The Trojan Virus from Hell

[BlindedByScience]

Good advice that I'm implementing now - mine wouldn't update either. How did you detect the trojan?

Bruce - I knew somethig was wrong when all my Windows security was disabled (Firewall, updates, virus scan monitor) and opening FF would pop up ten or fifteen windows of porno, spam, etc. Nice.

I'd promptly download and run the Microsoft tool I linked. It detected and nuked it in one simple step. It's getting good reviews around the net and my experience is that they did this one right. Easy to recommend for the price, to be sure.

Regards - B.B.S.

 

[junkman_56]

Figured since we're on the subject I'd share something else I found. I posted this on several of the "bithead" forums I follow, and more than one person highly recommended the software from Malwarebytes. I like this comment; "...Using Malwarebytes Anti-Malware suite is like bringing an M4 to a knife fight....".... :laugh: As mrrt says, you have to have a couple of tools in your toolbox when this crap lands on you.

Regards - B.B.S.

Hey BBS, thanks for this site.
I'm always looking for new tools to help me combat spyware.
I have teenage boys (one in high school and the other in college), they download lots of carp and invariably get viruses and spyware on their computers.

 

[vudu9]

Yep, that little peach took about 2 1/2 days to sort out on my end!

 

[Don Guido]

Here's a few free geeky tools I if you ever run into hassle, some of which need no install:

Stinger
StartupList
Avast Virus Removal Tool
Dr. Delete
Process Explorer
Unlocker
Malwarebytes.

There's a plethora of others. Enjoy.

Any more gems like these, BTW Malwarebytes Rocks!

 

[LouieD]

WOW. Thanks to Tom for starting this thread and the invaluable info that all have contributed.

I guess I better get my act together and pick a good imaging app for my new system. I'll start with Acronis since Tim seems to be happy with it.

 

[lurch]

You mean this Trojan Virus? :laugh:

 

[mrrt]

I have teenage boys (one in high school and the other in college), they download lots of carp and invariably get viruses and spyware on their computers.

One of the things I wanted to add here Junkman is how vunerable the kids are to this crap. These spyware and virus/trojan prey on the unknowing. I dont mean unknow in a negative way, maybe I should say that they prey on everyone they can get their claws into. And in today computing environment where just about everyone has a computer, that equates to tons of people. I would be the first one to blame it on the kids..ahahahaha..but alot of times this crap gets on the computer without you/them ever having to ok a download. It is auto-delivered by just visiting the site. And it doesnt have to even be a site thats less than reputable. Its just running everywhere these days.

The best defense is a strong offense. I run all my tools at least once a week and always find crap on my machines. It doesnt seem to matter how much you check them its just always there.

Keep your tool box full & definitely keep your virus definitons up to date. Most of the AV programs out there now contain a component to check for spyware, just remember that spyware is evolving at a much faster rate than the trojans and virus, so its really hard for the AV manufacturers to keep up with it all. It seems that some are better than others, but not one is a total solution. Thats why i always say you can never have too many tools on the toolbox.

I would also like to recommend Malwarebytes. Its another decent program to catch some of those nasties.

Art

 

[TheVitaleMob]

One thing that I have found helpful if you don't mind taking the time is to have your browser prompt you for cookie saves. I do this all the time, and only accept cookies for the site names that I cautiously trust. If you go to oldnavy.com, you can save that cookie, but refuse the cookie for "112oldadspammer.oldnavy.com" You can check a box usually to automatically accept or refuse the ones you have chosen for already. I also have norton security 09 and have it run scans every week.

Certainly not the best I could be doing, but I haven't come across any problems yet.

 

[jlada]

Here's a few free geeky tools I if you ever run into hassle, some of which need no install:

Stinger
StartupList
Avast Virus Removal Tool
Dr. Delete
Process Explorer
Unlocker
Malwarebytes

There's a plethora of others. Enjoy.

Any more gems like these, BTW Malwarebytes Rocks!

There's plenty. I have a myriad of geeky programs that I use. I've been somewhat self-employed doing freelance computer repair since I was about 14. I recommend anything by Merijn Bellekom. Brilliant guy.

http://75.127.110.25/~merijn/forums.php

Advanced SystemCare Free v3 - While not my favorite, I suppose it works for some.
BitDefender's FREE Online Scan is pretty paranoid.
Spyware Terminator is reasonably solid.
Driver Cleaner Pro for getting rid of pesky remnants of ATI/Nvidia/etc software.
WinMTR for diagnosing some connectivity issues.
SG TCP Optimizer for a user friendly/GUI based network tweaker.
Spybot Search & Destroy - hate the system protection plug-in, but for all intents and purposes, a good, robust program.
MVPs Host File for blocking unwanted ads. Does a good job. Don't recommend using this on comps with slow internet or processors. Can create quite a bit of lag when opening up browsers.
CCleaner for getting rid of temp files and various history. Great if you look at a lot of porn and don't want the better half to find out.
CPU-Z for various inquiries about CPU/motherboard/memory.
GPU-Z for video card information.
Memset and CPU-Tweaker are neat "power user" tools for pretty nifty memory/CPU control.
HijackThis which was a Merijn Bellekom program, until he sold it.
Launchy which is really freaking cool.
7zip is a great free compression agent.


Avoid most all "RAM CLEANER - MAKE UR COMPUTER RUN LIKE R2D2 ON SPEED!!!11111~1!!`tab" programs like the plague.

 

[Shooter]

I prefer Avira anti-virus. Freel, fast and uses way less resources than AVG. AVG seems to bog down a computer.

 

[a2vr6]

Firefox has a great plguin called No-script. Been using it since day one and has saved my bacon on a couple lapses of judgement. Might want to check it out.