Malware designers must die a slow, painful death

[MeatyPortion]

I currently have XP internet security 2010 on my computer. It's malware that goes by the description of ransomware. I swear on my grandfather's grave that if I ever meet anyone who has programmed malware that I will beat them in to a bloody pulp.

 

[malkore]

i like Windows 7...has built in Defender so you don't have to sell your soul to a 3rd party vendor.

 

[Rick91981]

That one is a bit nasty. If you can't run a .exe file then Right click and save as and then double click the exefix.reg file. It will prompt you if you wish to ass the information to the registry. Click yes. You should now be able to run an exe file again. Now download malwarebytes (free version). Install it, update it, and run it. When it is done running click the button to fix problems found. Reboot if prompted. That should clean up the infection.

 

[mattd2]

aaaaaaaaaargh I had that, although it didn't seem to bad if I remember. It was a bloody pain to get rid of but all it does is pop up a message saying that you should purchase "XP internet security 2010" to rid your computer of "potential threats", right? If I remember I used hijackthis and some other programs to finally get it off my computer. There was a good IT forum with many user that was excellent in helping me out, but sorry I can't remeber the name of it, maybe try searching for hijackthis forum.
Or do what Rick says, he seems to know!

 

[caspio]

I used to work at the tech desk for my university. We had a spam blast make it through our filters purporting to be a video link from CNN. Anyone who followed the link and agreed to install the "video player" ended up with xp internet security 09 installed.

At the time, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware was the only thing that would remove it.
[ame]http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html[/ame]

edit, looks like someone else already recommended malwarebytes. b10

 

[Chudz]

Regarding virus makers who are probably employed by anti-virus corps, and those seedy malware makers, I have this to quote:

He's nothing but a low-down, double-dealing, backstabbing, larcenous perverted worm! Hanging's too good for him. Burning's too good for him! He should be torn into little bitsy pieces and buried alive!

 

[Neunelfer]

Any sign of a virus on my computer and it's reformat time.

 

[Edcculus]

I run a combo of Malwarebytes, Super Anti Spyware, and have Avast running as my full time virus scanner. All free, and I blast any virus/malware that comes my way. Also, run CC Cleaner every once and a while, followed by Auslogic's Disk Defrag and you can keep your XP machine running like a champ.

Even on my new Mac Book with OSX 10.6.2, I still run ClamXav once a week just in case.

 

[FireNightFly]

Ive been using Ad-Aware for years and years. Its a great program, very simple to use as well. http://www.lavasoft.com/

Preventing malware and adware is your best choice. A good antivirus program that runs in the background helps alot. AVG is a good one. Just the other day I started to check out a site and prior to it logging into the site I recieved a warning saying this site has been reported for containing harmfull data that could effect my comp.

 

[Chudz]

I would suggest going Linux.

 

[jkarp]

Any sign of a virus on my computer and it's reformat time.

+1

I've been doing IT for 25 years and the stuff out there today is uber sophisticated and more often than not lately backed by organized crime. Once you're infected it's trivial for the malware to hide itself from any virus scanner. Only way to properly cure is to pull the drive and scan it from a separate clean machine or rebuild the computer. We use Ghost images @ work and re-image at least a half dozen computers a week. All have a corp. version of McAfee on them too. Useless as tits on a boar.

 

[Rick91981]

aaaaaaaaaargh I had that, although it didn't seem to bad if I remember. It was a bloody pain to get rid of but all it does is pop up a message saying that you should purchase "XP internet security 2010" to rid your computer of "potential threats", right? If I remember I used hijackthis and some other programs to finally get it off my computer. There was a good IT forum with many user that was excellent in helping me out, but sorry I can't remeber the name of it, maybe try searching for hijackthis forum.
Or do what Rick says, he seems to know!

There are lots of specialist forums out there, bleepingcomputer.com is one of the best ones. They definitely know their stuff there.

Any sign of a virus on my computer and it's reformat time.

Not necessarily. Depends on the severity of the infection. Sometimes yes it is easier to just blow everything away and start over. But not always necessary. Many infections can be cleaned up without too much hassle.

Ive been using Ad-Aware for years and years. Its a great program, very simple to use as well. http://www.lavasoft.com/

Preventing malware and adware is your best choice. A good antivirus program that runs in the background helps alot. AVG is a good one. Just the other day I started to check out a site and prior to it logging into the site I recieved a warning saying this site has been reported for containing harmfull data that could effect my comp.

I used to love Ad-Aware but in the last few years I've found it to become more and more useless. I now use mostly Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware.

As for antivirus, I used AVG until about 6 months ago. It just became too bloated. I use MS Security Essentials right now and its surprisingly good. It helps against both virus and spyware.

 

[jgbrown]

Regarding virus makers who are probably employed by anti-virus corps, and those seedy malware makers, I have this to quote:

He's nothing but a low-down, double-dealing, backstabbing, larcenous perverted worm! Hanging's too good for him. Burning's too good for him! He should be torn into little bitsy pieces and buried alive!

You did not just quote Heavymetal?!?!

 

[gratus fermentatio]

I currently have XP internet security 2010 on my computer. It's malware that goes by the description of ransomware. I swear on my grandfather's grave that if I ever meet anyone who has programmed malware that I will beat them in to a bloody pulp.

I'll help you hold 'em down & pulverize 'em.

 

[OMJ]

+1 to malwarebytes I would suggest running it in safe mode too.

 

[Bassman]

A friend of mine calls me because of all these computer problems, his internet isn't working, he wants to save all the pictures of his kids, etc.. I get there and in addition to the power supply fan not working and the cpu fan not working he's got this internet security 2010 virus and the computer is running sloooooooooow. I moved to mac about a year ago and have none of this nonsense. At first I just said "Your screwed" but then I got angry at these low lifes who write viruses.

I made a fresh install of windows XP Pro in Parallels and installed AVG and adaware. I then pulled his c drive and mounted it in my version of XP and AVG found 350 or so viruses, including the IS2010. Later tonight, or today if I can't make it to work, I will do an adaware scan.

I hate those fockers!

 

[TopDog]

A friend of mine calls me because of all these computer problems...

Ditto my Dad. I finally took away his admin privileges. Really cuts down on what can install itself.

 

[jgourd]

I would suggest going Linux.

+1000000000000. Some flavors of Linux are now just as easy to learn and navigate around in as Windows. There's no excuse not to switch now. Plus, your operating system and software are all FREE! And open source. So it's just so much better. I don't understand the aversion so many people have to switching. But then again, I mostly think it's a lack of awareness issue. First, people don't know there's an alternative to Winblows. Second, they don't particularly care about being aware. But to be honest, I wish everyone stuck to Winblows. That way, virus makers and such would keep writing them for that platform. I'll stick to Linux with the other 1% and be nice and comfortable.

 

[Baja_Brewer]

My girlfriend had Vista Internet Security 2010 malware on her computer... she used the above malwarebytes to get rid of it...

Stop looking at so much pron!

 

[EoinMag]

Regarding virus makers who are probably employed by anti-virus corps, and those seedy malware makers, I have this to quote:

He's nothing but a low-down, double-dealing, backstabbing, larcenous perverted worm! Hanging's too good for him. Burning's too good for him! He should be torn into little bitsy pieces and buried alive!

I work for a very large AV vendor on their enterprise tech desk.

There is not a chance that we need to employ anyone to write viruses or malware. I used to think this before I worked here, now I laugh at the thought.
We would not go through the pain of missing a threat, and taking a beating if we had employed the people who write them, our stock drops with the right threat....not a chance the backroom boys condone that.

 

[scratchypants]

I use Avast and browse with FireFox/Noscript. Some of those malware programs can be a real pain. You go through a detailed, lengthy process and think you're in the clear and bam - there it is again. Frustrating.

I find that I am well-protected now, but I have reduced my reformat time to about 30 minutes. I have a basic ghost image of my machine on an external hard drive and I run daily backups of my data.

 

[HIM_Tattoos]

Go Linux x90,000,0000,000 and if your not going to. Get AVG, get Spybot, get Firfox, get Dr.Web, and know every damn link you click.

 

[Ashz]

+1000000000000. Some flavors of Linux are now just as easy to learn and navigate around in as Windows. There's no excuse not to switch now. Plus, your operating system and software are all FREE! And open source. So it's just so much better. I don't understand the aversion so many people have to switching. But then again, I mostly think it's a lack of awareness issue. First, people don't know there's an alternative to Winblows. Second, they don't particularly care about being aware. But to be honest, I wish everyone stuck to Winblows. That way, virus makers and such would keep writing them for that platform. I'll stick to Linux with the other 1% and be nice and comfortable.

While I agree with you for the most part. I just had to remote in to my parents computer tonight. The whole time I am on the phone trying to yet again explain the need to update the anti virus and malware tools I put on the comp. I am explaining YET again why they don't need two dozen different toolbars in firefox.

I really REALLY wish it were as easy as just giving them a linux box. It's not. Linux is great. Many flavors to choose from, many advantages, and lets face it, it's not prone to the same crap. There are inherit reasons for this. However those same inherit reasons keep me from taking away my parents windows comp and replacing it with linux. I feel like I would be having to do far more babysitting then I am already doing.

I currently have them to about one time a month that I actually have to remote in and fix the system due to the click happiness they encounter when on Ye ol' interwebz. While they will not encounter this with linux, the need for reteaching and guidance precludes me from even attempting.

Linux is where it's at. But not for all people. Not yet.

Oh and everytime I remote into their computer, my dad makes comments the entire time about how amazing it is that things are happening that he isn't doing. No matter how many times I tell him it's me, and to stay off the mouse he must touch...

Ahh god, this is payback for putting them through hell as a youngster I am sure.