stupid spyware/virus

S3anyBoy · Post by **S3anyBoy** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:53 pm

my computer is infected with spyware and I cant change my desktop background i have zonealarm security suite but it cant delete the spyware because it is in my windows components

citruspers · Post by **citruspers** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 1:31 am

try starting windows in safe mode, and then remove it

if that doesn't work, you can always use a linux licecd, boot it, and delete the infected stuff manually

Patrickssj6 · Post by **Patrickssj6** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 5:42 am

http://www.Lavasoft.com maybe?Get the personal version;its free

S3anyBoy · Post by **S3anyBoy** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 9:33 am

citruspers wrote:try starting windows in safe mode, and then remove it

if that doesn't work, you can always use a linux licecd, boot it, and delete the infected stuff manually

umm i dont know what folder its in i know its somwere in windows though

citruspers · Post by **citruspers** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 2:17 am

somewhere in windows...
yeah, that cuts the possibilities down a bit lol
i suggest transfering your essential data (that is not infected) to another computer, and scan it to be sure.
then just format and reinstall your computer.

i know, it sucks, but it's the only to make sure you have nothing crappy on your system anymore

Mohamdawg · Post by **Mohamdawg** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 2:24 am

Make sure when you reformat, that you have the drivers of all your components like video card, sound card, etc etc on a CD or something because I forgot to do that and it cost me $60 to get it fixed. I didn't have a copy of the video driver and the screen wouldn't scale to the full size of the monitor. So...um don't make my mistake and make sure that updated versions of all your drivers are part of your "essential data"

Tip: The most popular security suites aren't usually helpful in getting rid of a well thought-out virus/spyware program. The developer incorporates routines to disable those from within the system.

[cc]z@nd! · Post by **[cc]z@nd!** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 7:21 pm

i wouldn't reccomend reformatting and re-installing unless you have a free day, all the necessarry OS CDs, and all anti spyware/virus solutions don't work.

S3anyBoy · Post by **S3anyBoy** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 8:42 pm

when i said in windows i meant it was in the necessary windows files screw it ill live with a plain white desktop background

citruspers · Post by **citruspers** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 2:25 am

manually start explorer.exe?

S3anyBoy · Post by **S3anyBoy** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 11:16 am

well if i try to change my background i open desktop properties and go to background and it wont let me press the button or select a different background and if i restart my comp within a few seconds itll say ending program fgfhfvdsfvdbd or something like that

[cc]z@nd! · Post by **[cc]z@nd!** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 7:08 pm

see if you can catch that program name. also hit crtl+alt+delete and give us all the processes in there, i'm willing to take a half hour and sift through them to find spyware.

citruspers · Post by **citruspers** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 5:53 am

half an hour, how many programs are running lol

and i think you would be wasting your time, if a virus is so smart not to let an app delete it, it probably uses a rootkit to hide itself, even from the process list.

[cc]z@nd! · Post by **[cc]z@nd!** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 8:09 pm

true .. but still. eh, whatever.

pretty much all i can say now is to run different apps in safe mode like spybot, AVG free, maybe even an install of webroot's spysweeper.

citruspers · Post by **citruspers** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 9:54 am

or use a linux distro that mounts your harddisk, and uses some virus/spyware removers on it