Removing PC Malware

[mscher]

This gets so old

My son's PC is now infected with "Vista Internet Security", which is a fake security program that installs itself, disables whatever malware protection you have, then prompts you to "buy". It's in pretty deep as it shows up as a valid security program, in Windows Security Center. Starting firefox.exe will call it to open.

I've searched online for fixes, but often, the "fixes" are actually provided by whoever wrote the malware and either do not fix the problem, or make it worse. I can kill the "av.exe" program process, which will stop it, but it will then restart again. "av.exe" does not show up in a file search, even though the folder it is supposed to reside in does not have hidden files.

We were using the current version of the AVG complete protection package. Son does not remember when it started so we don't know if system recovery is and option.

Any ideas on how to clean this mess up?

 

[j_martin]

Re: Removing PC Malware

That sort of infection has to be removed either with a pre-install environment, such as Kaspersky's rescue disk, which is created over Bart-pe by the Kaspersky anti virus program. That's the one I use.

There are others. Try this link at Microsoft.com Best to go there and download what is needed with another computer, then go fix yer own.

http://social.answers.microsoft.com...y/thread/e36af536-a9a7-4415-877d-536d7cf32e65

hope it helps
John

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Removing PC Malware

PC Tools has kicked everything bad out of our computers here. $29 per year for everything. Worth every penny so far.

 

[jevery]

Re: Removing PC Malware

Worst case scenario, Format C: and reinstall Vista. I used to do this regularly. Now I pay a yearly subscription fee to Symantec. Well worth the protection considering how sophisticated the crooks have become.

 

[Bucks45]

Re: Removing PC Malware

PC Tools has kicked everything bad out of our computers here. $29 per year for everything. Worth every penny so far.

I agree. I use PC Tools and it's awesome. You may also try Malware Bytes. It's a free download. I usually run it about once a week. Good luck.

 

[i386]

Re: Removing PC Malware

I recently used a utlity called ComboFix to remove something particularly nasty from a friend's computer. AVG found the problem but couldn't fix it. Avast found it but couldn't fix it. Malwarebytes couldn't find the problem at all. HijackThis didn't see it either. It's worth a try and good to have in your "toolbox" anyway.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Removing PC Malware

The 2 free-bee programs I use are:

- Malwarebytes (as suggested all ready)
- Superantispyware

Download the program (which you might have to do on another computer, then transfer over on a jump drive) apply the updates, boot into safe mode (F8 on start up) and run the program. If one of them does not work, try the other.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Removing PC Malware

Download Malwarebytes on another computer, to a flashdrive. Start the infected computer in safe mode and run the Malwarebytes from there. It will probably fix your problem.



???

 

[The_Kid]

Re: Removing PC Malware

A second vote for Combofix. I've used it on over 25 computers and it's never let me down.

 

[ChrisNCarrie]

Re: Removing PC Malware

Malware Bytes works GREAT! If it has been disabled by your virus, rename it to maware.scr that will confuse your virus and allow it to open... USUSALLY.

 

[yooper07dmax]

Re: Removing PC Malware

Had the same virus. Downloaded PC Tools, that took care of it. it found a few other items that I didn't know about also in there.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Removing PC Malware

It's not uncommon for virus files to change names. By the time you figure out the bad file names, and remove them, it changes names. Like playing whack-a-mole at the carnival. I've had good luck with PC tools. Even better running in safe mode. I've seen AVG, Microsoft security essentials, and malawarebites all find the malware but have it disapear when it comes time to delete or quarantine the actual virus.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Removing PC Malware

Check this reg cleaner out it has a software removeal section that will take care of the pest .....plus it could show other software you didn't know you had ....I've used it for about 3 years with no problems link below check the screenshot out
http://www.majorgeeks.com/RegCleaner_d460.html

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Removing PC Malware

Malware Bytes works GREAT! If it has been disabled by your virus, rename it to maware.scr that will confuse your virus and allow it to open... USUSALLY.

Bingo...

Note: Vista Internet Security may prevent mbam-setup.exe from downloading and running. You can download and rename this program from a different computer before running it on infected system.

http://www.precisesecurity.com/rogue/vista-internet-security/

 

[nlain]

Re: Removing PC Malware

Get a USB stick, go to another computer and download this, it will run form the stick so you do not have to install on the pc, I had the XP version of that on my work pc and I could not do anything, would not boot up, brought computer up in safe mode and ran this from the USB stick, ran it once at night, came in the next day and rebooted pc and ran it again, started using pc again. I did have to reload my AV and a couple malware programs because the virus had totally disabled them.



http://norman.com/support/support_tools/58732/en-us