Getting Rid of Those Pesky Virus(es)/Malware(s)/Spyware(s)

[Ashminigun]

Hence the title, what's your prefer method of removing those unwanted program(s) out of your PC if you're unintentionally infected by them?

Mine preferred method is brute force method, the skill that I acquired and honed during 10 months period as a computer technician. It involves deleting/re-modify/restoring the system registry using Regedit, deleting unwanted files/folders in the removable media (Flash, portable storage etc)/hard drive and observe the background program of any anomalies (known or new) also msconfig startup list. The rest I leave it to anti-virus/anti-spyware program. I'll resort to format when all above is fruitless. So far, 80% that most clients thinks their PC needs to be reformat, I able to troubleshoot the problem without resorting to clean installation.

Share your thought and experience here.

[Cacodemon]

I use the PC Defender from my ISP that costs $5 a month. It's a TDS-skinned version of F-Secure, so it ought to be adequate. I've found nothing on my computer that it percives to be anything bad except for one time. Its firewall is kinda sensitive on Normal, because I got alerted 20 times in the last few weeks about "Fin scan", "Mydoom", "Kuwang2", etc.

I'm considering downloading Avast! and SpyBot, stuff like that to see what PC Defender and Windows Defender have missed.

[Amray The II]

I delete them.

Here's an epic story for you. Once when my computer was having a virus scan it detected one virus. It then asked me whether I wanted to remove the sourse.. and....AND.. I clicked "Yes". How amazing is that?

[Ashminigun]

I delete them.

Still most of the virus/malware injected malicious codes and modified your registry. How sure you PC is now clean from the virus/malware?

[Amray The II]

Still most of the virus/malware injected malicious codes and modified your registry. How sure you PC is now clean from the virus/malware?

I have an Anti-Virus programme running on my PC all the time. What is more is that my PC is protected by my step-fathers super computer in the lounge area. So basically no virus can reach my PC without being detected straight away and then disposed of. Even if it does manage to do something to my PC my step-father can rid of it from his one and mine will be working absolutely fine again afterwards. He is also a computer specialist and has his own self-emplyed company in dealing with PC's and other various components, so he will manage something anyway.

The only thing I have to worry about is if he decides to sectretly look into my documents or temp files and sees all my hentai and other naughty sites I have been on. So I usually make doubly sure to delete them after I put them on my PSP.

[Ashminigun]

Ah ha! That's sounded reassuring.


The only thing I have to worry about is if he decides to sectretly look into my documents or temp files and sees all my hentai and other naughty sites I have been on. So I usually make doubly sure to delete them after I put them on my PSP.

You should be afraid if he possess a hard disk data recovery that able to retrieve any deleted data from your PC.

[Eris]

I use Linux.

[Amray The II]

Ah ha! That's sounded reassuring.

Very. The problems with my PC have always been resolved and has not encountered problems for an extremely long time now. ^_^


You should be afraid if he possess a hard disk data recovery that able to retrieve any deleted data from your PC.

...uh-oh! He is a police officer too so I pray he skips my lolicon section. Luckily it has not been banned here yet though, but he still has the right to do something like that. On a serious note he said that he respects my privacy so I should be safe.

[Finvarra]

I use Windows Live One Care. It gets rid of all my trojin viruses and adware.
: )
It checks my files constantly so it doesn't miss anything.

[Diocletian]

I have an overprotective virus protector.

My other computer sadly didn't have it.

[SSDynamite]

Never have I had a virus :] I have a beautiful new iMac *hugs it*
I don't even know what virus' do/look like :/

[Evockzi]

Idk... I run without Firewall.. No Virus protection nothing... an Open book could read and infect my Comp... Generally I try and find the source of the Virus when I did have some on my old comp, then I will open it up with notepad and give it WHATFOR!! hehehe.... that usually kills it....

But ya... Just watch what you download.. Try only to download things that you know are safe ( for E.g. Torrent that has alot of Positive Comments are safe generally). Alot of Music on Limewire and stuff now are viruses... Since they can't put a Virus in an Mp3 when you click it, it opens a thing to make you download an .exe where there can be Viruses etc... So Obviously anything like that is a trap and don't touch it.

But ya... I download like and Demon and Surf like one too... Never get any sort of Viruses... Oh... REALLY helpful for online virus's Download WOT addon for Firefox ( Web of Trust) It will show you the rating's people give sites, which is a generally pretty good window into what the site will offer you, Bad sites it blocks and makes you agree to enter. Interclue is good to, if you need to snoop around a Suspicious site without actually loading anything but text and small pictures.

[sa5m]

Oh yes, a virus thread right when I need one! =D

My computer recently broke down due to some sucky viruses. I've been using my mom's labtop. -_-

*reads the other entries to try to figure out how to fix her comp*

[Diocletian]

Oh yes, a virus thread right when I need one! =D

My computer recently broke down due to some sucky viruses. I've been using my mom's labtop. -_-

*reads the other entries to try to figure out how to fix her comp*


You need the Best Buy Geek Squad.Those guys fixed by bugged computer.I could have done it myself,but....

[Perpetual Specter]

I have different ways for it. I keep up with those Windows/Automatic updates which can be important. I do have the Windows firewall turned on. I also have the router/modem firewall on. For programs, I have Avira AntiVir(not a typo for Antivirus) for my antivirus. I have CCleaner for removing cookies, old uneeded temp files, etc mostly(it does have a regostry fixe too though). I have Wise Registry Cleaner obviously for fixing the registry.

Yes, I do keep these programs updated as they should be. I change my ip address sometimes too. If a virus made it through, I'd first try to find the infected file(s) and delete/modify it myself. If not, I'd look up how to get rid of it online(on another computer if needed).

[International 4-8818]

I use Pc tool spyware detector and then i only use Firefox 3.0 which is really good against spyware and adware.

If that does not work, i just kill it with fire or use a nail gun to fix it.

[Dark Wolf 09]

I use Norton, all though I have to keep purchasing a subscription, over all they're really trustworthy than MacAffee.

[Haoie]

Prevention is better than cure.

Long story short, don't download crap and you'll be fine.

[OminousCloud]

Norton tells me if it's found a virus, then it proceeds to remove it, if it cannot remove it then I panic and flail for a bit before roaming the interwebs for support and handy removal tools. Failing this, I curse a lot. Mothers are usually mentioned.

I use Ad-Aware to remove spyware and stuff.

[honeysenpai17]

keep renewing the updates if required and I have System Mechanic 7
The problem with Norton Anitivirus are very expensive , so i prefer the FREE uploading from the official website insteading buying or buying online, just to update the software

[MomijiTMO]

Hmm use FF with noscript. I have a personal firewall. Symantec AV helps too. I don't watch or download pr0n which is what a lot of people do and get shafted over.

[Sanosuke23]

I use AVG for both antivirus and spyware duties. As far as I know it's done its job beautifully.

EDIT: Disregard previous edit.

[Ashminigun]

Here's a theoretical scenario for Windows and non-Windows users (Mac, Linux and such). Let say some crazy genius dude who wrote a malicious code that does mild to heavy damage not just the Windows-based OS but also non-Windows platform as well. The virus method of propagation is via injection of codes into any random website (general and search engine). When a victim click on any links on the page, the virus will be downloaded to the PC without the victim knowing it. The symptoms of this virus are:
It disable your security solution and registry editor
It will block your internet access
Unwanted restarts/boot-up
Even you able to use brute force, it able to regenerate the malicious codes

There is no real solution of how to remove it and they expect to come out with a solution the earliest is 2 weeks both for Windows and non-Windows. In the meantime, the fake anti-virus programs are banking in the situation, creating false sense of security to those who believe it's the cure of this digital plague. We're all left vulnerable to the virus.

1) What's your action to prevent the virus from infecting your PC?
2) If your PC is infected with the virus what your course of action?

[Mmmmmmmmmm]

I delete them.

Here's an epic story for you. Once when my computer was having a virus scan it detected one virus. It then asked me whether I wanted to remove the sourse.. and....AND.. I clicked "Yes". How amazing is that?That's how I do mine. It's pretty awesome, until my dad gets a Trojan on it.

Here's a theoretical scenario for Windows and non-Windows users (Mac, Linux and such). Let say some crazy genius dude who wrote a malicious code that does mild to heavy damage not just the Windows-based OS but also non-Windows platform as well. The virus method of propagation is via injection of codes into any random website (general and search engine). When a victim click on any links on the page, the virus will be downloaded to the PC without the victim knowing it. The symptoms of this virus are:

* It disable your security solution and registry editor
* It will block your internet access
* Unwanted restarts/boot-up
* Even you able to use brute force, it able to regenerate the malicious codes


There is no real solution of how to remove it and they expect to come out with a solution the earliest is 2 weeks both for Windows and non-Windows. In the meantime, the fake anti-virus programs are banking in the situation, creating false sense of security to those who believe it's the cure of this digital plague. We're all left vulnerable to the virus.

1) What's your action to prevent the virus from infecting your PC?
2) If your PC is infected with the virus what your course of action?Um, how about call a computer technician to make sure I don't screw it up worse?

[Ashminigun]

It's a new strain of virus. Even the veteran computer technician needs some time to tackle the problem.

[Mmmmmmmmmm]

It's a new strain of virus. Even the veteran computer technician needs some time to tackle the problem.Buy a new computer. Surely if a veteran computer technician can't do it, neither can anyone else.

[MomijiTMO]

Format = 1 hour fix after reinstalling or if you are like me you will have a back up of your hdd to hasten the process. Yes you could dive into it but I so couldn't be bothered and considering how many times I've had to reinstall XP to keep it running smoothly means that I won't have to do it for another 6 months or so.

[teed]

You can't just possibly stop downloading. And Ash. That's almost exactly what happened with my computer. Spyware destroyed my computer. It doesn't want to work anymore and keeps restarting. So the only solution left is formatting it. It's good that I don't have any files on that computer. I always save them in CDs/DVDs or USB harddrive in case something like that happened.


You need the Best Buy Geek Squad.Those guys fixed by bugged computer.I could have done it myself,but....

Dude. I went there to get my computer fixed. They said they'd charge me $200 JUST to format it. O_o At first, they said they'd charge me $200 to check what's wrong with the computer. If it's hardware or software issue. Then this fat guy came and checked that for free. He said it's software issue and he'd charge me $200 to format it. I refused and left the store. Wth.

[Diocletian]

Dude. I went there to get my computer fixed. They said they'd charge me $200 JUST to format it. O_o At first, they said they'd charge me $200 to check what's wrong with the computer. If it's hardware or software issue. Then this fat guy came and checked that for free. He said it's software issue and he'd charge me $200 to format it. I refused and left the store. Wth.

That's cheap for their prices.Mine was a bit more.It's been bug free for about 3 years even with downloading.

[Amray The II]

That's cheap for their prices.Mine was a bit more.It's been bug free for about 3 years even with downloading.

Mine has only ever had one problem with it, ever, that was dealt with straight away. Coutesy to my step father. All I have protecting it is his super-computer and my AVG programme. My PC acts more protected than the Prime Minister.

[teed]

Um... how is formatting a computer for $200 cheap?! You can do that yourself if you had the CD, you know. FOR FREE. Or go to some other stores. They'd do it for you for cheap prices. Or like what Regex told me. It's cheaper to buy a new OS. O_o

And you can stay bug free for years if you were careful. It's not hard.

[Diocletian]

Um... how is formatting a computer for $200 cheap?! You can do that yourself if you had the CD, you know. FOR FREE. Or go to some other stores. They'd do it for you for cheap prices. Or like what Regex told me. It's cheaper to buy a new OS. O_o

And you can stay bug free for years if you were careful. It's not hard.

My cost was $3-400.I couldn't do it because I had some school-work to do and time is money in the words of Diddy.

It's impoissble to stay bug free when your cousin thinks its' funny to download pr0n when no one is looking and isn't aware they have viruses.

[Amray The II]

It's impoissble to stay bug free when your cousin thinks its' funny to download pr0n when no one is looking and isn't aware they have viruses.

Yeah, your ""cousin"" dowloads it. I get what you are saying and my fingers are sealed.

If you have a proper and well functioning anti-virus then virus' can often be countered and dealt with whilst being downloaded or just after the download has finished. That is what mine does when I click on trapped links that say "checking your PC for virus'" when it is in fact downloading a virus onto your computer. That happened to me on two occasions but thanks to AVG and other various protection programmes on my PC the affects of the virus perished straight after the download after having showed some of its affections before hand, which consisted of frequent freezing, flickering arrow actions, etc.

[Diocletian]

Yeah, your ""cousin"" dowloads it. I get what you are saying and my fingers are sealed.

If you have a proper and well functioning anti-virus then virus' can often be countered and dealt with whilst being downloaded or just after the download has finished. That is what mine does when I click on trapped links that say "checking your PC for virus'" when it is in fact downloading a virus onto your computer. That happened to me on two occasions but thanks to AVG and other various protection programmes on my PC the affects of the virus perished straight after the download after having showed some of its affections before hand, which consisted of frequent freezing, flickering arrow actions, etc.

I buy my """Stuff""" thank you very much.

[~*Red*~]

We have McAfee on our PC and that works pretty good at getting of those kinds of things.

[3pleT]

Hence the title, what's your prefer method of removing those unwanted program(s) out of your PC if you're unintentionally infected by them?
getting rid of windows

[Aizmov]

my solution is really simple

http://www.freemacunix.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/unix.png

for those who don't get it, I switch to GNU/Linux, Mac OS X and OpenSolaris ;)

[Souhi]

$200+ dollars for a formatting? Doesn't..sound right..Then again I've only owned 1 decent computer my entire life. So don't take anything I say seriously you computer pros xD

I've had to reformat to get rid of a particularly stubborn piece of malware..twice on this computer now, only because I don't have more than average knowledge on the subject and don't want to screw it up worse. I usually just boot up in safe mode (hoping to god I don't get that blue screen again) and scan with everything at my disposal.

If that fails I'll do some reading into the symptoms and possible quick fixes, which haven't helped me often, but a few of my friends' smaller spyware problems. If not then I have most of my programs and files backed up, so a reformat isn't a huge annoyance. Last crash taught me a serious lesson in that after losing a sizable amount of information.

If we're talking prevention, I'm running Firefox with Noscript, a decent site advisor, Adblock and all that somewhat useful stuff. It's far from iron clad but a heck of a step above the way my friends and family choose to surf. I use Norton only because the suite's free trial with my computer is still going, and it's pretty good. Bit bloated though.

[Mmmmmmmmmm]

We have McAfee on our PC and that works pretty good at getting of those kinds of things.Dude. McAfee is one of those free anti-virus software that doesn't work. I virus scan my computer, "delete" the viruses. Scan it again. The same viruses again.

[Saint Seiya]

i use 2 anti virus and 2 anti spayware programs, i got a clean pc :]

[Aizmov]

i use 2 anti virus and 2 anti spayware programs, i got a clean pc :]

I can't imagine them running at the same time, that must slow down your machine big time

[Saint Seiya]

I can't imagine them running at the same time, that must slow down your machine big time

Not at all, they only slow it down when i actually scan the computer. And i only do that when im not using it lol

[Aizmov]

Not at all, they only slow it down when i actually scan the computer. And i only do that when im not using it lol

Or you could save yourself the headache by using a better OS :) Unless you really need some Windows-specific app, you'll be better off with something better. :)

I keep Windows sandboxed in a VM when I need it, most of the times Wine would do just fine.

[Amray The II]

Why not just get AVG? When it is simply just running it hardly affects the speed of your PC at all. Unless ofcourse it is scanning, but that is only natural. I always cancel the scanning anyway as I would most likely know if I had recieved a virus from somewhere. Yet I have not had one in 8-9 months. That is a record. Being a Hentai fan I should only expect the worst.

[Aizmov]

Why not just get AVG? When it is simply just running it hardly affects the speed of your PC at all. Unless ofcourse it is scanning, but that is only natural. I always cancel the scanning anyway as I would most likely know if I had recieved a virus from somewhere. Yet I have not had one in 8-9 months. That is a record. Being a Hentai fan I should only expect the worst.


you are delusional if you think antivirus software really works :) not to forget all other sort of threats and attacks :)

[Amray The II]

you are delusional if you think antivirus software really works :) not to forget all other sort of threats and attacks :)

Aaah, now now Aizmov. Me and my PC are very well protected.
Look, we even have one of these;

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/7484/021lj8.jpg

Seriously though, I can garuntee to you I shall remian virus free more further into the future. Read my previous posts for references. It is no problem. And no, I do not count on anti-virus' for everything. That is like trusting a pigeon with your life.

[Dxon]

I'm lazy but like to use brute force. So I use the virus scanner and then a registry restorer. Simple and always works with the simple viruses. If that didn't work I'll use Hitman Pro. And if that didn't work. I'll do it myself in safe mode. If that didn't work I ask my dad. (He'll probably do the same thing) And if that didn't work I'll ask a pro. And then if that didn't work I'll reformat my pc.

So far I came to my dad. But that's when I wasn't experienced.
List was like anti virus and then my dad.

[rikumi]

I don't have any money so I don't usually register to any of the major anti-virus softwares. T_T But my computer is always clean - from spywares, since that's the only thing I've had in my computer. O_O
If using Windows, I usually hand the computer administrator to the other account and delete the current one. =^w^= It's pretty much effective. Afterall, spyware doesn't spread around much - it just fakes the anti-virus softwares.

[Aizmov]

If using Windows, I usually hand the computer administrator to the other account and delete the current one. =^w^= It's pretty much effective. Afterall, spyware doesn't spread around much - it just fakes the anti-virus softwares.

Very few people realize this, but having a non-administrator account helps a lot. The account you use day in and day out should be very limited in privileges, and only when you need to elevate them you do and for a specific task. A lot of viruses, malware, etc.. will be restricted because they wont have administrator privileges.
Then again, this works very well on Unix/Unix-like OSes, I don't know if Windows can be easily breached and administrator privileges can be easily gained by an attacker.

[Beezer]

On my desktop I have a corporate version of Norton that doesn't take up much system memory so I love using that. Besides that I use adaware and spybot to clean up the rest of the crap. On my laptop I'm trying out Avira antivirus right now and its not too bad.
If anyone doesn't use Ccleaner yet give it a try its one of the best easiest programs I've come across for cleaning up your computer. Besides cleaning up cookies, temp files, memory dumps etc, it also has a registry scanner and an option to fix your registry. Very nifty.

As for fixing a computer that is really screwed up, if I can't get it to boot through safe mode and nothing else is working, as a last resort I remove the hard drive from the infected computer. I ended up getting a USB to IDE adapter which works great for temporarily hooking up an extra Hard drive. Hook the infected drive up to my computer and run scans from there.