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errrr calling all computer types...HELP!!!

Old Jan 28, 2008 | 11:09 PM
  #1  
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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.
 
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Old Jan 29, 2008 | 05:44 AM
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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.
 
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Old Jan 29, 2008 | 05:48 AM
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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?
Ad-aware 2007 I have it on my computer and it is really good at getting the viruses off.
 
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Old Jan 29, 2008 | 07:10 AM
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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
 
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Old Jan 29, 2008 | 08:47 AM
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Got any details to share on those extras apps/processes? Are they applications or processes?
 
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Old Jan 29, 2008 | 08:47 AM
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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..
 
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Old Jan 29, 2008 | 09:37 AM
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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
Ain't that the truth! I dumped Norton over a year ago and went to AVG anti-virus and even after uninstalling Symantec, it left little dot e x e programs that I had to go into the registry and delete!

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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Old Jan 29, 2008 | 01:11 PM
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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.
 
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Old Jan 29, 2008 | 01:16 PM
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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.
 

Last edited by Vijay; Jan 29, 2008 at 01:22 PM.
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Old Jan 29, 2008 | 02:03 PM
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Avast, Zonealarm, and a built-in firewall on my wireless system have worked for me for a few years.
 
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Old Jan 29, 2008 | 02:27 PM
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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.
In with all of what you said..I would also add spybot1.4 is great for removing spyware
 
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Old Jan 29, 2008 | 03:15 PM
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If it was me...I'd be taking a look at AVG. I've had good luck with them in the past.
 
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Old Jan 29, 2008 | 03:39 PM
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I install AVG on all my customers computers and Spybot and ad-ware 2007
 
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Old Jan 30, 2008 | 08:38 AM
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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.
 
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Old Jan 30, 2008 | 08:45 AM
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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.


Have you been doing a back up of your stuff I hope?
 
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