errrr calling all computer types...HELP!!!
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: On A Ship, MI
errrr calling all computer types...HELP!!!
some how somewhere ive got a pesky bug on my laptop. it seems to run its self
through internet explorer,3 or more apps running in the task manager that i didn't start. i don't use ie any more its all firefox. when you go to end process on the task manager window it will end the process and start 2 or 3 more of them! they then proceed to take 100% cpu for a few seconds then back to normal(sorta).
ive got "Webroot Spy Sweeper with anti virus" and "PC Tools anti virus" programs
running and they both have turned up nothing and i am scanning right now with nothing so far.
so my questions are what is the BEST anti virus program thats free on the web?
and any idea what this bug might be? or how to rid it?
o yea the laptop is a dell 1.78mghz intell processor running windows XP 80gig hard drive and 1000mb ram. if that helps at all. i know it matters for the trucks...lol.
through internet explorer,3 or more apps running in the task manager that i didn't start. i don't use ie any more its all firefox. when you go to end process on the task manager window it will end the process and start 2 or 3 more of them! they then proceed to take 100% cpu for a few seconds then back to normal(sorta).
ive got "Webroot Spy Sweeper with anti virus" and "PC Tools anti virus" programs
running and they both have turned up nothing and i am scanning right now with nothing so far.
so my questions are what is the BEST anti virus program thats free on the web?
and any idea what this bug might be? or how to rid it?
o yea the laptop is a dell 1.78mghz intell processor running windows XP 80gig hard drive and 1000mb ram. if that helps at all. i know it matters for the trucks...lol.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 540
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From: Northern MD
Do a search for HijackThis. Download it, run it and save a log file. Look at the site where you downloaded it from, and see if they have a forum. You can post the logfile in the forum and someone there will give you an idea of which way to go. What you'll be looking for is certain .dll files that are called. If you search on those .dll files that are listed by HijackThis, you can find out which ones are used by malware or trojans. You might also want to do a search on the VUNDO trojan, it's pretty widespread, but easy to clean.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
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Originally Posted by rangersvt04
so my questions are what is the BEST anti virus program thats free on the web?
and any idea what this bug might be? or how to rid it?
and any idea what this bug might be? or how to rid it?
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 4
From: Lafayette, IN
Ad-Aware is NOT an anti-virus program. Its targets are tracking cookies and other spy-ware, but not necessarily viruses. Definitely a good part of your defense repertoire, though.
For free anti-virus, I don't think there is any better than Grisoft's AVG. (www.grisoft.com). Get Ad-Aware, too (www.lavasoft.com), and then also get Spybot Search & Destroy (many sites, do a Google search). Get rid of any anti-virus software from McAfee or Norton/Symantec--they're pretty much viruses in and of themselves.
Jason
For free anti-virus, I don't think there is any better than Grisoft's AVG. (www.grisoft.com). Get Ad-Aware, too (www.lavasoft.com), and then also get Spybot Search & Destroy (many sites, do a Google search). Get rid of any anti-virus software from McAfee or Norton/Symantec--they're pretty much viruses in and of themselves.
Jason
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 164,377
Likes: 82
From: MA
First try doing a system restore back a few days.. That usually will remove it.
Also what are the files that are running?
You probably have Spyware rather than a virus...
There are smitfraud and virtumundo spyware programs that are tough to get rid of.. There are removal tools on the web for them..
Also what are the files that are running?
You probably have Spyware rather than a virus...
There are smitfraud and virtumundo spyware programs that are tough to get rid of.. There are removal tools on the web for them..
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,931
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From: N. Mississippi
Originally Posted by jroehl
Get rid of any anti-virus software from McAfee or Norton/Symantec--they're pretty much viruses in and of themselves.
Jason
Jason
No more of their stuff on any of my machines!
I edited this because this site won't allow file extensions to be named?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,180
Likes: 669
From: Scio, OR
AVG is a good free anti-virus program. Another one that I like is called Avast. It seems to do a decent job as anti-virus and anti-spyware etc.
I also use Windows Defender. Even though it's a Microsoft product it seems to do a good job.
I haven't had a virus or trojan problem that I'm aware of since I've been using these.
I also use Windows Defender. Even though it's a Microsoft product it seems to do a good job.
I haven't had a virus or trojan problem that I'm aware of since I've been using these.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: CA
I purchased Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus just last night. Pulled out 219 Ad-ware, trojans out of my old Laptop...I had Avast Antivirus that did not even detect these bugs. So much so my DNS entries were getting hijacked!
Of all the AntiViruses that I have had over years I will have to say "Norton" has to be the worst ever, both in terms of support and installing/uninstalling. Please do not buy any of their products; they don't care a damm about home users. the software is by design so poor that uninstalling it blocks all the registers, so much so their clean up software fail too!...wow, want kind of morons work there? Plus they will not refund the money even if you never had a chance to install it.
Of all the AntiViruses that I have had over years I will have to say "Norton" has to be the worst ever, both in terms of support and installing/uninstalling. Please do not buy any of their products; they don't care a damm about home users. the software is by design so poor that uninstalling it blocks all the registers, so much so their clean up software fail too!...wow, want kind of morons work there? Plus they will not refund the money even if you never had a chance to install it.
Last edited by Vijay; Jan 29, 2008 at 01:22 PM.
Posting Legend
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 32,025
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From: Where Critters Are Free
Originally Posted by dchamberlain
AVG is a good free anti-virus program. Another one that I like is called Avast. It seems to do a decent job as anti-virus and anti-spyware etc.
I also use Windows Defender. Even though it's a Microsoft product it seems to do a good job.
I haven't had a virus or trojan problem that I'm aware of since I've been using these.
I also use Windows Defender. Even though it's a Microsoft product it seems to do a good job.
I haven't had a virus or trojan problem that I'm aware of since I've been using these.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: On A Ship, MI
ive down loaded spybot search and destroy, hijackthis, and cool web shredder
and its still doing it .... ive found a fourm www.spywareinfo.com and hopefully they can pinpoint it. the pc nerd in class told me about it.
if none of this works im gonna drop it and tell dell it quit working....... i have the 4 year unlimited protection warranty. lol.
and its still doing it .... ive found a fourm www.spywareinfo.com and hopefully they can pinpoint it. the pc nerd in class told me about it.
if none of this works im gonna drop it and tell dell it quit working....... i have the 4 year unlimited protection warranty. lol.
Posting Legend
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 32,025
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From: Where Critters Are Free
Originally Posted by rangersvt04
ive down loaded spybot search and destroy, hijackthis, and cool web shredder
and its still doing it .... ive found a fourm www.spywareinfo.com and hopefully they can pinpoint it. the pc nerd in class told me about it.
if none of this works im gonna drop it and tell dell it quit working....... i have the 4 year unlimited protection warranty. lol.
and its still doing it .... ive found a fourm www.spywareinfo.com and hopefully they can pinpoint it. the pc nerd in class told me about it.
if none of this works im gonna drop it and tell dell it quit working....... i have the 4 year unlimited protection warranty. lol.
Have you been doing a back up of your stuff I hope?