virus help

[uome|]

I tried downloading a serial generator from this sketchy site for a program I was using. I normally use the same site for serial/registration keys but I forgot the link to it. So I googled for one and it ended up being a virus.

I downloaded AVG Virus Program (Free Version) and it found 35 viruses. I'm pretty sure it got rid of all the trojans. I also ran Spy Bot Search and Destory and it said it fixed 53 files. So I guess my computer is fine...the only thing is that my Internet Explorer homepage is still something crazy. I went under options to try to change my homepage to google.com, but it just goes back to about:blank and opens that weird page. Does anyone know how to fix this? Does this still mean I have a virus/spyware and need to get a better scan? Or is there something else I need to do to change that setting? Thanks for your help in advance.

[Dave]

First, I don't think you want to be telling us about your problems with piracy, while I don't know for sure, I'm going to guess it's frowned on around here.

Try Avast to get rid of the virus, I'm not sure whats best for the home page hijacker, also try going to the Trend site and doing their free scan.

[N4P4LM]

download HiJackThis and then use this website to analyze the log: http://hijackthis.de/index.php?langselect=english

get Microsoft's Windows Defender while you're at it...it's pretty effective for cleaning out spyware/adware/etc.

[marden]

http://www.webroot.com - works pretty good. there is a free trial version. if I remember correctly, you can continue to use the trial version without paying for it, but you don't get any updates. you can also set it up so that it'll block any changes to your internet explorer homepage.

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/ - another free download that you don't have to pay for.

http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan.htm - free online virus scanner.

Get firefox and use it for all your illegal stuff. better yet, just use firefox for everything.

[uome|]

K I used that HiJackThis program and I got rid of most of the spyware. However, there are still two .exe files in my Windows\system32 folder:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\atmclk.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dcomcfg.exe

They came up as Nasty and when I tried to delete them they said they are in use by another program. How can I stop the program to delete these files? They weren't running in my tray when I tried deleting them? Other than that I think everything else is gone (I ran several virus scans overnight and during the day). Thanks for your help so far...

[public_slots_free.mL]

boot the computer into safe mode by hitting F8 over and over again when you turn it on. The programs wont load while in safe mode and it will allow you to go to the folder and delete them.

[uome|]

I just got Avast and after I installed it, it found like sooo many viruses/trojans/adware. There was a box that came up and said to reboot in safemode and let Avast scan the computer. Thats what it is doing now (I am on my laptop). It found some infected files in my temp folder and is deleting them. Hopefully this will clean me up.

After this, I'll try deleting those two files in system32 folder the way you said to do it.

[uome|]

In this scan, a few of the files (.exe) are coming back saying Access Denied. Should I worry about these and try to manually delete them?

They look something like:

File C:\WINDOWS\$NtUninstallQ811493$\ntkpamp.exe Error 0xc0000022 {Access Denied}

[public_slots_free.mL]

i wouldnt worry about them if they are in that folder.

[ass*assassin]

get smitfraudfix google that up and download it, run it in safe mode.. it will get rid of your little cooties..

then, go into your internet explorer, and set everything back to defaults.. you should get control back then..

http://siri.urz.free.fr/Fix/SmitfraudFix_En.php <--- get it here

[Zogo]

35 viruses? you're lucky it's still running heh.

[uome|]

One program I had found 10, then 25, then 20, then another 12. I was like wtf. I ran that Avast! program and it seemed to clear everything up. The only problem is sometimes my computer freezes up when too many things are trying to run (especially IE). Should I try using Firefox or can I reinstall IE? Other than that everything else seems fine.

[Karnage]

with that many viruses and spyware, i would recommend that you reformat anyways. a system always seems quirky after deleting that many viruses and stuff.

[uome|]

I was thinking about reformatting too. I remember doing it in the past after I had trouble with viruses. But when I save my files do I have to worry about them being infected? I ran another scan today and it said there were no infected files but I still get some popups, it freezes sometimes, and sometimes it runs slow. If I reformat do I have to worry about still having viruses in there somewhere (simpler: how do I know I got them all)?

[uome|]

When I am using Internet Explorer sometimes these popups saying "your computer may be running slow because of adware/spyware" and it opens links to these virus scan programs and spyware removal downloads. I don't know if this is real or a virus/spyware trying to fake me out. One of these dialog boxes would not close no matter how many times I clicked the x. It kept reopening and finally closed once I clicked Ok. How do you know if its your computer protecting you or something bad tryint to trick you? Like I said the recent scans came back with 0 infections... I have no idea what's going on with my computer. Everything else seems fine though. Help!

[public_slots_free.mL]

The files are more than likely fine and if they arent, a virus scan can clean them. Put all the files in a folder, scan the folder, burn the cd. Format. I keep my windows installation and programs installed on a diff drive then all my files so i am quick to justify a format and do it almost every couple months because i download so much i get infections.

[uome|]

Ok...so I don't have to worry about making sure the registry and my WINDOWS folder is clean before I reformat? Can there still be viruses in there and not affect my reformat?

[public_slots_free.mL]

Righto, format means to delete everything on the drive and thats it. Hence, it wouldnt matter whats left on the drive as its all getting deleted.