So i've been having problems with my laptop with a worm or something buried in the darkest recesses and no anti-virus software or anything can locate it. it flashes fake security alerts that my pc is not protected and i have to go in to my security suite and adjust this or that. When i do that and try to hit the button nothing happens it doesn't change anything.

Anyway i've been able to work with it and keep it under control without being able to totally cure it.

Then today as i turn on i get one of those update alerts from Adobe saying there is an update and it's recommended i install it. So i did and man everything went berserk i kept getting this alert coming up on the screen with some tech mumbo jumbo that i didn't understand.

My question is this: Is there some way that there can be something that attaches itself to a legitimate download like an Adobe update that then screws your system? How do you get around it?

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

1. Yes

2. Personally, I'd back up my important files (hopefully not infected) and reinstall Windows.

If you choose to battle the monster, here are some free scans you might not have tried:

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

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Thanks for the info strings. What do you do if you get a message from like Adobe that there is an update? do you install it bearing in mind this havoc only seems to start with these updates. before that it was fairly controllable.

What i did was i backed my PC up to the way it was a few days ago and it's working ok. It's a dilemma about that Adobe update now i don't know if that was a genuine message or a malware or spyware thing

I downloaded Spybot search & Destroy a free software thing and i'll run it. The annoying thing is i have McAfee security and it doesn't seem to be doing a damn thing to justify the price i pay for it if i have to download other stuff to fix things.

Total pain in the backside.

_________________
Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

Hi

I had a similar situation with the security spyware where a fake scan is carried out and the link takes you to their site. It disables security and virus software.

I used spyware doctor which was really good software but in order to get the software running properly I ran it in safemode. From memory you keep pressing f5 on start up or something (google it).

I would try that with your current software and maybe check out spyware doctor. I got the spyware from a normal holiday site. The virus people tag them to regular sites to infect your pc.

I hope this helps.

Tom

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Fender MIM 1995 Standard Stratocaster
Fender USA 2012 Deluxe Telecaster

Cheers Tom, i appreciate it. it's just sickening how devious these people and organisations are. I mean i run McAfee security and it wasn't that cheap and yet still you can get these problems

I knew there was a problem because my machine was running so slowly and then that thing today with the updates just killed it

Hard to believe there are people out there who make a living doing these deviant things

_________________
Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

No worries at all try safe mode though because it doesn't start all of the pc and sometimes it can find them and destroy them. It makes me so angry that there are scumbags around that do this. I feel for you. The good thing about spyware doctor is that you can send them some files and they try to figure out what to do to fix it.

I've googled it and its repeatedly pressing f8 on startup on windows 7.

I hope you sort it and are surfing again soon.

The trouble virus software has is that the spyware and worms are being developed all the time and its hard to keep up. Not good when you pay 50 quid a year for subscription.

These hackers really tick me off

Tom

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Fender MIM 1995 Standard Stratocaster
Fender USA 2012 Deluxe Telecaster

4 programs I use at work.

rkill
Malwarebytes
CCleaner
Unhide

all you need to remove a virus. I don't feel like explaining what they do, just read up on them, download them, and use them.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

I have good luck with Spybot, my wife caught several bugs and this found the ones the others didn't. it also alerts you when a registry change is being made.
fixed the horrid google redirects!

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Hi Gorgon...
Bummer.
I've been using Avast (free software from Alwil) for the last 6 years or more and I recommend it highly. When I was working at the University of Toronto, the antivirus software of choice was (still is) Norton, but I and several of my colleagues didn't like it all that much (bloatware and too many false positives and some missed viruses), nor did we think that much of McAFee for similar reasons.
When I was infected a few years back by one of those annoying malware bugs, I downloaded (and purchased) SpyWare Doctor as BassetAllSorts (tasty treats, those!) mentioned and it got rid of the problem.
Also CCleaner (as mentioned by Buxom) is also free and very good. Clean your system and especially your registry at least once a week (back up the registry changes!). I've been using this software for about 5 years and have only praise.
good luck my friend...
Alex

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......it's a topsy-turvy world when noses run and feet smell...

Thanks guys for all the ideas, those will keep me busy for a while Strange people out there these hackers, trying to screw up someone they don't even know that's just wanting to enjoy their PC I'll never understand people like that. Why do they do it? Is it some sort of empowerment trip? you know the idea they're maybe affecting someone in another country? I'm at a loss.

Before i got a PC i had a workmate who was talking about this and i asked him, when talking about these things, "Why do they do it? what are they getting out of it?" his answer? they're just probably evil people who get satisfaction knowing they're screwing someone around

_________________
Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

I picture them as socially inept individuals living in their parent's basements - or basement apartments, definitely subterranean. Being socially inept, one has to compensate, otherwise what point life?
Compensation can take many forms, one of which is creating trouble for others...much like the trolls we occasionally see on this forum, or others. At least trolls, though odious, are not so evil as to write code that infects others....probably because they're not smart enough, so trolling has to suffice.
cheers,
Alex
ps...how are the nails doing? Mine are looking good.

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......it's a topsy-turvy world when noses run and feet smell...

Hi Alex, yeah mine are cut into the quick nearly. Having nails is much better if you can keep them but man mine are so weak that an hour or so of picking and they're all worn away like a wedge shape on one side

I've never been able to do the nail thing but fingerpicking is much harder with just bare skin, like there's no grip there, no purchase.

I remember when i tried shiny nail lacquer on mine to harden them up i felt really self conscious with my hands at work as if people were looking at me and winking

_________________
Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

some people believe it may actually be companies that make antivirus and anti-spyware/malware programs employing freelance geeks to create these threats so their software will continue to sell. It sounds like paranoia to me, but at the same time, it's completely plausible.

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Hi strings, well i tell you; i believe stranger things have happened and nothing would surprise me anymore.

How horrible a person must someone be to knowingly send out these things, fully aware of the hassle and inconvenience that it's gonna incur on people they don't even know?

It's just too bad they can't catch some of these creeps and make an example of them with serious jail time to make them think

_________________
Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

I'd like to point out that the main point of viruses is to make money.

They steal your personal information a lot of the time. Another type of virus is just simply to inconvenience someone, those are not as common as the money ones, though, but I did have a friend who made viruses for fun, and on a small scale. He only did ones to mess with his friends, and it was all good fun, actually.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic