I used rKill last night. Apparently I killed the virus that hijacked my Firefox searches in the search bar but not the one that hijacked the searches in the address bar (I did a search in the address bar by mistake). Loaded into safe mode, ran rkill and then malwarebytes again. Finally clean.
DELETE. It's what I always do. Move to chest or for other programs "move to vault" is just a fancy way of quarantining the virus. The question is why would you want to? Just delete the damn thing.
Agree with Demi, this is not Windows, this is due to a lack of decent AV software! I've been bitten before, they're obviously scams but you can't cancel the fucking thing and some of these viruses are pretty nasty. I once had to wipe my entire HD, it was that stubborn, nothing could remove it. I would honestly avoid the free AV packages out there, the only time I ever picked up viruses was when using a free anti-virus software. Buy a solid commercial package, really cheap deals are pretty easy to find.
I got a second virus (on my other account, same computer) that acted differently than the first one. I could get on the internet, but every 15 seconds the "buy my protection or else" ad popped up. Fair enough (I thought) at least I can get on and download programs that eliminate this virus......however....... I could download all the virus eliminators I wanted. But when I tried to run the now saved "execute" files, the ad would pop up, stopping anything I was doing. In other words everything I did would have to be in less than 15 seconds or it would be stopped dead. So yes, I saved all pictures, etc. onto a flashdrive then put WINDOWS back on, and started from scratch. Then I put on Avast + the Norton that automatically comes on the Windows install CD. Both only last 60 days, enough time to find other free ones to download.
The only way to be completely sure that you have gotten rid of any type of virus is to reformat your hd and start over with the computer. Virus's today can lay dormant in different areas of your computer. Additionally, you might want to avoid clicking on links that tell you your computer is infected, or you need to download some mysterious update.
I didn't click on any links that say my computer might be infected. They are self-installing. By the time they pop up + you try to log off the com,puter it's too late. Yes, when I say "put Windows back on" I mean completely wiping it clean and starting over with the CD set that came with the computer from the factory.
And stop going to the seedy part of "Internet City" if you don't have protection or smarts to deal with getting cyber mugged.
Potential problems can come up when deleting files. Especially of they are registry and or system files.
So what's the important part? Been using it now since you posted this. Got my bookmarks where I want them, fixed the new tab thing (I want it to show the homepage not the last 9 places I went), and yeah it does run a lot faster. I'll think I'll keep using it now instead of FireFox.
I've never had a problem. Ever. I delete everything. Hell if the worst happens I can always wipe the drive and start over. The family pictures and iTunes stuff is on the external anyway.
Depending on the type of virus, trojan, or malware that someone gets, deleting files can be catastrophic. Some of them can lurk deep in the registry undetected by many virus scanners as well. Judging by the OP and the sound of how he got into the situation I'd be concerned with what else maybe lurking in his system and where.
Well my problem never really went away. It sorta took a vacation and then came back. No matter what I did I kept getting redirected on searches to stupid annoying sites. If I had telepathic powers I'd kill the owners of those companies and the idiots who wrote the redirect trojan/virus or whatever the hell it is. After much gnashing of the teeth and handicapped internet searches I discovered that the little bastard redirect program isn't in my computer. It's in my ROUTER. I had to disconnect the router, reset it, and basically start over in hooking it back up to my computer and DSL. A major pain in the ass. But it has worked. No redirects since I did the router reset. Now the only problem is my iPhone. Before the reset it could hook up on the wireless but after the reset it can see my wireless account but it refuses to connect even though I enter the right password and right security level (WPA2). I'm considering just wiping it and restoring it totally and see if that works.
One of my pet peeves is when someone calls me for tech support, and when I ask them what they have done so far, they answer "I started deleting a bunch of files". I swear to god, I hate that. If your car quits, do you open the hood and start ripping out cables and hoses? Hell, no! So why would you do it to your computer!?
I don't delete thing randomly. That's stupid. I run the programs and when they ask if I want to quarantine I say no and delete those files.
99% it isn't a needed file. Trojans and viruses are often located in the wrong spot anyway. And on some small chance it was a needed file it can be replaced or in a worst case the computer can be wiped and started over. I've never erased a file that a malware, anti-virus, or registry cleaner said could go and have needed the erased file. You're just overstating the risks of erasing a file.
Ok got the iPhone finally working. Looking through the router settings the router was set to WPA/WPA2. Since the iPhone was WPA2 I simply set the router to WPA2 only. Hooooooorrrrrrayyyyyyyy......finally back on line........
Fuckers got my laptop tonight. May they die slowly of otter cancer of the ass. My vid chat with the girlfriend over MSN went haywire, switched to Facebook chat for a moment -- Chrome just shut down, 'AntiVirus' alerts up the wazoo. On the desktop while I get the laptop into safe mode.
For those of you who have one of those redirect malware things, there is a pretty simple solution I posted in Caboose's thread. This won't get rid of the virus if it's in your router, but I've had 2 infections my dad picked up, and this has solved both. Of course, afterwards, run an anti virus. There are some you may have to start in Safe Mode to do this.
