;)

:confused: Why the wink? Computer talk turn you on?;):D

[DDBooger]

Originally posted by Snyder_TigerFan
All you really need is a good anti-virus program and a good spyware program. AVG antivirus and Avast are both good antivirus programs and they are both free. You can download windows defender or ad-aware for the spyware programs, they are both free as well. Norton comes with to much useless crap and it's a major resource hog. would you mind proving me the link to them when ya have a chance, sorry:(

[Snyder_TigerFan]

Originally posted by DDBooger
would you mind proving me the link to them when ya have a chance, sorry:(

Either one of these two I have found to work well.
AVG Antivirus (http://free.grisoft.com/)
Avast Antivirus (http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html)

And any one(or all if your infected with spyware) of these:

Windows Defender (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx)
Ad-Aware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php)
Spybot (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html)

[DDBooger]

Originally posted by Snyder_TigerFan
Either one of these two I have found to work well.
AVG Antivirus (http://free.grisoft.com/)
Avast Antivirus (http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html)

And any one(or all if your infected with spyware) of these:

Windows Defender (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx)
Ad-Aware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php)
Spybot (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html) will they protect or just get rid of? for instance will they work as norton does but free? and less junk?

[Emerson1]

CCleaner (http://www.download.com/CCleaner/3000-2144_4-10669303.html?tag=lst-0-1)

AVG Anti-spyware aka Ewido Anti Malware (http://www.ewido.net/en/download/)

Those are all you need.

[big daddy russ]

Thanks for all the help, guys. I'm trying it all right now.

Oh, and KTA, I have no idea what the name of the Trojan Horse is, but here are the ones that AVG and Avast already caught. These may still be on the computer somewhere else (I don't know), but

Trojan horse Downloader.Generic5.APL
Trojan horse Downloader.Generic5.AFW
Virus identified Java/ByteVerify

Also, I'm looking at three of the "security messages" that the virus is giving me right now and here they are, word for word...

_______________________________________
Windows has detected an Internet attack attempt.... Somebody's trying to infect your PC with spyware or harmful viruses. Run full system scan now to protect your PC from Internet attacks, hijacking attempts and spyware! Click here to download spyware remover for total protection.
______________________________________

Security Warning!

Trojan.W32.Looksky detected on your machine. This virus is distributed via the Internet through e-mail and Active-X objects. The worm has its own SMTP engine which means it gathers e-mails from your local computer and re-distributes itself. In worst cases this worm can allow attackers to access your computer, stealing passwords and personal data. This process should be removed from your system.

Type: Virus
System Affected: Windows 2000, NT, ME, XP, Vista
Security Risk (0-5): 5
Recommendations: Click Yes to remove it from your PC immediately.
_________________________________________

NOTICE: Your computer has tracks of all adult sites you had visited. In most cases, you are not even aware of the files that get installed by themselves, violate your online privacy and could compromise your career and your marriage.

These files leave tracks of your online behavior and even compromise your credit card's security. It is possible to clean up all the temporary and history records of your computer to remove these tracks.

Would you like to install PrivacyProtector to check your computer for free? (Recommended)
________________________________

Dear computer owner:

The rash you're wondering about is herpes. You may visit our website for a free virus scan and anti-virus software. A topical cream is also available.
________________________________

Damn, they get personal.

All kidding aside, the first three are pop-ups word for word and all of them, whether you click yes or no, try to take you to various websites.

One thing I forgot to include is that I disconnected the ethernet cable as soon as it happened, so I'm not getting or sending out any viruses. I'm on my laptop right now, so I'm not sending my credit card numbers out to the world, but if you know anything I don't, feel free to clue me in.

[luvhoops34]

Originally posted by Snyder_TigerFan
:confused: Why the wink? Computer talk turn you on?;):D


Uh no.....I was winking because I don't like Norton either. :)

[LH Panther Mom]

Originally posted by big daddy russ

Dear computer owner:

The rash you're wondering about is herpes. You may visit our website for a free virus scan and anti-virus software. A topical cream is also available.
________________________________


There's this program I heard about that's called a zipper that should help with that. :p

[SintonFan_inAustin]

Originally posted by LH Panther Mom
There's this program I heard about that's called a zipper that should help with that. :p that program has been known to sometimes lock up

[KTA]

see if this dont help http://www.winprocesslibrary.com/winprocesslibrary/view.asp?id=3954 it has a link to a remover you can download. After you use it just uninstall and delete it off your pc. Same thing with this http://www.majorgeeks.com/download903.html it has a 30-day trial version as well, just use it and uninstall and delete it. Hope some of this helps