My PC has a virus (trojan or a worm) and I can't get rid of it.

[Eric Boyer]

I've been really careful, and haven't had a problem with viruses in a long (years and years).

However, I made the mistake of running an exe file and sure enough, I get randomly redirected when browsing the internet, can't visit some sites, and I'm getting pop-ups.

Whatever I've got is even making it impossible for my anti-virus programs to update themselves

I haven't even been able to manage a system restore

Any ideas on what I could try or how to even find and identify it?

-Eric

[MadMan118]

What anti virus programmes are you using? They obviously don't work well.

[Eric Boyer]

Well avast is my main one that I run all the time.

I've also since tried scanning my system with malwarebytes' anti-malware and ad-aware - but again, they couldn't update themselves so I don't know how worthwhile that was.

I also tried House Call, but that wouldn't run at all when it couldn't be updated.

[MadMan118]

Originally Posted by Eric Boyer

Well avast is my main one that I run all the time.

I've also since tried scanning my system with malwarebytes' anti-malware and ad-aware - but again, they couldn't update themselves so I don't know how worthwhile that was.

I also tried House Call, but that wouldn't run at all when it couldn't be updated.

Hmm well then. I use avast on my windows computers and have never had a problem but then again I rarely use windows.

[IconBasser]

best solution: reformat, install antivirus program BEFORE connecting to the internet. It's really the only way to be absolutely CERTAIN that you have a clean PC.

[Dirk Diggler]

It actually sounds more like you have a browser Hijacker.
I would suggest doing some research and grab the Hijackthis program, it's free and very powerful.
Good luck,
Dirk

[Thunderscreech]

^ what he said. Get Malwarebytes and Spybot as well. Run those, too, right now.

[Dirk Diggler]

It actually sounds more like you have a browser Hijacker.
I would suggest doing some research and grab the Hijackthis program, it's free and very powerful. I would also suggest Spybot Search and Destroy and use it in the advanced mode, again a very powerful free program.
Good luck,
Dirk

[Radical Edward]

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

It actually sounds more like you have a browser Hijacker.
I would suggest doing some research and grab the Hijackthis program, it's free and very powerful. I would also suggest Spybot Search and Destroy and use it in the advanced mode, again a very powerful free program.
Good luck,
Dirk

^This.
Also, I would recommend just taking it to a computer repair person as they can fix it, for generally a good price and tell you how to stop it from happening again.
I've had a similar thing happen on a laptop I owned only to have it completely crash a week later after I thought the problem had been fixed. Better to be safe than sorry and out of a computer.

[Bongolation]

Go here and do what they say.

Excellent anti-malware forum!

[MJ5150]

Use Chrome or Firefox.

-Mike

[caeman]

If you are running XP, reboot to a previous restore point. Virus gone.

[Eric Boyer]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Use Chrome or Firefox.

-Mike

I use both, but mostly firefox religiously

Originally Posted by caeman

If you are running XP, reboot to a previous restore point. Virus gone.

Yeah, I had tried that, but as I said in my first post, for some reason I wasn't able to go back to a previous restore point I don't know if that was on account of the virus or...

But, I can say:

Spybot Search and Destroy FTW!!!

It took quit a bit of fussing to get it installed; again, the hijacker wouldn't even let me navigate to spybot's website and it wasn't letting any AV programs update their definitions. However, once I got it up and running, it did the trick, and everything seems to be back to normal.

TB OT saves the day again! Thanks for the help guys!

-Eric

[Thunderscreech]

Originally Posted by Eric Boyer

I use both, but mostly firefox religiously



Yeah, I had tried that, but as I said in my first post, for some reason I wasn't able to go back to a previous restore point I don't know if that was on account of the virus or...

But, I can say:

Spybot Search and Destroy FTW!!!

It took quit a bit of fussing to get it installed; again, the hijacker wouldn't even let me navigate to spybot's website and it wasn't letting any AV programs update their definitions. However, once I got it up and running, it did the trick, and everything seems to be back to normal.

TB OT saves the day again! Thanks for the help guys!

-Eric

no problem dude. Run that regularly and update often.

[Thornton Davis]

You can download for free either Spybot or Ad-Aware from download.com (just do a search for them).

Either software will resolve your problem.

TD

[My name is Mudd]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Use Chrome or Firefox.

Or, to be really safe, Opera. A combination of up-to-date Opera, a ZoneAlarm firewall, Spybot and Ad-Aware (and some common sense) has kept every system here clean for YEARS. Seriously, the last time I had a major bug was the Blaster worm, and that was three systems ago.

- edit - There's also Sandboxie, for when you'd like to try an .exe and still not have it touch the 'real' system. It really works.

[jady]

Run Malwarebytes in safe mode.

Most new malware will hide itself on boot making it impossible to download or update common AV/AM programs.

[DanAleks]

Go HERE and follow the directions.

They know what they're doing.

-Dan

[jp58]

1. Have USB memory stick
2. Install Unetbootin
3. Download Ubuntu
4. Run unetbootin, make flash drive for Ubuntu
5. Go to Bios screen
6. Boot from flash drive
7. Install new OS
8. Enjoy Linux

[Zombbg4]

Stop looking at porn.