PC Virus Help

[canyonrider]

So it appears that my laptop is infected with something. I've searched various computer geek forums but a lot of the info is over my head. Any suggestions in plain English on how to fix this? Buy a Mac? Symptoms:

(1) "Just-in-Time Debugger" windows are frequently popping up, at least a few times every half hour or so.

(2) When I click on a search result link, I get redirected to random bullshit spam websites. I can still access websites when I enter the URL manually.

(3) Google Chrome, which I was using exclusively as my browser, refuses to load any pages. Not even the basic homepage that shows the most frequently visited websites. I reinstalled it, and no luck. I've been using Firefox and seeing the issues described above.

My Norton antivirus software also is also periodically telling me that it is "blocking attacks." I ran a scan using Norton and it didn't find anything. I also downloaded and ran the latest version of Malwarebytes, removed three infected items, and restarted the computer. Still have the same problems. Any suggestions are appreciated.

[Viva]

Try performing a system restore. Select a date from before you began experiences these difficulties.

[Yanos]

If that doesn't work I'd Start here: [ame="http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407"]READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide - MajorGeeks Support Forums[/ame]

[jonesy]

Oh my we have a nasty little trojan. Got stay away from the porn. malware is good and superantispyware is another one. might have to start up in safe mode. good luck.

[iscariot]

Spybot Search & Destroy
Super AntiSpyware
MalwareBytes

Try Kaspersky or Panda anivirus scans with their trial versions (to properly run these you will have to disable Norton while you do it).

Download these and run them one at a time in safe mode.

If that doesn't work I'd Start here: READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide - MajorGeeks Support Forums

Good resource, bookmarked.

[DBdude]

under internet options, look to see if your browser is pointed at a proxy server. to help you find this setting I would need to know what version of windows you are on.

if you are pointed at a proxy server, that would account for your strange browser behavior.

[RShea]

First issue is the fact that you are getting redirected most likely means that something like a rogue program, root kit, or something is running on the computer. Try doing an online scan with Kaspersky, and if it does not find anything then see if you can get into the Task manager and look at what is showing running. If the list is not too long then Google could maybe tell you if one of the items in the list is bad or if they are legitimate programs and tasks.

Final issue if the Malwarebytes and Superantivirus in safe mode do not find anything then I'd check your Hosts file to see if it has anything listed out of the normal.

If not then Rootkit software most likely and you may want to get someone to help you with a powerful package called Combofix... Not for the non-tech user in my opinion though that does not know what they are doing. Finding the infection and knowing what it is can be hard. Some are now hiding in the Computer bios again too.

[stuckathuntermtn]

AVG + SpyBot + Firefox with ad blocker.

[Tye 1on]

AVG + SpyBot + Firefox with ad blocker.

Yeah, great advice for him. A fkn month ago.

Listen to RShea, he's nailed my 'puter issues all across the board. [virus, hard drive, etc]

[dumpy]

Listen to RShea, he's nailed my 'puter issues all across the board. [virus, hard drive, etc]

2nded, RShea usually has the best answers to these types of questions, especially his suggestion of using Kapersky's online scan (assuming you can get to it). Scanning from software not installed on your machine is really the way to go when dealing with tricky malware.

R, how do you deal with an infection in your BIOS? I'm assuming flashing the BIOS will get rid of it, but holy hell how do you find it?
How common of a problem is this right now?

[milton]

AVG recently came out with a boot disk so you can clean up your virii without having to rely on windows working somewhat properly.

http://www.avg.com/ie-en/226386

[dumpy]

AVG recently came out with a boot disk so you can clean up your virii without having to rely on windows working somewhat properly.

http://www.avg.com/ie-en/226386

^^good call^^

Kapersky and BitDefender have these as well. I've used the BitDefender one with a fair bit of success in the past.

Again, scanning "externally" is good idea. Most of these (maybe all) of these boot discs run on Linux, if your nasties are windows specific programs, they can't do much to protect themselves if you're not using Windows when scanning.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Yeah, great advice for him. A fkn month ago.

Listen to RShea, he's nailed my 'puter issues all across the board. [virus, hard drive, etc]

I still don't understand we more people and the rest of this board haven't figured it out by now. Fucking people. Tired of all these stupid threads about the virus on your computer that you didn't take the right steps to prevent.

[Tye 1on]

I still don't understand we more people and the rest of this board haven't figured it out by now. Fucking people. Tired of all these stupid threads about the virus on your computer that you didn't take the right steps to prevent.

Good point, if all were as smart as you the threads would be a lot different.

[stuckathuntermtn]

sorry, I must have been drinking.

[RShea]

AVG recently came out with a boot disk so you can clean up your virii without having to rely on windows working somewhat properly.

http://www.avg.com/ie-en/226386

AVG has had a Rescue CD for years (going back to version 6)...maybe they renamed it or quit charging money for it, but nothing new about it.

[stuckathuntermtn]

if you can't install a new AV or any other anti-malware, pull the harddrive out, put it in an enclosure, and plug it in to another computer with up to date protection (preferably AVG, or something that isn't what you're using currently) and scan from that computer.

[RShea]

if you can't install a new AV or any other anti-malware, pull the harddrive out, put it in an enclosure, and plug it in to another computer with up to date protection (preferably AVG, or something that isn't what you're using currently) and scan from that computer.

Kaspersky has 3 different options for scanning- their paid Anti-Virus software that you install on the computer, update and scan (which may not detect if the issue is a rootkit or an infection that is already on the computer hiding.

They also have the online scan that Dumpy mentioned- have to have internet that works to do the scan and be able to open the Internet Explorer browser that will reach the www.kaspersky.com web site successfully (requires Active X to run, so no Firefox, etc.) and finally their 3rd scanning solution is their Rescue Boot CD- free download that you burn to a CD and then boot and scan any and all drives- just as good as pulling the drive and placing in an enclosure for virus scanning. But the enclosure will help with some other scanners like Malwarebytes and a few others that may not load or update on an infected computer.

http://www.askvg.com/download-free-b...re-and-others/

[RShea]

2nded, RShea usually has the best answers to these types of questions, especially his suggestion of using Kapersky's online scan (assuming you can get to it). Scanning from software not installed on your machine is really the way to go when dealing with tricky malware.

R, how do you deal with an infection in your BIOS? I'm assuming flashing the BIOS will get rid of it, but holy hell how do you find it?
How common of a problem is this right now?

I have not seen it too much, but I have heard of others running into it more and more. One forum discusses some of the issues:

http://forums.plentyoffish.com/datingPosts12059392.aspx

But yes some rootkits or scripts from web sites are trying to now infect the bios, since each hard drive then gets infected unless the bios is flashed and disinfected. A forum I am on one tech was finding that the normal whack and reload was showing the same problem, then a new hard drive also got infected.

There are bioses that have a virus protection switch- you have to disable it to be able to change the bios. That helps, also some boards have 2 bioses for recovery of the original- Gigabyte boards for one are popular with dual bios. It still can get infected though, just saves the board if corrupted too bad. Years ago the bios infection was popular- then for the longest time was rarely used as it was easy to defeat by just write protecting the bios. But a few rootkits are trying to hide new places.

[sjohn]

There is a some big problem in your computer. You can download genuine latest anti virus and then you can full scan for computer and then you can check your computer. If then your problem not solve then you can reinstall current operating system.

[digitaldeath]

easy 1 step solution- Install Ubunutu- it is bulletproof and too easy to use-
windows is so 5years ago