Aarrgghhh! Computer Virus

Well..! Looks like all that prawn surfing has finally landed me a virus. I have tried running Spybot and it picks up that the virus is there, but then it hangs up and doesn't complete the scan. I also have AVG Free software on my machine, but over the last month I have been receiving popups saying that this is no longer going to be supported and I will have to buy the full version. A week after it goes unsupported I get a virus. I do have a recovery disc. Question is, how do I use them? Do I just turn the machine off and restart with the recovery disk in the drive?

Thanks for any help and advice you can give.

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by Scoobs

I do have a recovery disc. Question is, how do I use them? Do I just turn the machine off and restart with the recovery disk in the drive?

Pretty much, get it to boot from the CD drive and follow the instructions...

Cheers buddy.

[Drew Carey]

As a suggestion to ALL. Don't use AVG anymore, try using the new Microsoft Essentials freebie. I know people berate MS, however, this was recently tested against AVG, Kapersky (or whatever its called), Norton and the latest incarnation from CA.

The MS freebie detected way more stuff and has no pop ups, plus runs much faster.

As for your problem, if you really can't get rid, then I guess the only option is recovery. However, may I suggest back everything up to an external hardrive, then scan it to make sure it has no viruses in.

Once you are back up and running, I would suggest using the MS one and Comodo Firewall. Plus use CC Cleaner regularily. With those lot I have found everything runs well and is clean.

Originally Posted by Drew Carey

As for your problem, if you really can't get rid, then I guess the only option is recovery. However, may I suggest back everything up to an external hardrive, then scan it to make sure it has no viruses in.

Drew,

There's not much on my machine anyway as most of it is on an external drive, so the rocovery disc ain't no biggie.

I'll give the MS stuff a whirl as well.

Cheers,

Scoobs.

[timwilky]

Get somebody who knows what they are doing to look at it. and don't listen to enthusiastic amateurs.

Again... didn't I sort out aload of this a while ago?

[fizzwheel]

Scoobs if you have access to the internet still, then go on the Mcaffee website and download a copy of their free "Stinger" utility, its not comprehensive, but it will clean off most of the common / popular / generic virus'

It sounds to me more like you have malware / spyware than a virus though. So get a copy of lava soft adaware and try that as well.

You might find it takes a combination of Anti-Virus / Spyware removal tools to get rid of what you have infected your machine with.

PC Tools spyware Dr is pretty good, but you have to register / pay for that and I woudlnt advise going on the web and typing in your credit card details until you have your machine cleaned off.

Personally I'd try that before you go down the recovery disk route. Also make sure your Windows is up to date, go onto the Microsoft website and get all the latest windows updates downloaded and installed.

[timwilky]

I have to admit that I find an occasional run of rootkitrevealer and hijackThis quite enlightening on my pcs.

The art is knowing what to do with the information they give you. I did have a nasty a while back that refused to allow certain tools to run. I had to rename them prior to running.

its best to scan and remove things in safe mode when using spybot so the virus isnt running when trying to remove it