No!! Not a virus! Not now!!

[JoitheArtist]

My computer just got attacked by a virus! My computer won't let me open most of my programs, saying they're infected. i can't afford to buy a virus program until Friday at the earliest, and the free AVG files I downloaded also come up as infected.

My novel files won't open, but I think they're safe, as I emailed the novel to myself before I restarted the computer (trying to use a virus cleaner that did zilch). Trying to open the file via Google docs, but no luck so far--there's a LOT of text, and I don't know if Google Docs can handle it.

so...anybody got any ideas? (and spare the lecture about how I should have had a virus blocker on there before now, and not just to trust the firewall, I *know* that and I am an idiot)

[Der Cute]

have you gone to an online virus scanner?
housecall.trendmicro.com

and run avg in safemode. reboot, f8, load up, run avg.

Also put antimalwarebytes on your pc and load that up, run in safe mode.

Cutenoob

[JoitheArtist]

AVG wouldn't run, but my AIM was still working so I got in touch with a friend of mine who works with computers. She found a thing that got rid of it, and I'm installing AVG now.

Oh, and the novel ffile is safe!

[Broomjockey]

Moved to tech help, just in case anyone else has something to add.

[draggar]

have you gone to an online virus scanner?
housecall.trendmicro.com

and run avg in safemode. reboot, f8, load up, run avg.

Also put antimalwarebytes on your pc and load that up, run in safe mode.

Cutenoob

One suggestion: Save mode WITHOUT networking.

Or if you prefer, the housecall link in safe move with networking.

[ditchdj]

www.bleepingcomputer.com

Register and follow the directions on posting a log of your computer files. In a couple weeks someone will get back with you and give you instructions on how to get rid of it for free.


They run off of voluntary donations to fix people's computers online. They're really good.

[JoitheArtist]

www.bleepingcomputer.com

Register and follow the directions on posting a log of your computer files. In a couple weeks someone will get back with you and give you instructions on how to get rid of it for free.


They run off of voluntary donations to fix people's computers online. They're really good.

Actually, they already had a post about how to fix this particular virus. I just followed the directions, and downloaded their program, and it worked! They were really great!

[JoitheArtist]

ARGH! the virus is back! I did a full scan with AVG, and it's back. Trying Malware Bytes fullscan to get rid of it. This thing is seriously nasty.

I know very little about networks, but I am on an unsecured one while I'm housesitting. Could the virus be coming from there?

[Broomjockey]

I know very little about networks, but I am on an unsecured one while I'm housesitting. Could the virus be coming from there?

Are there other computers on the network, which are turned on? If there's nothing else active on the network, then it's unlikely. However, until you get the system cleaned, and a solid anti-virus on there, you shouldn't have your computer on any network, secured or otherwise. If there's something else on the network infected, then you're at risk of getting nozzed up again. If you're not 100% clean, then you're risking infecting other computers.

[tropicsgoddess]

have you gone to an online virus scanner?
housecall.trendmicro.com

and run avg in safemode. reboot, f8, load up, run avg.

Also put antimalwarebytes on your pc and load that up, run in safe mode.

Cutenoob

Malwarebytes is good, SmitFraudFix is good to get out a few extra little buggers in the registry as well. That also runs in safe mode. As an extra step if possible, download Super AntiSpyware in normal mode (it doesn't run in safe mode).

[Mr. Rager!]

Doesn't your ISP provide you with a free security suite? I know a lot of them do.

Running in safe mode to try and remove the virus may work. An online virus scan in safe mode with networking can at least identify the virus, I don't know if it can actually remove it.

It's time for bed. If I think of anything more tomorrow, I will let you know.

[Broomjockey]

Doesn't your ISP provide you with a free security suite? I know a lot of them do.

Many do, but not all ISP suites are created equal. The tried and tested free tools we're recommending are usually better than downloading whatever random tools the ISP got a deal on, IF you don't know what they're based on.

[EricKei]

Also, most of the free AV programs that come with ISP service are the big guys, like McAffee and Norton/Symantec -- the nastier viruses tend to include code specifically designed to interfere with or bypass the better-known scanners entirely. While having multiple AV programs running 24/7 is generally unwise (they can mess with one another), it's a good idea to have more than one available for manual scans.

[Geek King]

ARGH! the virus is back! I did a full scan with AVG, and it's back. Trying Malware Bytes fullscan to get rid of it. This thing is seriously nasty.

Something else to try:

After running Malwarebytes or other cleaner, physically unplug the computer from the network before rebooting. Some viruses I've run accross can hide enough of themselves to re-download from the net before cleaners finish their work on reboot. Taking the computer off the network stops it from doing so. Scan a second time to make sure it was all cleared out, then plug the computer back up.