I NEED VIRUS EXTRACTION HELP ON THE DOUBLE!!

Question

Somehow I picked up a trojan horse, either through E-mail or through AOL instant messenger. Now my nice new (reliable) system is back down in the dumps. Lots of my settings have been changed to extremes, strange problems are occuring like nuts and, horror of horrors, my computer is now sending it out to other people. McAfee security center has detected TWO of them roaming around in my favorites (not during a virus scan, just during normal operation), but there is still at least one on the loose. McAfee can't seem to detect it, though. Besides a system Restore, what other options are available? I have NEVER had THIS MUCH trouble with a virus before. Whose bright idea was it to create them, anyway?   PLEASE do NOT say SYSTEM RESTORE!! I'VE HAD MY FILL OF THOSE! Also, might this have anything to do with the fact that I never activated McAfee Privacy Service and Spam Killer? Message Edited by NAB622 on 04-27-2005 10:34 PM

ejn63 · Answer

Once you have identified the virus, update your antivirus software and visit McAfee.com for assistance manually removing what you've got.

The other alternative, of course, is to wipe the system and rebuild it as new. If you choose that, MAKE SURE you do all Windows patches, and that you enable and KEEP RUNNING AND CURRENT your antivirus software and firewall, or you WILL be hit again.

NAB622 · Answer

This virus has not been identified. It is most likely either a trojan horse or a worm. I know how it got in, too - when I activated my McAfee firewall, it didn't turn on all firewall funtions. Same with Virusscan. The virus was able to just WALK right into my system!

Frazell · Answer

Personally, i would format and reinstall the OS from scratch...   As previously mentioned patch your OS as recent as possible, same for your virus scanner...   Since you mentioned the virus is unidentified i would send the virus also to the virus scanner maker (in your case McAfee) and have them examine it...   Good Luck...

NAB622 · Answer

Frazell said: 'Personally, i would format and reinstall the OS from scratch...' PLEASE DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT!!!! I HAVE LOST ENOUGH DATA DUE TO OS REINSTALLATIONS ALREADY!!

NAB622 · Answer

I know what your reasons are, and that's ok. I understand that. I just want a way to get rid of the virus that will NOT involve any major data loss, that's all.

Frazell · Answer

@NAB622 wrote: Frazell said: 'Personally, i would format and reinstall the OS from scratch...' PLEASE DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT!!!! I HAVE LOST ENOUGH DATA DUE TO OS REINSTALLATIONS ALREADY!! It's not my intention to scare you... The reason that would be my chosen method is simply because some viruses (the majority) go very deep into your system and the only way to be 100% sure its all gone is to format. You can choose any method you like such as cleaning with you virus scan and leaving it at that, i was just offering my personal preference as advice. Sorry if that was out of line...

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