computer idiot with virus on com, need help desperately!

Question

hi there, i've accidentally downloaded a virus onto my com and i had no idea wat virus it is or how to get rid of it. i used mcafee to do a scan but it seems to always get stuck at a file which i assume to be the source of the virus. however, the mcafee program doesn't seem capable to deal with the virus and it's my first time encountering a virus so i'm at a total loss at what to do. i did a system restore but i'm not quite sure how that helps but since it kinda got my com running on normal mode i assumed it was good. can someone please help me? btw, my com's an xps m1210 running on vista. i hope that helps. =)

S.C · Answer

First off, from personal experience, let me tell you that McAfee is one piece of junk. It caused me so many problems on my computer, so I recommend you remove it immediately. Second off, with McAfee gone, I'll recommend you download Avira AntiVir. It's a free anti virus and has worked wonders on my computer. Let that run and see if it finds the virus you assume is on your computer. If it finds nothing, there probably isn't anything on it. Third off, if you REALLY don't want to download McAfee, and since you already did a system restore and everything seems back to normal, there probably is no cause for alarm. Good luck!

ky331 · Answer

Since you're unable to identify the virus in any detail (and since you're wondering if it might still be present after performing the restore), I suggest you run a diagnostic tool (HiJackThis) and post the results for analysis. if you choose to do so, please be patient until someone gets back to you --- do NOT make any more system changes, nor attempt further scanning nor "fixes" until expressly advised to do so:

Download the latest version of Trend Micro's HiJackThis (HJT) [version 2.0.2] installer from

http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/threat_analytics/HJTInstall.exe

.

Save it to your Desktop.

.

Double-click on the HJTInstall.exe file you just downloaded, and click on the Install button, to install HJT in the suggested/default folder,

C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis

.

( As part of the installation, a shortcut to the HJT program will be placed on your Desktop, and another shortcut in your START menu [for easy-access to using HJT in the future ---

you only need to run the program again, but not the installer ] ).

.

After installation, HJT will automatically open and start running.

[If this is your first time running HJT, please read and accept the EULA (End-User License Agreement)]

.

Click on Do a System Scan and Save a LogFile

This will automatically open NotePad

Copy the entire file from NotePad: EDIT/SelectAll, EDIT/Copy

Then go to the forum dedicated for HiJack This logs (**NOT** back here), and PASTE the results there:

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board?board.id=si_hijack

Be sure to include a detailed description of any problems/errors/warnings you are encountering.
Also, please indicate the steps you've already taken, if any, in terms of running anti-malware scanners or malware removal tools.

When you submit your HJT log, please make sure the box under your text which shows "Automatically convert carriage returns to HTML line breaks" is checked, or your log may not format correctly... it should consist of separate/readable lines, not one large "jumble".

Hopefully, one of the HJT experts will get to it as quickly as possible.

WARNING: HiJack This is a VERY POWERFUL tool. While it's completely safe for you to download, generate, and post your log (as described above), you should *NOT* attempt to do anything else (in particular, do NOT use it to delete/fix any entries) until you are advised to do so by a forum expert!! Improper use of this tool can severely damage your system.

Virus & Spyware

computer idiot with virus on com, need help desperately!

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