Computer virus.....help

[Vossy1]

We have a trojan virus on our pc....a very popular one by all accounts :evil:
I have AVG v 8.5 and it failed to notice 'WinPC Antivirus' infecting our pc.
Anyhow, it's a major ball ache for me, with it's pop ups, and I'd like to know if any of you guys know how to get rid of it?
I've spent about 4 hours trawling the various references to it on yahoo and I've sent about 10 e-mails to avg...who have been not so helpful so far...despite taking my money a year ago :evil:
My avg is updated daily as are scans run...but the bugger still got past!
I'm seriously thinking about backing up and re-installing windows, but there must be an easier way.
Help :cry:

 

[ano]

Hopefully this guy's blog will help. Best of luck.

 

[commsbiff]

If I find anything on my system I tend to restart in 'safe mode' and then run my antivirus program (also avg 8.5). Hopefully it would pick it up here - if it's been updated recently. I can normally quarantine or delete an infection from this point. Starting in 'safe mode' prevents all of the normal programs automatically loading at startup - and hopefully this would apply to the trojan too. I'm no expert, but this has worked for me in the past with problems I've had.

 

[ano]

If I find anything on my system I tend to restart in 'safe mode' and then run my antivirus program (also avg 8.5). Hopefully it would pick it up here - if it's been updated recently. I can normally quarantine or delete an infection from this point. Starting in 'safe mode' prevents all of the normal programs automatically loading at startup - and hopefully this would apply to the trojan too. I'm no expert, but this has worked for me in the past with problems I've had.

Yes, I've read that some of these things can block the antivirus software from working properly and that starting in safe mode prevents them loading and so allows a proper system scan.

 

[falafael]

i have been using kaspersky internet security for 3 years now, and in the past have used various other anti-virus, to be honest, i think that AVG is *****, along with norton, mcfee, pop to their website vossy, uninstall your avg, and install kasperskys fully working 1 month trial of internet security..its the dogs mate, that should sort it out!

 

[damfoose]

I ditched AVG having used it for a good 10 years or so about 6 months ago in favour of avast, I had found AVG was becoming bloated and not catching thingsthat I was throwing at it that should have been stoped.
So after a bit of a whirl around and testing various Av proggies avast came up trumps it is also a free proggy that does a darn good job..... Oh I should know as well im a techie just passed another M$ exam 70-293 ...... next up 70-294.

 

[trunky]

My advice, as given in this topic viewtopic.php?f=10&t=2546 usually works.

 

[Vossy1]

Thanks very much for all the replies guys :thumb:
I went into PC world earlier and had a chat with one of the techy guys. Apparently the problem with the virus (WinPC Antivirus) is that there are 3 programmes which relaunch/re-instate each other as you delete them I tried manually deleting them, but half the registry references weren’t in the registry I also scanned with AVG in 'safe mode' but it didn't detect the virus :cry:

So I asked about AVG and was told that it has really fallen behind other programmes. I asked about Kaspersky and was told that it was a very good programme, and it took up far less resources than Norton.
I was slighty confused though as the chap recommended Spyware doctor in addition to Kaspersky, saying it scanned far faster and that it was better at spotting spyware, malicious programmes etc.....I've also heard a lot of good feedback about SD.

However, I had looked at Kaspersky on the net at pc world, after falafael recommed it, and it just so happens it's on offer at the moment £19.99 (half price) ...so I bought it.
Result....no more virus :party: :party: :party:
There is a bug on the kaspersky itself, but I'll call them and sort that tomorrow

Many thanks falafael, you've made me a very happy man :thumb: : I owe you a pint :drink:

 

[falafael]

:thumb: Nice one vossy!, Glad you got it sorted, you won't go wrong with kaspersky, i got 2 trojans this morning, downloaded a prog, and it came in back door, but within 3 minutes, kaspersky had deleted it!! Tops...Look forward to that pint one day! :

 

[Vossy1]

Forgot to say that after I bought it, a few days later I logged onto Barlcalys on-line banking and guess what......
They are offering FREE Kaspersky for both PC and phone :x :x :x :x :x :lol:

 

[Smod]

I ditched AVG having used it for a good 10 years or so about 6 months ago in favour of avast, I had found AVG was becoming bloated and not catching thingsthat I was throwing at it that should have been stoped.
So after a bit of a whirl around and testing various Av proggies avast came up trumps it is also a free proggy that does a darn good job..... Oh I should know as well im a techie just passed another M$ exam 70-293 ...... next up 70-294.

I also use Avast on Windows machines and it's done me fine.

My best solution was to run a dual booting machine and use Linux Mint http://www.linuxmint.com/index.php when I don't need to use Windows, which is most of the time for all the things required except when only a windows program is needed. Linux is inherently more secure as less viruses are written for it. Use the XFCE version for older machines (it uses less resources) and the Gnome or KDE versions for more modern ones. Can't recommend it more. Everything works straight out of the box, Flash, Youtube, DVD's etc

Give it a go on a "Live CD" which runs in RAM and won't touch your hard drive. Alternatively you can install it on a USB pendrive and boot from there. http://www.pendrivelinux.com/ You only need a 512Mb - 1GB to get a small Linux running.

:thumb: :thumb:

 

[Smod]

Just thought :hmm: :hmm:

Are you using the machine using the administrator logon or privileges ??

Maybe you should setup a logon with reduced privileges as this is one of the ways viruses can still get about more easily. It's a bit of a pain installing programs as you have to type in the admin password or logon to admin account but it does help. :thumb: :thumb: