WinTask.exe

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Guest

This question was mistakenly posted in Windows XP Customizing, so I am
reposting it here. My question concerns WinTask.exe. It appears to start
when I log on. I didn't think anything about it until Norton Internet
Security recommended
that I block it when it tried to access the internet. I Googled it and found
it is a worm that rewrites my registry. However, there was one site that
said WinTask is a good thing. Please clarify. If it should be removed,
could
you please tell me how? Thanks, Carolyn
 
C Kraft said:
This question was mistakenly posted in Windows XP Customizing, so I am
reposting it here. My question concerns WinTask.exe. It appears to start
when I log on. I didn't think anything about it until Norton Internet
Security recommended
that I block it when it tried to access the internet. I Googled it and
found
it is a worm that rewrites my registry. However, there was one site that
said WinTask is a good thing. Please clarify. If it should be removed,
could
you please tell me how? Thanks, Carolyn
Click to expand...

It may be the Navidad virus or it may be a spyware program. It seems to be a
popular file name for malware programmers. If it's the virus you can
download a tool here
http://www.sarc.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.navidad.fix.html to remove it. If
it's spyware see this site for general instructions on how to fight spyware
: http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

Kerry
 
Hi Kerry. I already checked out the same thing, but it doesn't show Windows
XP as a choice. I also just ran XClean per a suggestion from another post,
and it found tons of stuff that Spybot and Adaware missed, but WinTask is
still there. What next?

Another Question: If a spyware process is running, will a removal program be
able to delete or uninstall it, or does it sneak by?

Thanks, Carolyn
 
C Kraft said:
Hi Kerry. I already checked out the same thing, but it doesn't show
Windows
XP as a choice. I also just ran XClean per a suggestion from another
post,
and it found tons of stuff that Spybot and Adaware missed, but WinTask is
still there. What next?

Another Question: If a spyware process is running, will a removal program
be
able to delete or uninstall it, or does it sneak by?

Thanks, Carolyn

:
Click to expand...

Download and run the Symantec cleaner program.

Kerry


 
"Kerry Brown" wrote:
Kerry, I did a 16 minute scan with the cleaner, but it didn't recognize
WinTask.exe. It didn't find and Trojans. What next?
Carolyn
 
C Kraft said:
:
Kerry, I did a 16 minute scan with the cleaner, but it didn't recognize
WinTask.exe. It didn't find and Trojans. What next?
Carolyn
Click to expand...

Did you run adaware and spybot in safe mode? See here for instructions on
safe mode:

http://www.pchell.com/support/safemode.shtml

You could also try installing Microsoft AntiSpyware. Please note it's a beta
version and still in testing. I haven't had any problems with it but some
people don't like installing beta versions of programs. It's located here:

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

Kerry
 
No, I didn't run them in Safe Mode. I thought I had to be online to run
those. I'll try it and get back with you tomorrow. The weird thing is that
when I Google WinTask.exe, there are tons of references but no cure for XP.
Actually, I think I'm going to reformat and start over. I've already backed
up everything that I want. If I can learn how to deal with the scumware, I
might not have to nuke it. If I screw things up, oh well. Thanks. Carolyn
">
 
C Kraft said:
No, I didn't run them in Safe Mode. I thought I had to be online to run
those. I'll try it and get back with you tomorrow. The weird thing is
that
when I Google WinTask.exe, there are tons of references but no cure for
XP.
Actually, I think I'm going to reformat and start over. I've already
backed
up everything that I want. If I can learn how to deal with the scumware,
I
might not have to nuke it. If I screw things up, oh well. Thanks.
Carolyn
">
Click to expand...

The reason there are no references to XP is because the Navidad virus
predates XP. The Symantec cleaner works fine in XP. If you still have
WinTask.exe then you don't have the Navidad virus. There are several spyware
programs that also use a file named WinTask.exe. Running Spybot and Adaware
in safe mode should take of it. Make sure to get the latest updates before
you boot to safe mode and do the scans.

Kerry



 
C Kraft said:
No, I didn't run them in Safe Mode. I thought I had to be online to run
those. I'll try it and get back with you tomorrow. The weird thing is
that
when I Google WinTask.exe, there are tons of references but no cure for
XP.
Actually, I think I'm going to reformat and start over. I've already
backed
up everything that I want. If I can learn how to deal with the scumware,
I
might not have to nuke it. If I screw things up, oh well. Thanks.
Carolyn
Click to expand...


You could also try a free online virus scan. These two work very well.

http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

Kerry
 
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