OT My computer upstairs has a virus

[Jaylee]

This was the only thing my soon to be ex husband was good for

My desktop upstairs has a virus. My ex put a firewall on it and the free version of AVG antivirus which I kept updated. But now the computer says it has a virus and wont let me do anything, including open my AVG.

I have no idea what my next step should be. I don't have the money to take it to the computer repair shop. I was thinking maybe I could buy some Norton or something tomorrow? Does anyone have any advice?

[Wulfman]

If you can figure out which virus/malware or whatever you have, there are some resources (and removal downloads) available from various sources.....like this one.

http://www.symantec.com/norton/security ... /index.jsp

Edit:

Here's another place to download software. I used the Ad-Aware software for years to clean up quite a few computers.

http://download.cnet.com/windows/


Den

[gasparama]

Wulfman, would malwarebytes also be a possible help? We've has some good luck with that program as well.

[Wulfman]

Wulfman, would malwarebytes also be a possible help? We've has some good luck with that program as well.

We were posting (I was editing my post) at the same time, so I didn't see yours till just now.

I've never tried that one, but left my preference in the edit to my post.

Thanks for the input.


Den

[GumbyCT]

My desktop upstairs has a virus. My ex put a firewall on it and the free version of AVG antivirus which I kept updated. But now the computer says it has a virus and wont let me do anything, including open my AVG.

How do you know this? Exactly what is the message?

[Jaylee]

I get an error message saying "Your computer is infected with **** files. Click here to open your antivirus." The actual infected file names changed between three different ones. And it wont let me open the anti virus. I wont let me use the internet or open anything. And these little red shields are popping up in the taskbar.

[el_zorro]

sounds like malware. among other things, it disables your anti-virus software and opens the door wide open for other malware and virusses. I would download anti-malware and let it do a full scan and remove. For anti-virus software I dont recommend semantec, it blew up my PC once and their tech support was worse than useless. There are free anti-virus packages out there, your existing anti-virus software will work once you remove the malware. You might want to re-install or update it once the malware is removed.

[Paul56]

This was the only thing my soon to be ex husband was good for

My desktop upstairs has a virus. My ex put a firewall on it and the free version of AVG antivirus which I kept updated. But now the computer says it has a virus and wont let me do anything, including open my AVG.

I have no idea what my next step should be. I don't have the money to take it to the computer repair shop. I was thinking maybe I could buy some Norton or something tomorrow? Does anyone have any advice?

Do an online virus scan here: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

If that cleans it up you are good to go again but not quite out of the woods yet...

-Dump AVG and get ESET NOD32: http://www.eset.com/
-Be extremely careful with what emails are opened and what links are clicked.

Let us know how the online scan goes.

[montana]

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

it will clean it up. FREE version

[Jaylee]

I can't get the internet to work though on the computer. Any way around this? When I click to go online I just keep getting that box I mentioned over and over and over again.

[Wulfman]

I get an error message saying "Your computer is infected with **** files. Click here to open your antivirus." The actual infected file names changed between three different ones. And it wont let me open the anti virus. I wont let me use the internet or open anything. And these little red shields are popping up in the taskbar.

I agree with what el_zorro said. As long as you don't accept that "Anti-Virus" software, it won't further infect your computer.

That Trend Micro software that Paul56 mentioned looks familiar, too.

You might want to clean out all the Temporary Internet Files and Cookies in your browser, too.

Den

[Jaylee]

Thanks for the links If I could just get the dang thing to go online

[Wulfman]

If you're using Internet Explorer, go into the Tools/Internet Options and see if it's changed your Home Page.

Den

[montana]

Download to good computer to a thumb drive then load on infected one and run scan

[Jaylee]

Download to good computer to a thumb drive then load on infected one and run scan

Okay I did not know I could do that. I will try that tomorrow. Thanks so much everyone