hacktool.wpe cannot be removed from an unsupported file

Question

Hey all: You've helped before, so i'm asking again. Just ran a Norton Antivirus scan and I've got what looks like three spyware files I can't get rid of. Two say Hacktool.WPE cannot be removed from an unsupported file. The third says Trojan Horse cannot be removed from an unsupported filed. In all three cases, my options are 'review'' and 'ignore.'' Since the risk factor says 'high'' i figure ignoring them is a bad idea. And I'm not sure what review accomplishes, other than bringing them back up the next time I scan. What I want to do obviously is get rid of them. I clicked on them and went to the Symantec site, which merely said to run an Antivirus scan and delete the files. That's no help. Any thoughts? I sure don't like the idea of these things kicking around my system. Do I need to figure out what program they're affiliated with (i suspect one of my son's online games) and delete the whole program? As always, thank you for your help. I really appreciate it.

Computerfreak46 · Answer

what you wanna going to do is:   1.)Update Virus Defintions 2.)Restart, boot in Safe mode(Press F8) Scoll down using Arrow keys. Press 'Enter' 3.)Run Virus scan 4.)Once done w/ Scan remove infections 5.)Restart Normaly

Bugbatter · Answer

It's a little difficult to diagnose a problem without knowing your operating system or exactly what is being considered as a "hacktool". That's like saying, "Are you a good witch or a bad witch?"

Give AVG Anti-Spyware a try (Win 2K/XP only).
Download AVG Anti-Spyware from HERE and save that file to your desktop.
This is a 30 day trial of the program

Once you have downloaded AVG Anti-Spyware, locate the icon on the desktop and double-click it to launch the set up program.
Select "Change state" to inactivate 'Resident Shield' and 'Automatic Updates'. Right click on AVG AS in the system tray and uncheck "Start with Windows".
>
Go to Start > Run and type: services.msc
Press "OK".
In Services, click the "Extended tab" and scroll down the list to find AVG Anti-Spyware guard.
When you find the guard service, double-click on it.
In the Properties Window > General Tab that opens, click the "Stop" button.
From the drop-down menu next to "Startup Type", click on "Manual".
Now click "Apply", then "OK" and close the Services window
Once the setup is complete you will need run AVG AS and update the definition files.
On the main screen select the icon "Update". Then select the "Update now" link.
Next select the "Start Update" button, the update will start and a progress bar will show the updates being installed.
If you are having problems with the updater, manually update with the AVG AS Full database installer from here.
Once the update has completed select the "Scanner" icon at the top of the screen, then select the "Settings" tab.
Once in the Settings screen click on "Recommended actions" and then select "Quarantine".
Under "Reports"
Select "Automatically generate report after every scan"
Un-Select "Only if threats were found"
Close AVG AS. Do Not run a scan just yet.
1. Reboot your computer into SafeMode. You can do this by restarting your computer and continually tapping the F8 key until a menu appears. Use your up arrow key to highlight SafeMode then hit enter.
3. Launch AVG Anti-Spyware by double-clicking the icon on your desktop.
4. Select the "Scanner" icon at the top and then the "Scan" tab then click on "Complete System Scan".
5. AVG AS will now begin the scanning process, be patient this may take a little time.
6. IMPORTANT: Do not open any other windows or programs while AVG AS is scanning, it may interfere with the scanning process. Once the scan is complete do the following:
7. If you have any infections you will prompted, then select "Apply all actions"
8. IMPORTANT! Don't save the report before you have clicked the Apply all actions button. If you do it will make it more difficult for a helper to interpret the report.
9. Next select the "Reports" icon at the top.
10. Select the "Save report as" button in the lower left hand of the screen and save it to a text file on your system (make sure to remember where you saved that file, this is important).
11. Close AVG AS and reboot your system back into Normal Mode. If the problem persists please go to the HijackThis board:
  http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board?board.id=si_hijack
  Post the report from the AVG AS scan along with a HijackThis log
12. At the top of that forum you will find all instructions for posting there.

royayn · Answer

Hey folks: Wanted to thank you again for your help. Tried the the first suggestion, the safemode with Norton, wound  up with exactly the same result. But the second suggestion, AVG, worked like a charm. I hit a little glitch because when I booted up in safemode the icon wasn't on the screen, nor was the program listed when I clicked on programs. So I went back out, rebooted normally, figured out where the program was in the system, then booted back up in safemode, found it manually, and ran it. Once I did that, it cleared everything out. When I ran Norton Antivirus again, the hacktool stuff was gone. Once again the generous people on this forum have come through for me. Thank you again.

royayn · Answer

Hey folks: Wanted to

Bugbatter · Answer

You're welcome. I'm glad we could help :)

Virus & Spyware

hacktool.wpe cannot be removed from an unsupported file

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