Laptop - Virus removal

phog

I picked up a nasty virus and despite trying CCleaner, Malwaybytes and Spyware blaster I cant shift it.

I think it's time to call on someone who knows their job.

Anyone know from first hand experience a reliable repair tech in or near the city, perferably someone who doesnt charge an arm and leg for their services.

TestTransmission

Id just reinstall the OS if I was you

bazz26

Try Spybot Search and Destroy.

Also if you are running on Windows XP, Vista or 7 then by default there should be the option to do a Windows restore of the operating system back to a time before the virus was installed.

xsiborg

PM sent...

Butterfly25

I agree with bazz26 above. I've used the restore feature on my windows computers before...very handy!

If you have windows 7 go to control panel, system and security, back up and restore, restore files from backup then follow the instuctions.

allthedoyles

Did you try Microsoft Security Essentials ? - Its a free AVG - and a good one

tsoparno

Butterfly25 wrote: »

I agree with bazz26 above. I've used the restore feature on my windows computers before...very handy!

If you have windows 7 go to control panel, system and security, back up and restore, restore files from backup then follow the instuctions.

i'm not much of a techy but will i lose any files if i back up and restore working on vista

bryaner

tsoparno wrote: »

i'm not much of a techy but will i lose any files if i back up and restore working on vista

Nope horse on.

Butterfly25

tsoparno wrote: »

i'm not much of a techy but will i lose any files if i back up and restore working on vista

I'm no expert either but from what I've used of it, if you're restoring you will only lose the files/programs that have you saved/installed from the time of your last back up to now.

If you are doing a new back up then you wont lose anything.

bryaner

And when you restore uninstall whatever AV you have and install MSE, all sorted.

bullets

Another piece of software handy to have is a root kit killer.
If you get a trojan horse that your virus protection fails to fix try
starting in safe mode and running this app:
http://support.kaspersky.com/downloads/utils/tdsskiller.zip

~B

phog

Thanks for all your replies.

BostonB

phog wrote: »

I picked up a nasty virus and despite trying CCleaner, Malwaybytes and Spyware blaster I cant shift it....

Aren't they primarily anti malware/spyware and not antivirus apps? Did you try any antivirus apps. Often one will find one thing and the next app something different.

What virus is it?

phog

BostonB wrote: »

Aren't they primarily anti malware/spyware and not antivirus apps? Did you try any antivirus apps. Often one will find one thing and the next app something different.

What virus is it?

It's called XP internet security 2011 :mad:

Comhrá

Havbe a read of this:

It might help.

http://www.spyware-experts.com/xp-internet-security-2011-removal/?kw=xpintsec11&gclid=CM2Dt4SfiakCFQNP4QoddmU1kA

Comhrá

...and another possible solution:

https://community.mcafee.com/thread/29889

Berty

Worst case Scenario. I will supply you with a copy of Symantec Antivirus - Corporate Edition ( No License Key needed so not piracy mods ).

It will not work on Windows 7 though. Anything older and you're in business.

Are you still in possession of your reinstallation CD for your OS?

phog

Berty wrote: »

Worst case Scenario. I will supply you with a copy of Symantec Antivirus - Corporate Edition ( No License Key needed so not piracy mods ).

It will not work on Windows 7 though. Anything older and you're in business.

Are you still in possession of your reinstallation CD for your OS?

Thanks - I think I'll get it sorted later today, if not I may be in touch.

I know I have the CD but where

MarkR

I've removed this virus before, it shouldn't be too hard. You need to have malwarebytes downloaded using another computer, and put on a flash drive.

Reboot infected computer into safe mode using F8.

Actually, here is a very good article with clear instructions on how to remove it step by step.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-win-7-internet-security-2011

If you're still stuck after that, let me know.

DoesNotCompute

bazz26 wrote: »

Also if you are running on Windows XP, Vista or 7 then by default there should be the option to do a Windows restore of the operating system back to a time before the virus was installed.

...but the virus could have infected the windows restore backups. There's no way of trusting the laptop once it's been infected.

Safest option is to reformat the drive, cryptographically wipe the drive using DBAN, run spinrite on it, then reinstall the OS.

Hope you've got your files backed up

jonski

DoesNotCompute wrote: »

...but the virus could have infected the windows restore backups. There's no way of trusting the laptop once it's been infected.

Safest option is to reformat the drive, cryptographically wipe the drive using DBAN, run spinrite on it, then reinstall the OS.

Hope you've got your files backed up

I think thats overkill tbh , I have fixed a good few pc's with this type of virus and have not needed to resort to a format , reinstall or restore . Once it's well cleaned after you get it stopped and out you won't have any problems .

FloatingVoter

tippman1 wrote: »

Havbe a read of this:

It might help.

http://www.spyware-experts.com/xp-internet-security-2011-removal/?kw=xpintsec11&gclid=CM2Dt4SfiakCFQNP4QoddmU1kA

That particular website and vendor has a very low trust rating from WOT. I'd be wary of downloading anything from the site.
Spyware Doctor is fine in itself. Google for it separately.

BostonB

DoesNotCompute wrote: »

...but the virus could have infected the windows restore backups. There's no way of trusting the laptop once it's been infected.

Safest option is to reformat the drive, cryptographically wipe the drive using DBAN, run spinrite on it, then reinstall the OS.

Hope you've got your files backed up

Could have infected all backups. Nuking the machine seems a bit overkill IMO.

You can nearly always wipe a virus. You can delete the restore backups and recreate new system restore points.

Clareman

Berty wrote: »

Worst case Scenario. I will supply you with a copy of Symantec Antivirus - Corporate Edition ( No License Key needed so not piracy mods ).

Not pinging or warning you, but just because something doesn't need a license key doesn't mean it doesn't need a license. Symantec Corp Edition usually links into a central server for updates, that server will need to be licensed for whatever no on client connect to it, sometimes the install may have a tracker in it to see how many times it has been used, so whereas it doesn't cost to install, it will cost someone.

Personally I would recommend Avast, picks up most nasties and is free

Stuxnet

op, did you run malwarebytes with windoze in safe mode, this is the proper way to remove the virus, safe mode can be accessed by restarting the pc and pressing F8 (usually ,depends on your model)

if your still stuck, i can look at it for you !

I dont have formal credentials ! but I am a techie nerd, computer science and software developer student in UL,
I eat virus's for breakfast

no charge, pm me if you want

a system reinstall is complete overkill done by n00bies,
sledge hammer to a nut ! try remove the virus in windoze safe mode, !!

bazz26

DoesNotCompute wrote: »

...but the virus could have infected the windows restore backups. There's no way of trusting the laptop once it's been infected.

Safest option is to reformat the drive, cryptographically wipe the drive using DBAN, run spinrite on it, then reinstall the OS.

Hope you've got your files backed up

Reinstalling the OS to remove a malware or virus is crazy without even trying other steps mentioned already. Reinstalling the OS should be a last resort not the first step.

phog

Thanks for all your help and, I'm sorted a special thanks to xsiborg.

um7y1h83ge06nx

iPwnage wrote: »

a system reinstall is complete overkill done by n00bies,
sledge hammer to a nut ! try remove the virus in windoze safe mode, !!

So, so true!

Glad to see you got sorted OP.

Villa05

phog wrote: »

Thanks for all your help and, I'm sorted a special thanks to xsiborg.

Hi Phog, Which solution worked?

phog

Villa05 wrote: »

Hi Phog, Which solution worked?

xsiborg had to do a bit of work on it.

From a laymans pov, I think he ot Malwarebytes to remove the virus, it didn't work for me in safe mode but I don't think I was downloading the most up to date version as my executable files were corrupt.

Anyway it's tiptops now and MSE is now being used as my AV.

Villa05

xsiborg wrote: »

PM sent...

Hi xsiborg, My brother and neighbour have the same issue on their laptops (XP internet security 2011), I have tried some of the solutions suggested on this thread but no joy. Could you help out please,

Thanks