Spyware. . .Trojan. I won't even use that rubber brand.

[Azzure_7]

Help me. . . duh My com is now so slow, so I'll get straight to the point.
I had spyware in my com and it's called trojan.
My antivirus just finished a week ago and now here I am.
The question I wanted to know is that if I use anti-virus, Would the virus be automatically erased or do I have to format my computer.
Before this, I used norton and lavasoft. Scan it on lavasoft and it doesn't detect a single thing. I used nod 32 and shock to find out Trojan 32 is in it.
Akh, I so hate trojan . . .
Thanks in advance.

[4hero]

arghhh, virus's are a nightmare :evil:

Install Avast (http://www.avast.com/), it's one of the best free antivirus software out there.

Edited: I forgot to say, this should remove the trojan without the need to re-format your machine.

[Azzure_7]

Yeah, everything is slow motion.. . LOL
I'll try it..
Thank you. I appreciate it.

[Azzure_7]

Do i have to format my computer before installing? or it will eliminate the virus automatically?

[Skip Souza]

I use two Anti spyware programs, both free.
Ad-Aware SE Personal (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php)
Spy-Bot Search and Destroy (http://spywarebot.com/?hop=congoman&gclid=CKz-zZv9qooCFTQkGAodpHTCug)

[Pete]

Microsoft's Anti-Spyware is free as well.

When it comes to this kind of infection, no one tool will find every version of spyware out there, you need to be regularly scanning with two or three differnt products.

AVG do a free anti virus solution.

[michaelgreen78]

I use AVG Free Edition - www.grisoft.com
It has always worked well for me.

[Pete]

You have to do a google search for the free version of AVG anti virus. I've never found any way of accessing it through their own web site... They try awfully hard to make you pay for it when you can opt to have it for nothing.

[eastcoast909]

this is the url

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

good luck

[condyk]

Avast is an excellent AV product and I think still the only one to work on 64bit machines. Free for home use. Windows Defender is also excellent for spyware, malware and so on and it's gone through a lot of development to get where it is now. Both auto-update which is essential.

[gjl711]

Trojans are benign until one activates it so it's not a nastie as a virus. But it is also something you do not want hanging around either just in case someone forgets that it is a Trojan and they double click the thing.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I got the computer I'm using now in August of 2005. Still runs like butter, but it was noticeably slower. Thing is, I never had antivirus on it after the 90-day norton trial ran out. A while ago, I started getting e-mails with my address, name, phone number, and more personal information in the subject lines. Now I knew it was time to do something. So, about two weeks ago, I went and bought McAfee Internet Security Suite. Did the scan and cleanup, and my goodness...I don't remember it running so FAST! Scan turned out that there were 6,630 "bad things", as well as a couple hundred "Potentially unwanted programs". That's nuts. No wonder it was slow!

Best $40 I've spent in a while.

[gjl711]

... Scan turned out that there were 6,630 "bad things", as well as a couple hundred "Potentially unwanted programs". That's nuts. No wonder it was slow!

Best $40 I've spent in a while. :) This has got to be a world record. 6630 copies of spyware. It is amazing that your poor CPU had any chance at all to do the work you were asking of it. :) I guess it's save to say, lesson learned?

[Ronald S. Jr.]

It's a hell of a lot, that's for sure. Glad to have it gone.

[liza]

Not really. A friend of mine in Charleston had over 9K on his hard drive. :)

[Tsmith]

Best $40 I've spent in a while.

Norton and McAfee are noted bloatware that hog system resources. You could saved the $40 and used the FREE Grisoft AVG v.7.5 and it would have found the same stuff and probably even more as they have virus definition updates almost daily.

[gjl711]

Norton and McAfee are noted bloatware that hog system resources. You could saved the $40 and used the FREE Grisoft AVG v.7.5 and it would have found the same stuff and probably even more as they have virus definition updates almost daily. I'll agree with Nortin, but I have never had any problem with McAfee. Plus, Comcast gives it away free and they also update it daily. :)

[Jon]

Don't forget that all those things the anti-spyware apps turn up include cookies, which don't do anything but occupy disk space until you visit one of their sponsors' websites. So they don't necessarily slow the computer down.

[Tsmith]

Don't forget that all those things the anti-spyware apps turn up include cookies, which don't do anything but occupy disk space until you visit one of their sponsors' websites. So they don't necessarily slow the computer down.

That is very true and quite often overlooked. I keep all the ones for my favorite sites.

[4hero]

I also recommed ccleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com/), gets rid of lots of rubbish from your hard drive, like temporary files, cookies, cache and other runnish. Give it a shot!

[cdifoto]

I prefer LifeStyles myself. :cool:

[timbernet]

I've used Avast , AVG, Norton, and McAfee - AVG gets my vote - and I like it so much I have bought the "pay-for" version...

I had Avast on my mother's laptop - she got a virus, Avast said it was gone - and then it showed up again. I installed AVG, it found it - it removed it - and it hasn't shown up since...

As a ISP Network Engineer I watch traffic graphs. Around Christmas time to mid-January I see the network usage drop - and then it rises up again... Why is this? Well - people get new computers for the holidays, they don't have any viruses on them... Then, their trial versions of their anti-virus end and they get clogged up with viruses and start sending out tons of horrible stuff onto the Internet... The Internet is a rough place...

[cgratti]

Or, you can just buy a Mac and not worry about spyware or viruses...

LOL

[gjl711]

Or, you can just buy a Mac and not worry about spyware or viruses...

LOL This is a very naive attitude. Macs are susceptible and you should run a virus scanner and spyware scanner as well. Just because the addware and spyware folks concentrate their efforts on the Windows machines, that does not make a Mac immune. Granted it is tougher, but not all that much.

[Big WIll]

I use Ad-Aware, Norton Personal Firewall, McAffee Anti Virus, SpySubtract...

[Jon]

Or, you can just buy a Mac and not worry about spyware or viruses...

LOL
A lot of the things anti-spyware programs turn up are tracking cookies. Think your browser doesn't accept cookies? Only if you tell it not to, and then you'll get an idea of how many are used. If you said to let POTN remember your login info, you're using cookies.

[Azzure_7]

Not really. A friend of mine in Charleston had over 9K on his hard drive. :)

That beats your posts. . lol

[zacker]

try Hijack this! I used it and it got rid of everything, only thing is, you gotta sign onto the forum so they can show you what to delete and what to keep, it find everything on your PC ...even system files so if you dont know what to remove you could kill your PC.

[Azzure_7]

I also recommed ccleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com/), gets rid of lots of rubbish from your hard drive, like temporary files, cookies, cache and other runnish. Give it a shot!

I will. . . That's the first thing I am gonna do after I am done with my exam. . and paper..

Thanks everyone. . .I appreciate you guys. . .
I love ya'll

[queenbee288]

I also use spyware blaster. It prevents the spyware in the first place. AVG is no longer free. At least it keeps popping up telling me how many more days I have left before I have to pay up. I can't complain. I have used it free for the past 3 years.

[JBillings]

This is a very naive attitude. Macs are susceptible and you should run a virus scanner and spyware scanner as well. Just because the addware and spyware folks concentrate their efforts on the Windows machines, that does not make a Mac immune. Granted it is tougher, but not all that much.

Hmmm. A knee jerk response. Everytime someone mentions a Mac, this remark gets made... I guess to rationalize staying with a PC....

Mac OX was released 3/24/01.... and there's never been any serious attack released, period. That should have been plenty of time to find a way to screw with Macs, but so far no go.

I'm not buying the arguement that the smaller marketshare the Mac has is the reason for this. If that were true there wouldn't be any attack on Linux... but there are, and compared to the PC, about the same percentage as their marketshare.

What I want to know why do you defend a system that is full of bugs, plagued by viruses and spyware.... why don't you demand more?

Why are you content to pay for this type of abuse? Because that is exactly what your doing.

Sorry, makes no sense to me.

[gjl711]

Hmmm. A knee jerk response. Everytime someone mentions a Mac, this remark gets made... I guess to rationalize staying with a PC.... Nope, just a software engineer who knows that no OS is bullit proof.

Mac OX was released 3/24/01.... and there's never been any serious attack released, period. Hmmm.. don't forget Leap-A.

What I want to know why do you defend a system that is full of bugs, plagued by viruses and spyware.... why don't you demand more?Not defending it at all, but I also am not a believer in ostrich-ware virus protection.


Why are you content to pay for this type of abuse? Because that is exactly what your doing.... When the market shifts, I will as well. But for now I run a full protection scheme on my PCs, on my Mac, and on my SUSE box as well.

[-MasterChief-]

... another AVG Free believer! oh, btw, i work in the IT industry and the worst spyware attack ive experienced on a customer's computer was >20k, talk about slow! :eek:

[JBillings]

Nope, just a software engineer who knows that no OS is bullit proof.

Hmmm.. don't forget Leap-A.

Not defending it at all, but I also am not a believer in ostrich-ware virus protection.


When the market shifts, I will as well. But for now I run a full protection scheme on my PCs, on my Mac, and on my SUSE box as well.

Leap-A???? Like I said, not a single serious attack!

[Tom W]

I use Avast! anti-virus, and I have spybot Search & Destroy, AdAware SE, and Microsoft Defender to deal with spyware and such. I run all of them fairly regularly, and occasionally, I come across a new piece of spyware.

I did have a rather pesky virus last year (the only one I remember having in several years). Avast! eliminated it, but it did not eliminate the rogue program that was regenerating the virus each time I booted. I ended up going to Norton's web site and using their free web-based scan to find the virus. It took manual deletion of a couple of files and changing a registry entry to eliminate it.

Other than that, I've been running a very clean computer. The key is staying present on your antivirus and spyware programs and running them fairly often. If you aren't one to keep tabs on these things, then allow them to automatically update and run on a schedule.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

Not worth the stress, fella. Let it go. Both Mac and PC have the pros and cons. It's been argued to death.

[rhys]

Norton is pretty useless software. I'm a computer tech in my day job and have to salvage the messes left behind by Norton and McAfee when they (as they usually do) fail to detect viruses.

I recommend AVG although the boss prefers Nod32. I recommend AdAware also and Zone Alarm. Zone Alarm is great at stopping trojan downloaders from dialling home. Often I have to install that or disconnect from the web when antivirussing or I fight a losing battle.

[Tom W]

Norton is pretty useless software. I'm a computer tech in my day job and have to salvage the messes left behind by Norton and McAfee when they (as they usually do) fail to detect viruses.

I recommend AVG although the boss prefers Nod32. I recommend AdAware also and Zone Alarm. Zone Alarm is great at stopping trojan downloaders from dialling home. Often I have to install that or disconnect from the web when antivirussing or I fight a losing battle.

Yes, Zone Alarm. I forgot to mention, but I use that also. I quit using window's firewall because it doesn't deal with outbound activity. Zone alarm does, and that is a major plus. Great tool for stopping the activity of of a rogue program.

also, I agree with rhys about Norton and McAfee - both are bloatware. I used to swear by Norton products but I cannot stand loading down my computer with a boatload of processes that take away valuable processor time. I like software with a minimum footprint.

[timbernet]

I also use spyware blaster. It prevents the spyware in the first place. AVG is no longer free. At least it keeps popping up telling me how many more days I have left before I have to pay up. I can't complain. I have used it free for the past 3 years.

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5 <- just have to find the right spot!

[timbernet]

also, I agree with rhys about Norton and McAfee - both are bloatware. I used to swear by Norton products but I cannot stand loading down my computer with a boatload of processes that take away valuable processor time. I like software with a minimum footprint.

This came to me on an ISP mailing list - I laughed a little...
"Paying for AV software is not a solution, no matter how often it's been on TV. Norton - the antivirus software one finds on virus-infected computers"

[blonde]

Norton and McAfee are noted bloatware that hog system resources. You could saved the $40 and used the FREE Grisoft AVG v.7.5 and it would have found the same stuff and probably even more as they have virus definition updates almost daily.

agreed. i switched to AVG about a year ago and never looked back. it updates itself everyday and it is just fantastic. i really don't see any reason to pay for Norton when a better program is available and it is FREE.

[KevC]

Hmmm. A knee jerk response. Everytime someone mentions a Mac, this remark gets made... I guess to rationalize staying with a PC....

Mac OX was released 3/24/01.... and there's never been any serious attack released, period. That should have been plenty of time to find a way to screw with Macs, but so far no go.

I'm not buying the arguement that the smaller marketshare the Mac has is the reason for this. If that were true there wouldn't be any attack on Linux... but there are, and compared to the PC, about the same percentage as their marketshare.

What I want to know why do you defend a system that is full of bugs, plagued by viruses and spyware.... why don't you demand more?

Why are you content to pay for this type of abuse? Because that is exactly what your doing.

Sorry, makes no sense to me.

OSX is unix-based.

[Eagle]

I run AVG 7.5 Pro and ZoneAlarmPro 6.5 always. Every few weeks scan with Lavasoft Adaware, CCleaner, and Spybot Search and Destroy. Haven't had a problem in years.

Most of these virus' and such come from opening infected emails or letting bull**** in when downloading and/or allowing tracking from internet sites. Also running theings such as Yahoo Toolbars and similar sh*t. You have to know what you allow on your PC. Don't allow all your programs to auto update, do them manually. Don't do express/auto installs of downloaded software, do it the long way and read what you are allowing on your PC, you'll be suprised.

Also like already stated most of what is picked up druing scans are the thousands of cookies accepted.

I also have and run Registry Clean Expert every few months to clean the registry up.

[3Turner]

I haven't gotten around to trying this out completely, but I saw this recommended here on another thread awhile back.

http://www.prevx.com/

[Azzure_7]

Norton is pretty useless software. I'm a computer tech in my day job and have to salvage the messes left behind by Norton and McAfee when they (as they usually do) fail to detect viruses.

I recommend AVG although the boss prefers Nod32. I recommend AdAware also and Zone Alarm. Zone Alarm is great at stopping trojan downloaders from dialling home. Often I have to install that or disconnect from the web when antivirussing or I fight a losing battle.

Does nod 32 alone will do the jobs? Because currently I have lavasoft.
I think I have to uninstall lavasoft in order for nod32 to work right?

[Dan-o]

I haven't gotten around to trying this out completely, but I saw this recommended here on another thread awhile back.

http://www.prevx.com/

I had a virus awile back (The only one I've ever gotten) and Norton said it saw it but could not remove it. I used Prevx and it worked like a charm. I use Nod 32 now and like it very much.

[cgratti]

This is a very naive attitude. Macs are susceptible and you should run a virus scanner and spyware scanner as well. Just because the addware and spyware folks concentrate their efforts on the Windows machines, that does not make a Mac immune. Granted it is tougher, but not all that much.


Ummm, no... Macs are not as of yet susceptable. The need for antivirus or spyware scanners for the mac is Zilch, Zero, None, Nada. As the market share grows for Apple, the viruses will come, but right now there is NO threat. I have had my iMac for 2 years, not a hint of an issue with Spyware or Viruses, I do not run ANY typ of Antivirus, spyware, or firewall at all.

[rhys]

Does nod 32 alone will do the jobs? Because currently I have lavasoft.
I think I have to uninstall lavasoft in order for nod32 to work right?

No Nod32 is antiVIRUS. Lavasoft is antiSPYWARE. They co-exist happily.

Remember Nod 32 needs a lot of setting up.

[Eagle]

Ummm, no... Macs are not as of yet susceptable. The need for antivirus or spyware scanners for the mac is Zilch, Zero, None, Nada. As the market share grows for Apple, the viruses will come, but right now there is NO threat. I have had my iMac for 2 years, not a hint of an issue with Spyware or Viruses, I do not run ANY typ of Antivirus, spyware, or firewall at all.

Wake Up Call!
http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2006/02/macosxleap.html

[3Turner]

I had a virus awile back (The only one I've ever gotten) and Norton said it saw it but could not remove it. I used Prevx and it worked like a charm. I use Nod 32 now and like it very much.

Thats good that it worked. Now I know that I can always fall back on prevex when Norton or McAfee don't work on removal after detection.

[Citizensmith]

Ummm, no... Macs are not as of yet susceptable.

Actually there is plenty of documentation on security flaws in Macs, a lot provided by Apple who are tracking and patching just like MS. The difference really is that people just aren't targetting Macs.

And no I'm not saying that PCs are better, just that anyone imagining Macs are perfect is delusional. :)

[Azzure_7]

I installed lavasoft and nod32.
Scan it on lavasoft and found 32 critical object. Then removed it. scan it again, and found nothing. restart it, scan it and found 5-6 new critical objects. it grows? What is happening? I don;t understand it.
Same goes when I used no32 to scan it.

[3Turner]

I installed lavasoft and nod32.
Scan it on lavasoft and found 32 critical object. Then removed it. scan it again, and found nothing. restart it, scan it and found 5-6 new critical objects. it grows? What is happening? I don;t understand it.
Same goes when I used no32 to scan it.

sounds like there is something in the registry that keeps it coming back at start up. I think hijackthis is going to be your best bet on having someone tell you what to remove if your not computer savy like some other folks on the board.

[Collin85]

As a gamer, system performance is paramount. I try to make sure I know exactly what I'm feeding onto the computer and operating system, and always keep my anti-virus upto date. I never let my brother use my computer, too many dodgy sites he frequents.

As for anti-virus, I use Norton. I find the Internet Security package to be too much of a resources hog. I use the free but fantastic ZoneAlarm firewall.

For spyware, I use the free Adaware 6 and Spybot Search & Destroy. Bloody great software.

If need be, I'll do a reformat. Trojans are a real annoyance. Bad trojans, such as malicious keyloggers can be fairly dangerous, especially if you do things like internet banking.

[Citizensmith]

Symantec Antivirus, a well configured router, Firefox, and paying attention to where I go and what I download (ie none of the freebie tools and games) works for me.

Secondly, a Ghost of a clean install with my core applications so that whenever I want I can jump back to being completely clean.

[Collin85]

Symantec Antivirus, a well configured router, Firefox, and paying attention to where I go and what I download (ie none of the freebie tools and games) works for me.

Secondly, a Ghost of a clean install with my core applications so that whenever I want I can jump back to being completely clean.

Great advice. :)

[Eagle]

paying attention to where I go and what I download

This right here is the key.

[Azzure_7]

this is the url

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

good luck

Link doesn't work. .
Or is it just me?

[Skip Souza]

Link doesn't work. .
Or is it just me?
Must be just you.
Works fine for me.

[Azzure_7]

hmm just wondering if avg slows down the computer a lot. . .
My com slows down a lot. . .
But Im not sure, as I also just move to a new apartment and use a new router .. .

[Eagle]

hmm just wondering if avg slows down the computer a lot. . . .
AVG does not bog you down.

[kram]

Sometimes, with the entire set of recommended software, your PC will still continue to be slow.

- Do a ctrl+alt+del and monitor processes that hog the CPU.
- Do a google search on those that look fishy
- chances are, you will find some that are not eliminated by all these programs. Read up on howto delete these and after that always leave your chosen anti-virus and Firewall on.

Its criminal the number of hours one has to waste to get their own PC back.

[Collin85]

I usually hunt through MSConfig once a while too to see if there's anything starting up upon booting the OS which shouldn't be.

[In2Photos]

Ummm, no... Macs are not as of yet susceptable. The need for antivirus or spyware scanners for the mac is Zilch, Zero, None, Nada. As the market share grows for Apple, the viruses will come, but right now there is NO threat. I have had my iMac for 2 years, not a hint of an issue with Spyware or Viruses, I do not run ANY typ of Antivirus, spyware, or firewall at all.
I have never had a Hard Drive failure but I still backup my stuff. Just because it hasn't yet happened doesn't mean that it can not happen. The problem I see with this mentality of MAC users is that once a virus becomes able to break the MAC OS it will destroy most of you. I certainly hope you take other actions to maintain data integrity.

Symantec Antivirus, a well configured router, Firefox, and paying attention to where I go and what I download (ie none of the freebie tools and games) works for me.

Secondly, a Ghost of a clean install with my core applications so that whenever I want I can jump back to being completely clean.

Same here. Although my Norton is now out and I have decided to try AVG with everyones recommendations here. I just completed a new install of XP Pro and reinstalled all my stuff onto a new WD HD so now comes the time for Ghost to cpomplete a backup onto another HD.

[bieber]

Just as a sidenote to the "OSX and etc. are security through obscurity" people, keep in mind that Windows is a TINY minority in the server market. GNU/Linux and other Unices make up the vast majority of web servers. So, why is it that the Windows servers are the ones being most seriously compromised, despite their relatively tiny market share?

[hard12find]

SpyBot search and destroy...gets my vote......Love it...
Hope your comp gets better..
Jim

[Citizensmith]

SpyBot search and destroy...gets my vote

The one thing you need to realise with all the software out there, spybot, defender, adaware, etc is that the only ever seem to get about 90% of what is on your computer. The missing 10% doesn't overlap totally so running more than one will help, but they never get everything.

Secondly, the computer is often not as bad the software makes it sound. So when you get the message "OMGWTFBBQ, a gazillion critical problems, you are screwed" most of those are not much more than a cookie. They want you to think your computer is toast just so you buy more software, or get premium versions of normally free software.