Uh...PC help, please

[Trinique_Fire]

I have Avira antivirus on my computer, but I think I accidentally clicked on the umbrella at some point today, closing it for about an hour, until I realized it was down, then I opened it again. I received a notice about some Trojan infections, so I ran my virus scan. The results of the scan brought up two warnings that have been there before, but nothing threatening my system.

Problem: In the past 30 or so minutes that I've been on the computer this time, I've had three random webpages pop up on my screen. Nuisances. Help! I have a pop up blocker, but this is something else entirely. What am I supposed to do?

 

[Liar]

If one program fails to keep the bad stuff out (happens to the best of them), try another.

Sounds like spyware and not a virus. I'd download and run AdAware.
http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

And if that doesn't to the trick, run Housecall.
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

 

[Trinique_Fire]

If one program fails to keep the bad stuff out (happens to the best of them), try another.

Sounds like spyware and not a virus. I'd download and run AdAware.
http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

And if that doesn't to the trick, run Housecall.
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Thanks, blue squirrel. Savior.

 

[Handley_Page]

If one program fails to keep the bad stuff out (happens to the best of them), try another.

Sounds like spyware and not a virus. I'd download and run AdAware.
http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

And if that doesn't to the trick, run Housecall.
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

I run AdAware and it is brilliant.

 

[Guest]

Not an AdAware fan at all. honestly, I run Spybot Search and Destroy.

Adaware is probably a wonderful program, but I just prefer the other.

no harm in running either or both. they will serve your needs just fine, and both are free.

~Paul

Oh, and happy New Year (it's the 1st here).

 

[O2]

I'm sure you'll get a ton of suggestions. I like adaware combined with spybot. I now use avg and it's working better than those two.

http://free.avg.com/us-en/homepage

Good luck fixing the problem, those are a pain.

 

[Lisa Summers]

Avast - anti virus
Spybot S & D - for spyware
AdAware - for spyware
Spyware Blaster - for spyware

All free.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

I run both AdAware and SuperAntiSpyware... one catches what the other misses.

(Norton and McAffee should go out of business. Their stuff is CRAP)

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I've got this electronic thug-with-a-club named ESET wandering around inside my PC. It ain't cheap but man does it to the damn-damn on intruders!

 

[Guest]

Avast Antivirus

Spybot Search and Destroy

Autoruns (manual editing tool that lets you shut down the command lines for any program, and prevent it from starting)

CCleaner (formerly Crap Cleaner)

eUsing's Free Registry Cleaner (ignore the pay request, it works the same either way)

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I install some free anti-spyware or anti-virus software every few months or years, but they never pick anything up anymore. So I don't ever worry about anything lately

 

[TE999]

I use Webroot Anti-Virus with Spy Sweeper...it does the job very well.

Norton and McAfee (the same company BTW) suck donkey balls.

 

[Darkniciad]

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

Another good one for once the damage is done. A lot of malware does its flat best to block this from running, updating, and some even delete it when found. Same with CCleaner. You may have to rename both of those and run them in safe mode to keep the malware from blocking/deleting them.

That's how effective they are.

If it's fixable, between malwarebytes and CCleaner, it'll be fixed.

It's a good idea to use Firefox with the adblock add-on whenever you visit anywhere new or questionable. While the site may be safe, quite a bit of the malware nowadays is being delivered through ads on the site -- some of which can activate with a mere mouseover.

 

[Guest]

I use Webroot Anti-Virus with Spy Sweeper...it does the job very well.

Norton and McAfee (the same company BTW) suck donkey balls.

I didn't know they were the same. I knew they were both crap, but not the same.

This requires looking into.

~Paul

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I read a sterling endorsement of AVIRA and got it. My puter went to hell as soon as it was installed. I'm convinced AVIRA is a trojan horse.

In fact, I have a theory that most antivirus & antispyware software are protection rackets. I suspect these guys make the malware, spread it around like Johnny Appleseed, then try and sell you a key to turn the shit off. And as long as you pay them life is good.

I mean, if I was constructing a plot for a story about malware the villain would pay or bribe major software manufacturers for the codes to their stuff.

You gotta wonder how come Microsoft doesnt include anti-malware protection via its updates....and a lifeboat to their site if you get infected.

 

[vrosej10]

I read a sterling endorsement of AVIRA and got it. My puter went to hell as soon as it was installed. I'm convinced AVIRA is a trojan horse.

In fact, I have a theory that most antivirus & antispyware software are protection rackets. I suspect these guys make the malware, spread it around like Johnny Appleseed, then try and sell you a key to turn the shit off. And as long as you pay them life is good.

I mean, if I was constructing a plot for a story about malware the villain would pay or bribe major software manufacturers for the codes to their stuff.

You gotta wonder how come Microsoft doesnt include anti-malware protection via its updates....and a lifeboat to their site if you get infected.

You've never met a conspiracy theory you haven't fallen in love with have you?

 

[Handley_Page]

You've never met a conspiracy theory you haven't fallen in love with have you?

Maybe not, but this time he does have a very valid point.
Why do uSoft never close ports, seal this or that,
OR not have some built-in protection ?

Webroot AV is damned good.
Spy-sweeper is also doing the biz for me!
CCleaner is the best Registry cleaner I've seen.


Happy New Year, peeps.

 

[vrosej10]

Maybe not, but this time he does have a very valid point.
Why do uSoft never close ports, seal this or that,
OR not have some built-in protection ?

Webroot AV is damned good.
Spy-sweeper is also doing the biz for me!
CCleaner is the best Registry cleaner I've seen.


Happy New Year, peeps.

Even a blind squirrel find the nut occassionally! I am just teasing him.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

You've never met a conspiracy theory you haven't fallen in love with have you?

We live in a world where people make bombs outta their underpants. If Ian Fleming had created underpants bombs for James Bond readers woulda thought Fleming was daft. But Ozzies dont wear underpants, do they?

Your average American puts on underpants as soon as he climbs down outta his tree; but Ozzies never leave the trees, do they?

 

[Handley_Page]

Even a blind squirrel find the nut occasionally!
I am just teasing him.

Me ?, I'm half-deaf, use glasses like coke-bottle bottoms, and have a bad cold.

Happy New Year, Lady.

[you got a de-humidifier down there?]

 

[vrosej10]

We live in a world where people make bombs outta their underpants. If Ian Fleming had created underpants bombs for James Bond readers woulda thought Fleming was daft. But Ozzies dont wear underpants, do they?

Your average American puts on underpants as soon as he climbs down outta his tree; but Ozzies never leave the trees, do they?

Geez Louise Boy, you can hand it out, but you can't take it can you?

 

[vrosej10]

Me ?, I'm half-deaf, use glasses like coke-bottle bottoms, and have a bad cold.

Happy New Year, Lady.

[you got a de-humidifier down there?]

Nah, but I could use one. Happy New Year Handley!

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Geez Louise Boy, you can hand it out, but you can't take it can you?

The average Canadian spends his life inside the Queen's pouch permanently attached to a fat teat.

 

[Trinique_Fire]

I read a sterling endorsement of AVIRA and got it. My puter went to hell as soon as it was installed. I'm convinced AVIRA is a trojan horse.

In fact, I have a theory that most antivirus & antispyware software are protection rackets. I suspect these guys make the malware, spread it around like Johnny Appleseed, then try and sell you a key to turn the shit off. And as long as you pay them life is good.

I mean, if I was constructing a plot for a story about malware the villain would pay or bribe major software manufacturers for the codes to their stuff.

You gotta wonder how come Microsoft doesnt include anti-malware protection via its updates....and a lifeboat to their site if you get infected.

James, I think you actually may be right on this one. I'm having serious trouble right now.

 

[vrosej10]

The average Canadian spends his life inside the Queen's pouch permanently attached to a fat teat.

Not a Canadian nimrod! The more you poke me, the funnier I think you are you know.