Need Help

[Christopher]

I am in need of help by thos who know something more about computers than I do. A few days ago while at a autism website I was kindly given a computer virus. this virus locked up my computer and went to a p0rn site. It also put a pornographic icon on my desktop. Since I could not seem to get teh comp. to respond I turned it off and back on. I found out after having turned it on and off several time that the virus would only give me a few seconds to activate anything on my desktop before it froze up. So I tried it again and immidiatly activated the Norton anti-virus stuff. It got rid of the icon and freed up my computer again. I was so happy. Then I logged onto the internet and visited the board and such but when I went to go back to my home page some stupid site that is a gateway to other posn sites popped up!!! I can not seem to figure out how to stop this. I have tried to reset the homepage dozens of times.

What do I do??? Can anyone help?

 

[blhowes]

I was attacked by a virus a while ago (no p0rn, just disabled my computer), so I ended up having to start from scratch and reload all the software. Hopefully, you won't have to do that.

I'm no computer geek, but what I would probably do first is disconnect the computer from the internet and run the virus software on your hard drive. Make sure you visit your virus software web site first and download the latest patches.

Do you have any firewall software? I have McAfee and I have it set to alert me when anything tries to enter my computer. Its irritating sometimes, but at least I can stop some of the attacks.

If I remember correctly, Janice has had a lot of experience removing viruses from computers. She or somebody else may have some other good ideas.

Bob

 

[sastark]

Christopher,

In addition to a firewall, and anti-virus software, I would highly recommend downloading two free programs. They are called "Spybot" and "Adaware". They can both be found at www.download.com.

These two programs scan your computer for cookies, and other sneaky little things that virus and less-than-reputable websites like to give you when you aren't looking. I was shocked by how much junk I had accumulated over the years the first time I ran these programs.

After you run these, if you still have problems, please let me know. I've got a couple of friends who are very knowledgable about these things (two of them are network administrators who deal with this junk all the time).

EDITED TO ADD:

Chris,

Here are the links directly to the download pages for Spybot and Adaware:

Spybot: http://download.com.com/3000-8022-10289035.html?tag=lst-0-1

Adaware: http://download.com.com/3000-8022-10214379.html?tag=lst-0-2

[Edited on 5-21-2004 by sastark]

 

[Christopher]

thanks I will try it

 

[ChristianasJourney]

Bob gave good advice.

Make sure your software is updated with the latest updates. Tun your anti-virus software. It should tell you if you have a virus, or if some of the files have been "comprimised". If you have a virus just follow what the program tells you to do. You might want to write down the name of the virus and go to the Symantec website and look it in their virus Encylopedia.

If it's not a virus but an adware program, delete the infected files, but if the files can't be deleted write down the files names as you may have to try and manually delete them

The possiblity exists that the problem isn't in your computer, but in the website that you're visiting. If this is the case, just don't visit that website anymore.

I would also make sure that I have all my Microsoft updates...which you can do by going to microsoft and selecting either "updates" or "downloads" and it will run a program checking to see what Windows version you have and if you need any updates.

I apologize before hand for all my spelling errors, or if this doesn't make sense. I'm rather in a hurry, gotta get dinner on the table. So just connect the dots, fill in the blanks and you should be all set.

Oh yes, Seth had some good suggestions. I use both of the programs he suggested but I like Spybot better.



[Edited on 5-21-2004 by ChristianasJourney]

 

[Gregg]

How do you remove adware that has attached itself to a file that windows uses and cannot be deleted by Norton AV or manually?uzzled:

 

[ChristianasJourney]

Well,...The answer is longer than I can post here.

I have a friend who has the same problem. However, we haven't had time to tackle it yet. I told him delete what he can delete and not to worry about the others right now.

But if you go to Symantec.com (click on this URL), under "Search" type in the adware program that was detected (for example: Adware.bdf --there are a number of adware programs out there) and then symantec's page should tell you how to remove the programs from your computer.

[Edited on 5-22-2004 by ChristianasJourney]

 

[Gregg]

Thanks Professor

 

[Gregg]

Thank you for those links Seth, they worked very good:thumbup::thumbup:

 

[A_Wild_Boar]

Adaware and Spybot are great at looking for spyware on your system. BUT they dont stop it from getting on there.

use http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

to prevent it then use adaware or spybot once in a while to make sure nothing got on.

Do not use any "free" programs from the net. They load your system with spyware and adware.

Also try to avoid visiting less than savory web pages.

For excellent info on PC stuff regarding this stuff visit www.pchell.com I know the name throws many off, but sometimes our PCs can make one wonder where they were invented.

[Edited on 5-22-2004 by A_Wild_Boar]

 

[Christopher]

Thanks again all. After I posted last my computer failed again. I just found a cool feture that lets me reset the computer to the day before all this mess happened. Many of you know that I am on a brand new computer. I was woundering how this could happen because I had Norton on it. Well, I am the dummy. It was on my computer but I had not installed it (the fire wall). As soon as the virus hit Norton did notify me. I suppose it (the posn site I was taken to) downloaded something into my computer that messed it up. Again, I am not the most computer savvy fellow.
I would love to report the insident to the autism site at which it happened but I am afraid to even go near it for fear of it happening again.
Does anyone know if I use one of those p0rn filters if it will keep me from being "site-jacked" like that? I have never had one of those filter because I figured I did not need it but if it will keep stuff like this from happening I will get one.

Wild Boar Said:
"Also try to avoid visiting less than savory web pages."
To my knowledge, most Autism websites are not "less than savory" sites.

[Edited on 5-23-2004 by Christopher]

 

[pastorway]

If your Norton is activated and up to date - check for live updates at least weekly - then it will tell you the moment something is happening, and if it is a virus or an attempt to download something onto your system without your knowledge it will block it completely.

Norton also has parental controls that work like a filter if you want to activate it.

I love Norton!!

Phillip

 

[Christopher]

Thanks Phillip. I have the fire wall up now so it should help. I will have to explore Norton a little more. I should explore my computer some more while I am at it.

 

[sastark]

[quote:9bf3f8e2f4][i:9bf3f8e2f4]Originally posted by Gregg[/i:9bf3f8e2f4]
Thank you for those links Seth, they worked very good:thumbup::thumbup: [/quote:9bf3f8e2f4]

Glad they helped!