NationStates Jolt Archive

They really do.
I am trying to set up a computer for a friend. But right after I finished setting up Windows, and before I ever connected to the internet or anything, it was already loaded with viruses and spyware.

So, I wiped the drive and started over. And got an identical result, but with entirely different viruses that i couldn't delete. On top of that, the wireless card broke somewhere along the way and I can't get it to attempt to get itself an IP address.

I am sooo tempted to just install Linux and say "You'll thank me later."
:p

And the moral of the story is never use me as your tech support, because computer viruses and assorted amlware seem to conjure at random when I'm around.

that sux...sounds like someone needs a :fluffle:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y6/chris2000ta/CopyofFluffle.jpg

LMAO

Some dumbass "accidentally" loaded a worm into our network this week. Luckily it only got to about 20 computers, but those 20 took us about 15 hours to clean and secure.

aren't trojans supposed to help keep you from getting the virus?

har har h.... okay that sucked

They really do.
I am trying to set up a computer for a friend. But right after I finished setting up Windows, and before I ever connected to the internet or anything, it was already loaded with viruses and spyware.

So, I wiped the drive and started over. And got an identical result, but with entirely different viruses that i couldn't delete. On top of that, the wireless card broke somewhere along the way and I can't get it to attempt to get itself an IP address.

I am sooo tempted to just install Linux and say "You'll thank me later."
:p

And the moral of the story is never use me as your tech support, because computer viruses and assorted amlware seem to conjure at random when I'm around.
You should have created a CD with the following three programs on it.
Spybot S&D
AdAware S&E
AVG 7.0

The combination of the three along with firefox for internet usage cleans up almost anything.

You should have created a CD with the following three programs on it.
Spybot S&D
AdAware S&E
AVG 7.0

The combination of the three along with firefox for internet usage cleans up almost anything.


I almost yelled "What about Firefox!?!?!?!?"

But you're a keen individual and know about the heavnly goodie that firefox is :)

Opera works as well but firefox has some nifty toys that opera doesn't.

Opear is awesome, I loved using it.

I'm too cheap to buy it though, and the banner ad is a nuisance.

They really do.
I am trying to set up a computer for a friend. But right after I finished setting up Windows, and before I ever connected to the internet or anything, it was already loaded with viruses and spyware.

So, I wiped the drive and started over. And got an identical result, but with entirely different viruses that i couldn't delete. On top of that, the wireless card broke somewhere along the way and I can't get it to attempt to get itself an IP address.

I am sooo tempted to just install Linux and say "You'll thank me later."
:p

And the moral of the story is never use me as your tech support, because computer viruses and assorted amlware seem to conjure at random when I'm around.

OMG I've got exactly the same affliction! If you ever find a cure, you must tell me right away!

I'm a Windows XP user, though since Microsoft has withdrawn it's support from US legislation that recognises homosexuals as human beings (1), I'm quite willing to upskill myself in the world of OS and then boycott them.

I have VET and it's probably the best antivirus I have ever had the pleasure of using. I had Norton for a long time and was getting the odd infection, but everyone I've spoken to recommends VET. It rocks my world.

The semi-magical properties of PCTools SPYDOCTOR were also revealed to me recently. It lets you scan your entire system, and gives you a bio of known infections on your computer. It's pro-choice (Heehee), letting you get rid of the spyware/trojans/keyloggers/mallware/nasties that it finds only if you want to, which is handy if you're reliant on 'free' software versions of Kazaa. I've used similar ones that don't give you that choice, which can be inconvenient.

If you download it, get it from cnet's download.com, because if you're happy to only use the 'free' version (this translates to "cheap like me"), this is the only place I've found it. Other sources I've downloaded it from will allow you to install and run the scaning tool, but will then ask for you to register before it clears the gunk off your 'pooter.

And if you ever come across Zango search assistant, don't download it, EVER. It says it offers the uninstall option in the add/remove programs function, but it doesn't. It's an internet nasty of the most clingy and dependent kind (much like a girlfriend with no self-esteem or life skills).

(1) http://www.thestranger.com/2005-04-21/feature.html
Dan Savage at The Stranger rocks my Fridays.

I use Spybot 1.3, AVG 7.0, and the free edition of Zonealarm, and I have yet to have a serious infection, or spyware I couldnt eliminate.
I also do have HijackThis for browser hijackers, but have yet to obtain one that I had to actually use it on.

All of it, absolutely free.

If you're reinstalling OS'es and the virus/trojan/whatever is still present, then mostlikely it has written itself to the bootsector of your hdd. This happened to one of my friends a while back. Some virus called the "Stoned Empire Monk." He just ended up throwing his hdd in the trash and buying a new one.

I use Spybot 1.3, AVG 7.0, and the free edition of Zonealarm, and I have yet to have a serious infection, or spyware I couldnt eliminate.
I also do have HijackThis for browser hijackers, but have yet to obtain one that I had to actually use it on.

All of it, absolutely free.

Does it show up on the scans and you are unable to fix it? If this is the case try to get in safe mode and blast the files manually. I was able to fix a friends machine that way.

SpywareBlaster is a great tool once it's clean, but otherwise I can't recommend HijackThis enough if you have an interpreter.

Otherwise...try http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/ they give you instructions on how to manually delete viruses etc.

Get a decent firewall. I've heard not too great things about ZoneAlarm despite it's popularity. I've tried Pridex, but if you like to install things it's 'do you allow this event?' message will drive you barmy. My fav. so far, for free, is Sygate.

Get a new friend.

SpywareBlaster is a great tool once it's clean, but otherwise I can't recommend HijackThis enough if you have an interpreter.

Otherwise...try http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/ they give you instructions on how to manually delete viruses etc.

Get a decent firewall. I've heard not too great things about ZoneAlarm despite it's popularity. I've tried Pridex, but if you like to install things it's 'do you allow this event?' message will drive you barmy. My fav. so far, for free, is Sygate.

Get a new friend.

Sygate pwns ur face!!!!!

If you download it, get it from cnet's download.com, because if you're happy to only use the 'free' version (this translates to "cheap like me"), this is the only place I've found it. Other sources I've downloaded it from will allow you to install and run the scaning tool, but will then ask for you to register before it clears the gunk off your 'pooter.

No, the download.com version asks you to register before clearing up the stuff it finds.

What's AVG 7.0? Is it anti-spyware software or anti-virus?

Viruses are nothing compared to power surges. I'd been happily cleaning the computers at work, not asking the employees where they'd gotten that spaces virus or xxxsearchbar from (their business...), and then one day a stupid construction worker hooked up a 420V generator at maximum power to one of the buildings

:eek:

And that was my work for the next two months. Every day from dusk until dawn I was salvaging what was left of the divison's computers, trying to save what information I could from PC hard drives. Entire laboratories were lost, and a lot of the scientists working there just packed up and left never to return.

The worst part was that the perpetrator was a university employee, so my bosses couldn't blame anybody but themselves. One idiot given command of a single generator for less than a minute and hundreds of employees were totally screwed. By the end I was ready to kill that guy :mad:.

They really do.
I am trying to set up a computer for a friend. But right after I finished setting up Windows, and before I ever connected to the internet or anything, it was already loaded with viruses and spyware.

So, I wiped the drive and started over. And got an identical result, but with entirely different viruses that i couldn't delete. On top of that, the wireless card broke somewhere along the way and I can't get it to attempt to get itself an IP address.

I am sooo tempted to just install Linux and say "You'll thank me later."
:p

And the moral of the story is never use me as your tech support, because computer viruses and assorted amlware seem to conjure at random when I'm around.

Thanks for bringing this incredibly interesting item to all our attention. I'm spellbound. Please do tell us all much more about it, in detail. No, really - it's like hearing someone talking about how getting a finishing nail driven through their index finger sucks.

Of course it sucks. Of course trojans, etc. suck. That doesn't mean it's worth listening to.

I'm a Windows XP user, though since Microsoft has withdrawn it's support from US legislation that recognises homosexuals as human beings (1), I'm quite willing to upskill myself in the world of OS and then boycott them.

I have VET and it's probably the best antivirus I have ever had the pleasure of using. I had Norton for a long time and was getting the odd infection, but everyone I've spoken to recommends VET. It rocks my world.

The semi-magical properties of PCTools SPYDOCTOR were also revealed to me recently. It lets you scan your entire system, and gives you a bio of known infections on your computer. It's pro-choice (Heehee), letting you get rid of the spyware/trojans/keyloggers/mallware/nasties that it finds only if you want to, which is handy if you're reliant on 'free' software versions of Kazaa. I've used similar ones that don't give you that choice, which can be inconvenient.

If you download it, get it from cnet's download.com, because if you're happy to only use the 'free' version (this translates to "cheap like me"), this is the only place I've found it. Other sources I've downloaded it from will allow you to install and run the scaning tool, but will then ask for you to register before it clears the gunk off your 'pooter.

And if you ever come across Zango search assistant, don't download it, EVER. It says it offers the uninstall option in the add/remove programs function, but it doesn't. It's an internet nasty of the most clingy and dependent kind (much like a girlfriend with no self-esteem or life skills).

(1) http://www.thestranger.com/2005-04-21/feature.html
Dan Savage at The Stranger rocks my Fridays.

Well, they caved from pressure from some bastard pastor of a megachurch... But they just "withdrew support from the bill"... They didn't actively side against it... Nor did they cave into pressure from the same zealous nutcase to fire two of their employees who testified before congress in support of the bill...

They really do..... around.

Did you perform the installation with the modem thingy already plugged in? I've heard that viruses can be caught during installation. I would install first, sort out internet afterward (don't know if that helps - windows XP has a firewall you can turn on though).

If you're reinstalling OS'es and the virus/trojan/whatever is still present, then mostlikely it has written itself to the bootsector of your hdd. This happened to one of my friends a while back. Some virus called the "Stoned Empire Monk." He just ended up throwing his hdd in the trash and buying a new one.

Hehe. You can solve that by Secure Erasing it.

As per the problem, yea try secure erasing the hard drive, then try again.

If it still is a problem, MAKE SURE YOUR USING A LEGIT WINDOWS CD. If it's burned, a virus might've been burned onto it. If it's still a problem, then it's all God, and it's proof he exists! >.>

Edit: http://www.tolvanen.com/eraser/

aren't trojans supposed to help keep you from getting the virus?

har har h.... okay that sucked
Your hired as my punman.