AVG antivirus disaster

[SamScribble]

Anyway, I know now!
I have tried lots of things. When I go to restore and even resetting the computer, it turns over so slowly, telling me it's 'preparing' that I can't believe it's working properly. I have done that thing where you open up the window and write 'scannow'. It just sits there.

The thing is, that this all happened right after AVG had told me to reboot my computer so it could sort itself out. I figure they know they are at fault because they offered me the free technical help immediately even though I'm not a paying customer. Their technician said there's no virus on my machine and I have scanned it with other antivirus software. There are just these weird problems.

Latest one being, if I try to Open a word document while in word, or do 'Save as', it takes a minute or two. That doesn't seem like a long time unless you're used to this taking half a second!


Still, should be able to get hold of the technical guy and have him come and check my pictures ... I mean his hardon ... uh, my hard drive today!

Hello, Honey.

Maybe I have just been lucky, but for the past two or three years I have been relying on Microsoft Security Essentials - which (I think) came bundled with Windows 7. So far ... very effective, very unobtrusive.

 

[NaokoSmith]

Hello, Honey.

Maybe I have just been lucky, but for the past two or three years I have been relying on Microsoft Security Essentials - which (I think) came bundled with Windows 7. So far ... very effective, very unobtrusive.

'Lo Sugar

I was lucky for many years. I guess this kind of thing is bound to happen to anyone who is just managing their own system without too much knowledge. I did call my university notoriously not-helpful IT helpdesk, as I do need the audio for my online teaching. They said: "have you got another computer you can use for teaching." It's part of our contract that we have to have high grade IT equipment so we can undertake the many computer-oriented teaching tasks which are part of our job but they provide zero support for these. Anyway, I will pay the tech guy and hopefully get it sorted out soon, as I am a bit worried there's some virus secretly eating my photos and transforming them into supermodel shots instead of ex-rugby player shots

 

[NaokoSmith]

Nothing wrong with that. Well, provided we're talking union.

Oh yes of course union! They don't really have proper scrums with hookers in league.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Anyway, I know now!





I have tried lots of things. When I go to restore and even resetting the computer, it turns over so slowly, telling me it's 'preparing' that I can't believe it's working properly. I have done that thing where you open up the window and write 'scannow'. It just sits there.

The thing is, that this all happened right after AVG had told me to reboot my computer so it could sort itself out. I figure they know they are at fault because they offered me the free technical help immediately even though I'm not a paying customer. Their technician said there's no virus on my machine and I have scanned it with other antivirus software. There are just these weird problems.

Latest one being, if I try to Open a word document while in word, or do 'Save as', it takes a minute or two. That doesn't seem like a long time unless you're used to this taking half a second!


Still, should be able to get hold of the technical guy and have him come and check my pictures ... I mean his hardon ... uh, my hard drive today!

A restore from from a save point could take half an hour or more. Just sit back and be patient.

 

[Handley_Page]

A restore from from a save point could take half an hour or more. Just sit back and be patient.

That's either one Very Busy box or one Really Slow box.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

That's either one Very Busy box or one Really Slow box.

Big rollback...a Windows update that went a rye. The time it take to move files from the restore database to the main disk is proportionate to the number of files. Plus Windows programs always take twice as long an everyone else's.

I have an i7 cpu, but only SATA II controllers, so the bottleneck if always the HDD, never the cpu. Plus you working from safe mode, again, microsoft processes are slow.

 

[DeYaKen]

Hello, Honey.

Maybe I have just been lucky, but for the past two or three years I have been relying on Microsoft Security Essentials - which (I think) came bundled with Windows 7. So far ... very effective, very unobtrusive.

If you have a lot of memory and a multicore processor MSE works OK on lesser machines recent updates have caused a problem. It clashes with a number of other Windows processes resulting in processor and memory hogging. This is mainly the anti-malware scanner MsMpEng.exe. It also is set up to scan itself resulting in multiple shutdowns and restarting of the process. Noticeable performance improvements can be made by going into settings and excluding this file from the scan.

 

[NaokoSmith]

Guys, I am really sorry it's taken a while to get back and report on this. Thank you everyone for tips and advice.


In the end I paid £20 to have my laptop taken away and cleaned out. The guy said he had had a couple of people to whom the same thing was happening. He suspected it was a Windows update which was triggering off stuff.

I managed to clean off my laptop, warn him he might find things which he wasn't interested in looking at (I hope!) and he wiped everything and restored it all.

I'm pleased I found this computer expert as the previous one wouldn't even answer my emails any more, LOL. (He was a happily married man, and maybe it's a bit much looking over the computer equipment which contains smut written by someone whose considerable cleavage is hovering near you while you do that.) Now I can clean off my netbook and ask him to check that out, as the poor thing runs very slowly these days. I think it's probably just too old but £20 is not much if he manages to clean it up a bit. I will ask him to look at Piglet's old laptop too - all she wants to do is play Minecraft on it so I refuse to fork out several hundred for a new touchscreen, particularly since she spends most of her life on an iPad mini

 

[ishtat]

Kaspersky

I have used Kaspersky for a couple of years with no problems. I was initially sceptical but it's worked well.

 

[oggbashan]

I use Bullguard, initially installed by my computer guy at £30, but I buy renewal codes through eBay at a third of the Bullguard recommended price.

It seems to be very easy to use although can be configured for more expert use. I had a three computer version which I had to extend to five computers but all work perfectly.

 

[jsmiam]

Although most of the free packages officially became "nagware" several years ago, including AVG, so do the paid versions (think about how they act when renewal time comes along. The paid versions nag too, all paying did was stop the nagging until the final month or two of your paid term).

AVG has a good reputation, as does Avast, BitDefender, and others. That doesn't mean they don't nag, because they all do. (On a similar note, Turbotax suggests the next higher version to find more deductions too, even when you don't need it. Sad to say, it's just the state of software today). One thing that some antivirus programs do, is they install their own "good" (good intentions, at least) versions of rootkits and fake SSL certifying authorities, so that they can scan encrypted items from secured sites, which is a controversial practice and a bad idea, but many of them do it anyway, paid and unpaid alike.

So I will say that odds are, AVG didn't intentionally mess up your computer. Accidental is possible, but I will vote for unlikely too.

Here's the current attack method that is more successful than anything else, and the one that gets almost everybody:

It is the fake pop-up warning, informing you of a problem, but one that DID NOT come from your real anti-virus. The scary looking "Windows has detected a problem", or any other variant, that is very cleverly disguised to look like a legitimate problem, but will actually begin the infection process when you click on it. (the "OK" button is actually saying, "We'd like to install malware on your computere, please click OK to allow this")

Your only protection is to vigorously remember which antivirus program is currently on your computer, remember what the logo looks like and what the warning windows look like, and if you get a warning about a virus on your screen that doesn't look exactly like your antivirus warnings normally look like, you get rid of it, but not by clicking on it.

How to eliminate a fake warning WITHOUT clicking on it: (You absolutely don't want to click the OK or whatever button, if you are reasonably sure you have a fake virus warning on your screen).

0. Identifying: If you look closely at your taskbar, most of the fake ones actually show up as a browser window (cleverly disguised without the browser bars, etc., but it will have your (for example) IE or Firefox logo on the window in the taskbar, even if it doesn't look like one. This is usually, but not always true.

1. Try right clicking on the window in your taskbar, and choosing close. (probably won't work, but so fast to try, you might as well).

2. Click "Control-shift-escape", to open up your task manager. From there:
- 2.1 In the applications tab, right click your browser program, and choose END TASK. Wait a few seconds at least, maybe more. This also may not work
- 2.2 If 2.1 didn't work, click the PROCESSES tab, right click your browser program, and choose "End Process Tree". Repeat several times, until your window disappears. Some particularly bad fake popups will survive several attempts of this, but keep trying a few times, always against the process of your internet browser. (Don't touch any of the others).

3. If step 2 fails, (most of the time, even the most persistent popups will go away after a round or three of "End process tree"), the last resort is to turn off your computer, without clicking on the fake window. Remember, if you have a known fake window, you absolutely must not click on it, this is how it installs malware.

I can't guarantee that AVG didn't cause a problem, all I can say is that they didn't become one of the top products by screwing up computers left and right. They (as did all the others) lost the ability to take the high road, by becoming nagware vendors, but overall, they still mostly do a good job. I personally use BitDefender Free, because it nags a little less than the others. (Also, at the moment, it's one of the best rated ones, but that changes from one year to the next).

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Guys, I am really sorry it's taken a while to get back and report on this. Thank you everyone for tips and advice.


In the end I paid £20 to have my laptop taken away and cleaned out. The guy said he had had a couple of people to whom the same thing was happening. He suspected it was a Windows update which was triggering off stuff.

I managed to clean off my laptop, warn him he might find things which he wasn't interested in looking at (I hope!) and he wiped everything and restored it all.

I'm pleased I found this computer expert as the previous one wouldn't even answer my emails any more, LOL. (He was a happily married man, and maybe it's a bit much looking over the computer equipment which contains smut written by someone whose considerable cleavage is hovering near you while you do that.) Now I can clean off my netbook and ask him to check that out, as the poor thing runs very slowly these days. I think it's probably just too old but £20 is not much if he manages to clean it up a bit. I will ask him to look at Piglet's old laptop too - all she wants to do is play Minecraft on it so I refuse to fork out several hundred for a new touchscreen, particularly since she spends most of her life on an iPad mini

For some reason Microsoft update has missed the mark on several occasions. Once on my Vista machine it download Win7 files. And now on my Win7 machine it has twice download Win8.1 files. Frustrating.

Luckily, rolling back to the last restore point fixed things.

As for my post about restoring my system...it turned out my hard drive was starting to fail at that time. A short time later, it crapped out completely. Luckily all my important stuff was on a second hard drive.

 

[Desiremakesmeweak]

Okay this is important guys...

Microsoft does have problems that it has proven itself inadequate to the resolving thereof. Everyone in the 'tecky' community knows it.

There's no point saying 'in particular their own security patchs and updates' because in fact that are numerous holes and problems. That having been said, we all 'love' Microsoft when it works. Vista is a great operating system and so are a few of the other earlier systems.

Most computers these days are not sold - even though they should be - or mostly not sold, with the original operating software media discs.

So.

Step 1. You MUST arrange to make backups of your most important files ASAP onto USB's or something.

Step 2. Understand that just the 'system restore' alone will not fix the abiding underlying, often unseen threat of a total black screen/blue screen of death turning up all of a sudden with no real warning, and worse, an overclocking virus which prevents the operating system from even loading, going through half a dozen system lines before coming up with the dreaded 0xc0000001 error or something like that error message - from which there are no simple recoveries. (But all is not lost!!! Read further...)

Step 3. Other than the error code 0xc0000001, you will be able to recover your files by going to the system's 'try to recover' line in the boot-up sequence, and when it returns you to the options which includes the 'restart with command line' go to that and type in 'notepad' and you will get the notepad up from which you can go back into ALL of your files and copy/send them to an external drive like a USB stick.

Step 4. Even though, yes, if you can get at least into the first start-up safe boot page/s, then yes, you can do a wipe and re-instal from factory settings action which will wipe all of your files, even then, you can try and get back most or all of the files using a Pandora file recovery program or the 'Recuva' file recovery program or the 'pci file recovery' program all of which do a great job and can be downloaded from the web, and I think there are free versions.

Step 5/6. There are two really great 'fix' discs available that can be sent through the mail to you from the vendors in the UK mostly. One - and I highly recommend this, is eMonster Recovery Disc. It's 10 dollars and is sent within a few days (you'll receive it) and it has all the file recovery software you need on it and it is also a boot disc that boots to the RAM or even on-line. It has Puppy Linux and Linux Desktop on it so you can get all of your files back easily via those.

When you FIRST power up your computer you will see a full black screen with four icons at the bottom - this only stays on for a few seconds unless you hit 'f12' over and over and over. This will maintain a line cursor on the first icon (which is the hard disk boot icon - which obviously doesn't work for you) so then you press the arrow key to the Right and the cursor will move to the C disc drive (the spinning CD drive one) and from this you put in the eMonster book disc and everything will go from there no problem.

(and 6) if you buy a re-install disc from someone on-line - they're usually also about 10 bucks - you can re-install Vista, for example all over again, using the 'not reformat disc' function, and all of your files will turn up in a file called 'Windows Old.'

These re-install discs are not available from Microsoft, because Vista and other similar OS are NO LONGER FULLY SUPPORTED. But you may be able to get them to re-send a re-install down the line via customer service if you have your machine's ID number, which should be on the underside of the machine or else you can recover it using a free program called, I think 'Magicrabbit?' or something like that...(?)!

In all events though, you will still find Microsoft customer service not necessarily that great, and beware, there is every possibility that the re-install they send you is even more unstable than the one you had and will also descend into chaos anyway. The lesson being - get the eMonster disc at minimum.

It is possible to buy unused, virtually new operating system driver discs on-line, but they are at minimum around fifty bucks each and will often still leave you with the problem of not safely securing all you temporarily 'lost files.' Although the Vista disc should do the 'Windows Old' thing with all of your files left there.

All PC's have secret hidden complete factory drivers still in them that, as long as you can boot up to the basic screen, you can restore to factory settings - and there are recovery programs that can get back your files. But, I would advise and recommend either the 'notepad' route first (where possible), and then/or, the eMonster Linux desktop boot disc, which will totally bail you out safely.

 

[NaokoSmith]

Oh this is all really helpful. Thank you so much, desire, for reminding me about the backup thing. I forgot (AGAIN!). I must get onto it.

 

[1handslapping]

it sounds

like a virus managed to sweep through before the images got updated, and so when it became capable of detecting, then you lost far too many system files. Its a risk with any antivirus software.

Personally I stopped using AVG when they subtly changed the way it scanned machines on a new version a couple of years ago, and it made everything run like it was crawling through treacle. so now its a choice between avira and avast. (the free versions, the paid ones are really not any better) just stay away from Norton which doesn't play nice with any other security you have on your network.

and losing everything is the only real way to learn to run backups

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I like I tell my relatives...

Don't visit dubious websites...

Don't open email attachments from senders you don't know....

Don't open email attachment that promise you riches...

Don't open email attachments that promise you a bigger dick...

Unless you can confirm who the email is from, don't open attachments. Period.

Always run you browser windowed...so you can see the popup/unders as they are spawned.

Never, ever, let a website you don't know download anything or install anything. You can set this up in your browser security settings.

 

[49greg]

AVG and most free malware providers install malware on computers to compel users to pay fees to fix the problems. I learned the hard way, too. I suspect many of the commercial software providers do likewise to keep you subscribing.

That is what I have heard is a problem with the free malware as well as the companies who say they will check your computer remotely to fix problems and speed up your system.

My experience several years ago on a previous computer confirmed that.

I assume that computer techs are used to seeing porn on home and business computers. I would remove any pictures of yourself off it before he comes though.

 

[TxRad]

Any Linux live-disc will get you into your hard drive if Windblows screws up. All are free to download.

 

[JackLuis]

Any Linux live-disc will get you into your hard drive if Windblows screws up. All are free to download.

I use PUP, (a LINUX program and free), on a Flash Drive to be my back up. You load it in before windows and it runs the system directly allowing you to recover files and programs. Then you can fix your Windows problems.

 

[PervOtaku]

Had something similar happen with McAfee a few years back. They caught it and fixed the update the next day, but I had one computer that got shut off before the fix came down, so when it got booted up the following week, it immediately ate a system file vital to networking. I replaced the file manually, rebooted, and it just ate it again. Once I became aware that McAfee was the source of the problem, I was able to manually have it pull down updates in the brief window before it destroyed networking again.

After that I switched everything to MSSE.

 

[CyranoJ]

Okay this is important guys...

Thanks for this. Great post.

 

[redzinger]

Hello, Honey.

Maybe I have just been lucky, but for the past two or three years I have been relying on Microsoft Security Essentials - which (I think) came bundled with Windows 7. So far ... very effective, very unobtrusive.

I'm on MSE too, with Malwarebytes as backup. Which I've needed a few times.

AVG and Avast were slowing an already-slow machine down.

I bloody hate that some programmes (Adobe, Serif, GIMPshop all recently) try to install other software (MacAfee, Chromium) if you're not paying attention.


And Firefox is crashing several times a day for me atm. No idea why.