Malware issues?

[stilly]

Here's how I clean the computers at work when they have been attacked with Malware/Adware:
1. Run Kaspersky Rescue Disc 10. This is a Live CD so Windows is not loaded during the clean up which makes it easier for it to find the virus. Make sure you update the database first before scanning. Here's the link: http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses...disk#downloads
2. Next, download Revo Uninstaller. You can use the trial version. Uninstall the programs you think is suspicious. This is pretty much just using your common sense to know which one would be a suspicious program or not. Just use the trial version: http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_..._download.html
3. Download Hitman Pro. This will Scan, Repair and Clean your computer from Adware.
4. Download JRT(Junkware Removal Tool). This cleans your computer from Junkware including infections in your Registry keys.
5. Lastly, run Malwarebytes. This will remove all the Malware.
6. Then uninstall the crap Antivirus your mom is using and install Comodo Antivirus instead. Just download the free one. I swear by this. When you have this on your computer, it'll pretty much be protected like a tank. Nothing can infect it after unless she downloads a one day virus.

Common mistake people do is they just run one program without knowing that these viruses/Trojans/Worms/Adware/Junkware/Malware hide so best to run different programs with different purpose. Run it twice just to be on the safe side. I do.

This is a fool proof FREE way of cleaning a PC without wiping it off. Good luck!

Comodo used to crap out left and right so I dropped it. Are you telling us that it is finally stable?

[carval23]

Yes. It works perfectly well. Been using it for 5 yrs. Now. Not sure when you had it that it crapped out on you but worked fine for me personally. At work we use Kaspersky Enterprise Edition.

[stilly]

I think around 2005-2007 was- NO WAIT, I AM SORRY.

I was using their FIREWALL, not their AV, I was not aware that they had a free AV. Their FIREWALL would eat itself and die after a few months (6 or more) similar to the old pc firewall 2.15 that you used to be able to d/l before SUN got ahold of them.

I am getting tired of Avast, not because it is bad, but because this past Sep 19 it did NOT perform its update voice like a pirate. THAT was the sole reason why I grabbed it...

Alrighty, I will give Comodo a shot and see how it handles my habits... If it starts eating my pups and cracks/keygens Imma hafta put it down though...

[Clipity]

Subscribed for a read later, my family always ends up clicking on something bad.

[NytWolf]

It's not necessarily the site. It could be something as simple as "freeware". Some so-called toolbars have adware components that may bring up a site that is infected. Sometimes the toolbar is itself the malware. Never install "free" software that looks cool or does something cool.

The fact of the matter is, no matter what type of anti-malware you install on the machine, an uneducated user will get a computer infected. It's just a matter of when.

Create a regular user account for them and do not let them user the administrator account for daily usage.

If you have any sites you suspect, make sure you run it across one of the following:
McAfee Site Advisor (Type the address into the "View a Site Report" box.
Google SafeBrowsing Diagnostic (replace the www.calguns.net with the suspicious site)
Norton Safe Web (replace the www.calguns.net with the suspicious site)

[Exospeed]

Ok, Here is a summary of what I did with my mom's computer over the weekend.

Before I started I was curious and so I checked her websites she visited over the last month. There are a couple of visits to download.cnet.com that were dated around the start of her recent issues. I haven't downloaded anything from cnet in a few years since I tried to dl something any my antivirus went crazy warning of spyware. I made a list for her of websites I found that she went to that I didn't trust so she wouldn't go to them again.
Anyone else know of issues with download.cnet.com?

When attempting to format the HDD through installing windows7, I found that the newer windows OS's are not like the older versions (xp for example), where you can do a full format of the HDD when you have the PC boot from the disk.
I was only able to tell it to delete partitions (there were 6 for some reason), and it formatted the HDD for about 5 seconds. I looked it up on google (this is why I have a PC in my garage) and it seems they changed it when vista was made.

Since who knows what the heck is on her HDD I went ahead and wiped it clean with dban ( http://www.dban.org/ ).
I then installed the fresh Windows 7 OEM, then Avira Free AV, and Malwarebytes.
After doing further research, we opted to not use Deep Freeze like we were talking about. Even though it seems like an awesome program and would be perfect and worry free, there were some concerns about the software as well. She is not very tech savy, and I'm not around much to help her. We felt she might have issues with the software as far as unfreezing and refreezing etc...

I just hope she doesn't have any more issues, and if so we will have to re-think our decision on deep freeze.

[Ricky-Ray]

Create an account for her that does NOT have Admin rights.

[ghostzleader]

Agree make her account no admin rights. The best thing you can possibly do is educated her on what to click on add her favorite websites to her favorites so she doesn't go Google or web searching. Also I highly recommend this.. download firefox click tools-tab on-top click add-ons install adblock plus and ghostery this will block all all popups and ads, banners ect. The only other full proof option is to get her on A Mac computer OR! boot up linux from usb drive kali linux is good.

[codypaint77]

Set her up as a user

Set her up as a user of the computer and you be the administrator with a password you only know. She will not be able to download anything without an administrator privilege.

She's getting what's called hijacking. If she's going to a certain website she may not be entering the correct URL.

I agree with many on here.

Download the following: (All free)
Malwarebytes
Ccleaner
TDSS killer by Kaspersky (Rootkit virus)
Conbofix
Spybot search and destroy

Get rid of XP! Do not pay a company to help clean your computer, you can do it.

[skunkbad]

My mom is a virus magnet on Windows. I finally banned her from Windows, and she is now only allowed to use Mac or Linux. Especially if your mom doesn't have any important programs that need windows, it would be great to install Ubuntu. Ubuntu comes with office software, email software, Firefox, and everything most moms need. The greatest benefit is the near immunity to all malware. If windows is needed for a program or two, install windows in a virtual machine. All of my main computers are running that exact setup.

[Iknownot]

Forget getting someone like that to surf the web on a PC of any type. Get her a tablet with a keyboard and be done with it. If you end up needing to nuke it from orbit it's so much less time intensive.

Just my 2 cents.

[the86d]

Tell her NOT to search for useless information, "FREE" anything, when the screen goes black and asks if you want to install anything (Vista and Win 7), say NO (Cancel) unless you know why you are trying to install anything. "Don't click ads"...

The easiest way to not ruin Windows is to use a non-Admin account, add a password to the Administrator account, and not enter that unless you know why you are doing it. That is typically too inconvenient, which is why people don't usually do it...

Old people like to search for "free screensavers", and "free-whatever-else", and so they get hit more.
The other issue is old people looking for drivers... ALL driver sites are full of crap, unless it's the MFR of the hardware's site.

[Exospeed]

Tell her NOT to search for useless information, "FREE" anything, when the screen goes black and asks if you want to install anything (Vista and Win 7), say NO (Cancel) unless you know why you are trying to install anything. "Don't click ads"...

The easiest way to not ruin Windows is to use a non-Admin account, add a password to the Administrator account, and not enter that unless you know why you are doing it. That is typically too inconvenient, which is why people don't usually do it...

Old people like to search for "free screensavers", and "free-whatever-else", and so they get hit more.
The other issue is old people looking for drivers... ALL driver sites are full of crap, unless it's the MFR of the hardware's site.

LOL she probably is searching for free money... LOL

I'll set her up as a guest account.

[ldsnet]

My SO was having similar problems - I ditched Microsoft and went to Linux. No more virus or malware issues. I insist on username accounts with real passwords and the only external service running is SSH so I can remote administer the box.

[Baeleron]

Set her up as a user of the computer and you be the administrator with a password you only know. She will not be able to download anything without an administrator privilege.

She's getting what's called hijacking. If she's going to a certain website she may not be entering the correct URL.

I finally gave up trying to get my wife to stop clicking YES every time a popup asked her to (when I'd check her computer she'd have every toolbar ever made installed), and set her up as just a user who can't install -anything- without my password. So far, that has worked!