I
Iceman
The OP didn't mention what website offered to do the free scan. And there
*are* some respectable antivirus companies out there, that you should be
able to trust.
*are* some respectable antivirus companies out there, that you should be
able to trust.
M
Metspitzer
And...........you were the one that talked me into building the thing.And that's why we're here, to help them out
Paul
I wouldn't have been able to do it without you.
Building a computer goes pretty smooth most of the time. Usenet is
invaluable for the bumpy parts.
M
Metspitzer
I was assuming it was Windows Defender. Hopefully the restore fixed
the problem. I would rather have a tooth pulled than to have to fool
with fixing a virus.
I
Iceman
X-No-Archive: Yes
would rather be skiing than doing this!"
A nurse then asked: "But Mr. Laurel, I didn't know you skied."
Laurel: "I don't. But I would rather be skiing now!"
Comedian Stan Laurel was once undergoing a medical checkup. He said: "I
would rather be skiing than doing this!"
A nurse then asked: "But Mr. Laurel, I didn't know you skied."
Laurel: "I don't. But I would rather be skiing now!"
P
philo
That won't work, you would have had to have imaged your drive *prior* to
picking up the malware...
Anyway the messages you received are bogus...
Once you clean up your system with Malwarebytes you should be OK though
Use this if you cannot install it
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/chameleon/
J
Jim
Building a computer is really quite simple. The square thingy goes
into the corresponding square whatchamacallit. Learning all the
nuances of Windows, however, is another story that takes some time and
experience.
W
...winston
"Metspitzer" wrote in message I went to a harmful web site and Windows reported that I was infected.
I got the option to do a free scan. The free scan found 24 infected
files. It wanted 8 bucks to clean them.
What most likely happened.
1. Visited web site (compromised site or malicious)
2. Pop up appeared on the screen saying that your pc is infected with an offer to scan
- The popup is not a 'Windows' message but generated by the script on the site
What should be done:
3. Clicking anything on that page is the wrong thing to do since doing so starts the process to introduce malware
- when seeing messages like this, the recommended and best route is to not click anything on the site...instead use your keyboard
to access Task Manager (Control Alt Del) and 'End Process' of all instances of your browser (e.g. Iexplorer.exe)
4. Once all browser windows are closed do the following in the order below
- Dump all cookies and temporary internet files (CrapCleaner is a good third party tool to do so)
- Scan your pc with your resident Antivirus/Anti-Malware program (e.g. Microsoft Security Essentials)
- Download the latest version of Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware (install and/or update virus defs if not already installed) then run
perform a full scan.
**Note: If you encounter an inability to run Malwarebyte Anti-Malware download and run their Chameleon product which will get the
Malwarebyte Anti-Malware installed and running if blocked by an infection or the presence of a malicious program.**
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/chameleon/
5. If you suspect or wish to check for the presence of a root kit then download the beta version of Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/mbar/
I got the option to do a free scan. The free scan found 24 infected
files. It wanted 8 bucks to clean them.
What most likely happened.
1. Visited web site (compromised site or malicious)
2. Pop up appeared on the screen saying that your pc is infected with an offer to scan
- The popup is not a 'Windows' message but generated by the script on the site
What should be done:
3. Clicking anything on that page is the wrong thing to do since doing so starts the process to introduce malware
- when seeing messages like this, the recommended and best route is to not click anything on the site...instead use your keyboard
to access Task Manager (Control Alt Del) and 'End Process' of all instances of your browser (e.g. Iexplorer.exe)
4. Once all browser windows are closed do the following in the order below
- Dump all cookies and temporary internet files (CrapCleaner is a good third party tool to do so)
- Scan your pc with your resident Antivirus/Anti-Malware program (e.g. Microsoft Security Essentials)
- Download the latest version of Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware (install and/or update virus defs if not already installed) then run
perform a full scan.
**Note: If you encounter an inability to run Malwarebyte Anti-Malware download and run their Chameleon product which will get the
Malwarebyte Anti-Malware installed and running if blocked by an infection or the presence of a malicious program.**
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/chameleon/
5. If you suspect or wish to check for the presence of a root kit then download the beta version of Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/mbar/
K
Ken Blake
I agree. Building a computer is very simple; it's not much different
from plugging together the components of a stereo system, except that
with a computer, they plug together inside a box.
But the reason I recommend that most people don't build their own
computers is that if it doesn't work properly, troubleshooting it can
be difficult. So for that reason, I recommend that most people pay
someone the small amount it usually costs to do the building and take
the responsibility for fixing it if it doesn't work properly.
I
Iceman
I agree with you, Ken. And I have just had a Win 7 64-bit computer
custom-built for me. It wasn't cheap, BTW, but I think it was worth it.
M
Mellowed
I built my old Vista computer in Jan 2007 specifying everything from
NewEgg. I got it done, but it really wasn't worth it. Then I
discovered these guys. http://www.magicmicro.com/smoreinfo.asp?iid=4212
You specify your components. They make sure everything is compatible.
They build it up and test it for you, give you a 3 year parts warranty
and lifetime technical support. You can custom select all components
and look at the description and compare it against other choices. I
have previously defined 3 computers for others and all were perfect. I
just had them build my own and it was also perfect.
K
Ken Blake
I've done it both ways, several times--built my own and had it built
for me. I've always had it built locally, so it would be easy to get
service under warranty if needed. This link looks great, with lots of
good choices. Just one question--how do you get service if you need
it? If you have to send it to them, that's a pain in the a**.
M
Mellowed
Agreed. You wouldn't send the whole system to them. Their tech support
would identify the offending part and send you a replacement. So, if
opening up the case is not for the buyer, then this probably wouldn't
work. I specified a new computer from Magic Micro for a friend and the
DVD was DOA. I called their tech support and they wanted me to open it
up. No problem for me. Upon opening up the case I found that the HD
came out of the chassis during shipping and knocked the cable out of the
DVD. I properly secured the HD in the chassis and reconnected the cable
to the DVD. The computer continues to purr like a kitten.
Many years ago (15-20?)I bought a new Gateway. It had a faulty MB.
Gateway sent me a replacement MB and I had to replace it. I don't know
what folks do who can't turn a screwdriver.
R
Robin Bignall
I go halfway towards having one built these days, by buying a
MB/Processor/memory/cooler pre-built bundle. They usually come having
been tested, and then it really isn't much more difficult than
connecting a Hi-Fi together.
K
Ken Blake
What you did is very easy and well within my somewhat limited hardware
skills. My concern is if they are unable to identify the offending
part (or worse, misidentify it). I can see a lot of time passing as
different parts are shipped back and forth. Sometimes troubleshooting
is easy, but sometimes it's not so easy.
I don't either. I've replaced motherboards before, but clearly there
are lots of people who couldn't do that.
Ken
D
Dave
someone who got a phone call offering to fix her machine and it wasn't
just infected, the guy had control of the machine with a teamviewer like
program.
I couldn't nail down how he got into the machine and how he got the phone
number, You can't interrogate older ladies like they were some sort of a
suspect. Anyway, we got things back in shape and now she has a nice new
copy of MS Essentials.
An earlier post mentioned recovery cd. I've looked at a few and AVG is one
that will download updated definitions on both ethernet (they all do that)
and wireless (but of course, most won't know their wep key). But AVG let's
you manually supply downloaded definitions if you put them somewhere the
program can find them.
just infected, the guy had control of the machine with a teamviewer like
program.
I couldn't nail down how he got into the machine and how he got the phone
number, You can't interrogate older ladies like they were some sort of a
suspect. Anyway, we got things back in shape and now she has a nice new
copy of MS Essentials.
An earlier post mentioned recovery cd. I've looked at a few and AVG is one
that will download updated definitions on both ethernet (they all do that)
and wireless (but of course, most won't know their wep key). But AVG let's
you manually supply downloaded definitions if you put them somewhere the
program can find them.
G
Gene E. Bloch
When I have gotten calls from those people, they have offered to connect
to my machine. They do it *if* I let them and give them info.
The reason I know this is not that I have been stung, but that I have
played along with some of these guys for my own amusement - and, of
course, in an attempt to punish them in my own small way.
G
Gene E. Bloch
Well, I find replacing a motherboard easy intellectually, but as a task,
it's a serious PITA.
I put this one together in a box in which it was a very tight fit, so
later I moved it to a larger box, and later still, to an even larger
box.
As proof of my sanity, I will add that a couple of weeks ago, I moved it
all back into the original (smallest) box.
OK, let's give up on my sanity - at least we have proof that I'm
qualified to judge the task as a major PITA
G
Gene E. Bloch
Good post, good advice. I'll especially try to remember Chameleon...