My computer has a virus

[Beer-lord]

Download malwaybytes from another computer, start your pc with the virus in safe mode install the malwarebytes and you should be good to go 99% of the time. Don't allow the remote login. Many of these viruses are written specifically to hold your pc hostage so they can go in with an easy fix.

Yes, this program works wonders. After you use this one, download SuperAntiSpyWare (free version) and run it as well.

 

[zman]

I am meerly suggesting the offline scanner. It does a minimal boot of windows and then scans the drive for everythoing prior to any load.

Understood. I am just not a fan of it after using it. Malware bytes is great. Another great free utility is CCleaner. http://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER. I run this every two weeks or so. It is great for removing files you do not need.

 

[IXVolt]

I've dealt with numerous viruses over the years. Malwarebytes is a good tool. As mentioned earlier, I would download it (it's free) on another PC, install it via thumb drive on the infected one and run it. If it doesn't fix it, it should at least identify the name of the virus/trojan and that will give you an idea on what you are dealing with.

Also, I would take the pc to a local shop before doing anything remotely online.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Understood. I am just not a fan of it after using it. Malware bytes is great. Another great free utility is CCleaner. http://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER. I run this every two weeks or so. It is great for removing files you do not need.

Only problem is Malware Bytes won't do an offline scan. Otherwise it is a great utility.

 

[IXVolt]

Only problem is Malware Bytes won't do an offline scan. Otherwise it is a great utility.

Hmm, I thought it would.

 

[jgln]

Thanks guys, I have to go now and there is a lot of good information to digest, I will check in later but please keep the suggestions coming.

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

I've had better results with Avast than with Malwarebytes.

If you can google the symptoms of the virus, usually you can find the solution for it.

MC

 

[Homercidal]

Only problem is Malware Bytes won't do an offline scan. Otherwise it is a great utility.

And it doesn't install in safe mode IIRC. But yeah, I usually try and kill the process and run it, or add the infected drive to another computer and perform the scan that way.

By the time I've gotten to Malwarebytes I've reached a point where I've manually made the computer functioning with the virus holding it up.

Another option is to load a thumb drive with a full functioning OS with AV and Antispyware software, etc and boot the computer using that system. They are pretty cheap to set up (if your OS is Linux or a "free" version of Windows) and you have the advantage of not having to pull the drive or any of that extra work once it's set up.

If you screw it up you can easily re-image it.

The hard part is putting it all together ahead of time. I've yet to do this, but I really should. That way I can just boot the OS on the thumb drive and run scans on the drive of the infected computer and carry it all around in my pocket.

 

[Sacdan]

You should be able to run a System Restore.. Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore. Roll it back a few days. The last time I saw this Malware, a System Restore fixed it. After the restoer, scan for Malware

 

[sudsmcgee]

You should be able to run a System Restore.. Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore. Roll it back a few days. The last time I saw this Malware, a System Restore fixed it. After the restoer, scan for Malware

This is the easiest and quickest fix and worth trying first. I've had some impossible to remove virus and racked my brain for days thinking of how to remove it without a complete wipe, and just before giving in I gave system restore a try. It worked.

 

[Zuljin]

I had a similar virus not long ago. It also gave me a message that I could download so and so program for $X and that'd fix it.

Malware bytes, McAfee, Spybot, formatting the hard drive and reinstalling Windows is what worked for me.

Malware Bytes got me to where I could get to the point of formatting. The virus would close any attempt at formatting in less than 1 second, if the window even loaded at all. Hardly any cmd worked. Simply finding what the program said it was named and uninstalling did nothing.

I did try without a format or reintalling Windows, hoping the other programs got it all, and the virus just reinstalled itself. It lives deep. I think the virus was called alucar.

 

[Zuljin]

I've had better results with Avast than with Malwarebytes.

If you can google the symptoms of the virus, usually you can find the solution for it.

MC

I was a fan of Avast, the free version, and was using at the time. The virus I got blew right past it. I had a discount to renew McAfee. YMMV.

I use Kaspersky now.

 

[Tbone66]

Had the same FBI Ransomware couple weeks ago. I tried malwarebytes, ccleaner and they didn't work. The youtube video I was watching said I could do a system restore, worked like a charm. I then ran the malwarebytes and ccleaner for insurance and have been OK so far.

Ryan

 

[jgln]

Had the same FBI Ransomware couple weeks ago. I tried malwarebytes, ccleaner and they didn't work. The youtube video I was watching said I could do a system restore, worked like a charm. I then ran the malwarebytes and ccleaner for insurance and have been OK so far.

Ryan

Cool, so how do I do a restore? You mean set it back to default factory settings?

I tell you, this is the last thing I need right now. I want to get it off before my wife goes to use the computer. I'd have some splain' to do! At least I could prove it is a scam pretty easily, even the FBI website talks about it. Can you imagine if it popped up while she was using it??

 

[iaefebs]

Another thing is to buy a new hard drive. They are relatively cheap. Then install your operating system on it. Now you can put your old hard drive in and search it for all your personal pics, docs, recipes, porn, whatever, and transfer to the new drive. Programs will not transfer properly but at least it will give you a reminder of what was on it.

 

[jgln]

I feel lucky in that I had another computer at hand to research on and find all about the scam and what to do. Can you imagine the guy who only has that one computer and can't do anything and all he sees is that FBI warning? I mean you have to assume it is a scam especially if you know you were not breaking the law, but assurance you are not alone and it is a well know virus is priceless.

 

[Hamsterbite]

Download malwaybytes from another computer, start your pc with the virus in safe mode install the malwarebytes and you should be good to go 99% of the time. Don't allow the remote login. Many of these viruses are written specifically to hold your pc hostage so they can go in with an easy fix.

This.

The virus is kown as reveton. In some cases, you will be able to
start and run your computer without getting locked out as long as you disconnect your LAN and wireless. The virus needs an Internet connection to get to the lockout screen.
Download Malwarebytes on another computer (it's free) and save the program
File to a thumbdrive. Use that thumbdrive to install om the infected computer and run.
I had the same virus, and this is how I licked it. DO NOT fall for the moneypack scam. They will likely keep drawing money after they've hacked your accounts...

 

[jgln]

We have no accounts on that computer, we just use it to surf the net and she keeps some pictures on it, like plants and flowers and stuff. I don't even buy stuff on it.

 

[dallasdb]

Not sure of anyone mentioned this but go get a prepaid Visa from the supermarket or gas station and only load enough $$$ to pay for the remote service if you go that route.

 

[GilSwillBasementBrews]

Download malwaybytes from another computer, start your pc with the virus in safe mode install the malwarebytes and you should be good to go 99% of the time. Don't allow the remote login. Many of these viruses are written specifically to hold your pc hostage so they can go in with an easy fix.

+1 to this. I use malware bytes all the time to fix my, and ALOT of others using their software when many places "fix" your pc by reformatting to factory spec. Use the malware bytes and keep your files your files.

 

[Bithead]

If you're not able to get your machine cleaned PM me. I do IT for a living and if you're close enough I could help in person. I've cleaned up a LOT of malicious software.

 

[jgln]

If you're not able to get your machine cleaned PM me. I do IT for a living and if you're close enough I could help in person. I've cleaned up a LOT of malicious software.

Ah..would have been nice but before I went back to check this thread on my work computer I went and bought a thumb drive and saved all her pictures. I then tried to restore but it would only go back a couple months and said nothing changed, can't do. So I went ahead and did a whole reset to factory defaults and I am now rebuilding what really little I had set up in the first place. So far so good. I just now have to see if the cops show up tomorrow morning..lol

Really appreciate the offer, if I have problems again I may look you up. I live in Salem Co.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Ah..would have been nice but before I went back to check this thread on my work computer I went and bought a thumb drive and saved all her pictures. I then tried to restore but it would only go back a couple months and said nothing changed, can't do. So I went ahead and did a whole reset to factory defaults and I am now rebuilding what really little I had set up in the first place. So far so good. I just now have to see if the cops show up tomorrow morning..lol

Really appreciate the offer, if I have problems again I may look you up. I live in Salem Co.

Do you have much storage capacity?

Might be worth it to you to get a decent internal drive for Imaging.

I use DriveImageXML and routinely image my system drive (I have mutiple drives and only use C as the system drive). If ever i have an issue I just restore the image. Since the image contains everything, including settings, it's like a system restore.

 

[Bithead]

Ah..would have been nice but before I went back to check this thread on my work computer I went and bought a thumb drive and saved all her pictures. I then tried to restore but it would only go back a couple months and said nothing changed, can't do. So I went ahead and did a whole reset to factory defaults and I am now rebuilding what really little I had set up in the first place. So far so good. I just now have to see if the cops show up tomorrow morning..lol

Really appreciate the offer, if I have problems again I may look you up. I live in Salem Co.

I've seen in the last 2 weeks a couple machines with especially nasty stuff that makes System Restore act like that. Probably best you do a nuke and pave. Hopefully the nasties didn't infect the restore partition.

I'm in Burlington County but would travel to Salem especially if we could exchange beers.

 

[alpha224]

I learned the hard way to make a thumb drive that contains Ccleaner, Malwarebytes, Avast, Defraggle, and a couple other pieces of software to combat all kinds of nasties...I call it "MasterKey". And it hasn't failed me yet...I might make a couple for some friends as gifts.

On another note, we used to write harmless viruses to mess with each other that usually involved changing someone's homepage to meatspin or something like that, or play a dancing pirate or monkey crapping on a banana...really juvenile stuff. But it was always fun to see their faces when it was discovered.

 

[jgln]

I've seen in the last 2 weeks a couple machines with especially nasty stuff that makes System Restore act like that. Probably best you do a nuke and pave. Hopefully the nasties didn't infect the restore partition.

I'm in Burlington County but would travel to Salem especially if we could exchange beers.

Sounds good, maybe some day. I don't have any homebrew right now anyway, too busy these days.

 

[Homercidal]

I learned the hard way to make a thumb drive that contains Ccleaner, Malwarebytes, Avast, Defraggle, and a couple other pieces of software to combat all kinds of nasties...I call it "MasterKey". And it hasn't failed me yet...I might make a couple for some friends as gifts.

On another note, we used to write harmless viruses to mess with each other that usually involved changing someone's homepage to meatspin or something like that, or play a dancing pirate or monkey crapping on a banana...really juvenile stuff. But it was always fun to see their faces when it was discovered.

I loaded a virus back in the days of Doom to flip my friend's screen upside down. He took one look and said, "You bastard..."

Our favorite thing was create custom Doom or Heretic maps. Sometimes one of us would take the other guy's map and make changes to it that only we knew about and then replace everyone's copy with the new one. The only person who didn't know about it was the person who created it.

So then we'd run around in all of the secret passages and shoot them from behind hidden walls and teleport from one end of a hall to the other and surprise them, or stash a ton of weapons in a secret spot and just unload on them.

Guys started locking their computers with a password after the first couple of times...

 

[alpha224]

We used to write lines of code just to rickroll people...now I just troll karaoke night at my favorite bar