Barbara said:
--I'm working on a Dell 2400 computer that was loaded with malware,
spyware,
etc. There was no sign of antivirus programs, except I did find a
reference to McAfee.com with a couple of files in it (via Windows
Explorer), but I
didn't see any actual program there. I finally managed to get AdAware
on by burning a CD using a different computer then running the CD on
this Dell
computer. I was able to download Spybot on the Dell.- I was able to
download Grisoft's AVG virus program, but the installation kept
failing, even when done from a CD. (The CD worked on my own computer,
so I know the actual download was good.)
I also tried BitDefender ans TrendMicro's programs, but they failed to
run online scans. Then I tried to start running virus fixes that I
already had on floppies. I started with the Blaster fix; that ran, but
then came up with error message (encountered a problem..., Send/don't
send to MS).
HELP! Any ideas out there?? Should I just go buy Norton and hope the
bootup scan works from the CD?
Barb Zakrzewski-
Barb Zakrzewski
As you have discovered, you cannot usually install an antivirus program
on an infected machine. Instead, start by running TrendMicro
(instructions follow). Follow that up with malware removal (information
to follow). It is crucial that you do all scans in Safe Mode.
TrendMicro's Sysclean is an extensive antivirus tool which has the
advantage of not needing to be installed. It requires two parts - the
scanning engine and the virus pattern files.
1. Create a new folder on your Desktop or the C: drive named something
useful like "Sysclean".
2. Go here and download the two parts of the program to that folder:
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp - Sysclean
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/pattern.asp - virus pattern files
The pattern files will be zipped - extract them with your unzipper (like
WinZip) or if you have XP, you can just open the folder. You need to
put the extracted files in the Sysclean folder you made.
3. Restart your computer in Safe Mode. Get into Safe Mode by repeatedly
tapping the F8 key as the computer is starting up to get to the proper
menu.
4. Go to the Sysclean folder you made and double-click on sysclean.com.
Start the scan. After the scan is finished, look at the log. You may
need to make a note of where any viruses were found if they were not
able to be removed so you can manually delete them.
Now you can install a full-featured av, update its definitions, and scan
in Safe Mode. Once you've removed viruses, remove malware:
1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2003)
antivirus using updated definitions. (You will have done this.)
2) Remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. These
programs are free, so use them both since they complement each other.
There is a new version of CWShredder from Intermute. I would not
install the other Intermute programs, however. Alternately, there are
CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners.
Be sure to update these programs before running, and it is a good idea
to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode. Make sure you are able to see
all hidden files and extensions (View tab in Folder Options).
HijackThis is an excellent tool to discover and disable hijackers, but
it requires expert skill. See below for HijackThis links. A combination
of HijackThis and About:Buster works well in removing the About:Blank
homepage hijacker. Again, this is an expert tool and novices should get
help with it.
3) If you are running Windows ME or XP, you should disable/enable System
Restore because malware will be in the Restore Points. With ME, you
must disable System Restore completely. With XP, you can delete all but
the most recent (presumably clean) System Restore point from the More
Options section of Disk Cleanup (Run>cleanmgr).
4) Make sure you've visited Windows Update and applied all security
patches. Do not install driver updates from Windows Update.
5) Run a firewall.
Links to help with malware:
Software/Methods:
http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-aware
http://www.majorgeeks.com - good download site
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_cwsremoval.html. - SilentRunners
HijackThis:
http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm - HijackThis tutorial by Jim
Eshelman
http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5 - Spyware Warrior HijackThis
forum
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/
General:
http://forum.aumha.org/ - look under "Security" for various forums
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm
Malke
