[klaus5000]

Hey guys, recently had the XP Anti Virus thingy, but i sucessfully got rid of it, however, my pc internet is running slowly and i cannot search on search engines like google without being redirected to an advertising site, its strange, and i wonder if reminants of a virus are on the system.

[RandyL]

Hi klaus;

Your computer is infected with Malware.

• Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent.
  It is a combination of the words malicious and software.
  The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code.

• Required Cleanup Steps
  1. Disable the Spybot Search & Destroy TEA TIMER if you use it and if it is enabled
  2. Run a Temporary file and cache cleaner (ATF)
  3. Run 2 Anti-Malware scanners (Listed Below)
  4. Run an Online Anti-Virus / Anti-Malware Scanner (Listed Below)
  5. Clear out old System Restore points
  6. If continued Malware type activity is present you may be asked to post a TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Log file, do not do so unless requested.

The reason to run multiple scanners is to ensure that no single scanner is missing something.
The time it takes will vary depending on your system and your internet connection speed.
Typically the SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes scanners will take between 10 to 90 minutes.
The ESET online scan should take between 1 to 3 hours.
In most cases, these scans will suffice to clean and disinfect your computer.
Heavily infected systems or slower PCs can take much longer to scan and clean.

For best results print the following instructions and bookmark this Web page
To keep this guide printer-friendly, use your cursor to highlight the contents below.
From your browser select File - Print and in the printer dialog box under "Print range"
click the Selection choice to print out these instructions for removal of malware.

____________________________________________

STEP 1

• Disable Spybot Search & Destroys' TEA TIMER: (if installed, if not go to Step 2)
  1. Run Spybot-S&D in Advanced Mode.
  2. If it is not already set to do this Go to the Mode menu select "Advanced Mode"
  3. On the left hand side, Click on Tools
  4. Then click on the Resident Icon in the List
  5. Uncheck "Resident TeaTimer" and OK any prompts.
  6. Restart your computer.

__________________________________________________

STEP 2

• Follow these instructions carefully.
• Download ATF-Cleaner from Snapfiles.com to remove un-needed temporary files from your computer that may contain malware.
• You can also download it from Majorgeeks.com
• When you run ATF-Cleaner, check the items as shown below for Main.
• For FireFox, be sure to click on the FireFox tab on top and check the items as shown below for FireFox
• NOTE: If you don't have FireFox or Opera installed then they will be grayed out and can be ignored
• Then click on "Empty Selected".

.

__________________________________________________

STEP 3

• Install and run the free version (not the Professional version) of SUPERAntiSpyware from SUPERAntiSpyware.com
  • Accept any prompts to allow SUPERAntiSpyware to install the latest rules and infection definition files.
  • You do not have to send them your e-mail address, just click next.
  • You can leave the automated check for updates on.
  • You can uncheck "Send a diagnostic report to research center" if you don't want to send the information.
  • DO NOT allow SUPERAntiSpyware to protect your Home Page settings.
  • On the Top Left select the Scan your computer button.
  • Make sure there is a CHECK MARK on all Fixed Drives.
  • Click "Perform a Complete Scan". Click "Next" to Repair issues found and reboot the computer when prompted to do so.

__________________________________________________

STEP 4

• Install and run Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware from Malwarebytes - (direct download)
  • Accept all defaults for the installer
  • Allow the program to update the definitions
  • Click on the Quick Scan and click Next.
  • If any items are found allow it to clean them and then Reboot your computer.

__________________________________________________

STEP 5

• Run an online scan with ESET from Free Virus Scan: Use ESET's Online Antivirus Scanner
  • You must use Internet Explorer for this online scan. FireFox, Opera, etc will not work for this scan.
  • If your computer is running Window's Vista, then you must first start Internet Explorer as an Administrator. To do so, right-click on the Internet Explorer icon in the Start Menu and select "Run as administrator" from the popup context menu.
  • Accept the terms and click "Start".
  • Once the scanner is ready, check "Remove found threats" AND "Scan unwanted applications".
  • Click "Start" to begin the scan.
  • When completed restart your computer

__________________________________________________

Make sure your internet firewall security is enabled, and then please return to Free PC Help and tell us how the computer seems to be operating.
At that time, you will receive instructions to assist you in removing malicious programs from your Add/Remove program list if warranted.

If required this is the download link for TrendMicro™ HijackThis™
Unless instructed to by the Technician helping you then do not download this tool.

Once you and the Technician agree that your system appears to be clean then you should delete all your System Restore points and recreate a new one.
Please follow the instructions here
How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows XP
How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows Vista

[klaus5000]

Thanks, i shall do this and post my results. =]

[klaus5000]

Problem already....no browsers on my pc will let me get to the site to download these programs.. Can anyone up to megaupload or rapidshare.

[Goku]

Hello Aaron. Can you please download the program from a secondary computer and then load them on the infected computer from an external media like CD / DVD? Also, have you tried the Safe Mode with Networking option.

To get into the Windows 2000 / XP Safe Mode with Networking, as the computer is booting press and hold your F8 Key which should bring up the Windows Advanced Options Menu as shown below. Use your arrow keys to move to Safe Mode with Networking and press the Enter key.



Hope that helps.

-- Goku

[Seth]

If you don't have luck with Goku's suggestion, then reset IE7 and see if it helps:

1.Open Internet Explorer 7. 2.Click Tools, and then click Internet Options. 3.Click the Advanced tab. 4.Under Reset Internet Explorer Settings, click Reset.

If you still have trouble, please download the latest version of HijackThis from Trend Micro and click on Download Hijack This Installer and save it to your desktop. You may need to get it using another computer.

• Doubleclick HJTInstall.exe to install HijackThis.
• By default it will install to C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis .
• Click on Install.
• It will create a HijackThis icon on the desktop.
• Once installed, it will launch Hijackthis.
• Click on the Do a system scan and save a logfile button. It will scan and the log should open in Notepad. Include this log by copying and pasting in your next reply.

Notes:
Do not use the AnalyseThis button, its findings are dangerous if misinterpreted.
Do not have Hijackthis fix anything yet. Most of what it finds will be harmless, or required for your computer to run like it should.

[klaus5000]

I have my old laptop, i could download everything for Randy L's tutorial and use a mem stick to get it on, i shall try now anyways.

[klaus5000]

ARGH, im losing it here, my laptop wouldnt connect as its too old.. so thats oput of window, and resetting doesnt work. So any chance of an upload off anyone? I tried the safe mode thing and i couldnt connect to internet.

[klaus5000]

excuse the triple post, but i have the tools now, the sites worked after i got hold of malware bytes, so im going through the top thing. Thanks guys!