Spyware experts?

Tdog · Mar 27, 2008

My laptop has been infected with a bug that I have been told is the spyware, virtumondo. It causes unwanted ads [webpages] to appear over windows that I have requested. This usually happens just as I enter a URL or click on a favorite. I slows me down quite a bit. Do any of you have any experience with this gremlin?

Thanks,

Jack

Hakim · Mar 27, 2008

Go get both of these free software programs. Install, then run : 1) Run Ad-Aware 2007 Free - Lavasoft; 2) Spybot-S&D!

Make sure you get the correct version for your operating system. Get the free versions.

That should take care of it.

BigE_ · Mar 27, 2008

This will get you going as well, and nothing to install.

Trend Micro HouseCall - Free Online Virus and Spyware Scan - Trend Micro USA

Dutch445 · Mar 27, 2008

these guys are awesome when it comes to getting you cleaned up,
try it out:

HijackThis™ Logs and Infections Removal - What the Tech

Jimbrown · Mar 27, 2008

Mandatory Steps Before Requesting Assistance Security Cleanup FAQ - dslreports.com

Trojan Vundo/Virtumonde/Winfixer Removal Security Cleanup FAQ - dslreports.com

Thes two sites should fix you right up.

Tig · Mar 27, 2008

I use the same two tools that Hakim uses but I don't think they will be effective against virtumondo.
Here are instructions from Symantec to get rid of it.

Luremaker · Mar 27, 2008

I was having similar problems with my laptop. I tend to loan it to a number of people who do not always practice safe web surfing etc. My solution was to dump XP and install Simply Mepis which is a nice version of desktop linux. Really easy to set up and use even on a laptop. This might work well for you. Linux is totally immune to XP viruses and spyware and very secure. Do not worry about your special XP software as you can run your version XP right inside of a Virtualbox. It is really nice never having to worry about those viruses anymore.

Tdog · Mar 27, 2008

Thanks all - - I've got plenty of things to try. Knew you'd come through.

Jack

MossRoad · Mar 27, 2008

When did it start acting up?

The first thing I would do, if it is XP, would be to run a system restore to a day or two before the problems started. Then install some anti spyware software and run it to make sure it is not in some of your data files.

MossRoad · Mar 27, 2008

Maybe I should ask if most folks even know about system restore in XP. Lots of folks don't know about it. It is one of the very few good things from Microsoft.

If comes free with XP. Set it up to do regular system check points, like once a week. Also, manually run a system checkpoint before installing any software. If the software goobers up the machine, just restore to the checkpoint and it is gone.

JB4310 · Mar 27, 2008

MossRoad said:
Maybe I should ask if most folks even know about system restore in XP. Lots of folks don't know about it. It is one of the very few good things from Microsoft. If comes free with XP. Set it up to do regular system check points, like once a week. Also, manually run a system checkpoint before installing any software. If the software goobers up the machine, just restore to the checkpoint and it is gone.

I have it, of course on my 4 year old Sony Vaio w/XP. I've never used it though, I've heard it does use up some resources as it is creating restore points automatically?
I've been real happy with the Sony, it's been pretty much trouble free for 4 years and I'm not to tech savvy, any time it started to get a little funky I would run that Adaware free program and it seemed to work, I did format the C drive last month for the first time and now I want to get rid of Norton, One of the tech support people that helped me with the recovery recommended Live One Care from MS. it's supposed to run light and not slow things down like Norton, anyone familiar with it?

anojones · Mar 27, 2008

My advice is to back up all your data (music, photos, documents etc) and do a fresh re-install of windows. If you have one piece of spyware, you will very likely have more hiding in there and viruses as well. You are very likely running as a botnet computer. Unfortunately, there is no way to know you've got rid of everything no matter how much anti-virus and anti-spyware stuff you run. Once your back up and running use the restore feature as suggested and run an anti-virus and the anti-spyware programs all ready reccomened.

riptides · Mar 28, 2008

If he is infected, and backs up his stuff. and even re-installs windows, do you really think he is safe when he restores? Even selectively?

The BEST course of action is to remove virus/trojan/ad-ware/spyware and get a KNOWN GOOD clean machine.

Then back that up.

Sorry but you going to have to do some work to get a safe computer. Either you pay for it in resources, your own time, or $$$.

-Mike Z.

Erik_in_Hoyt · Mar 28, 2008

I use webroot spysweeper - it both blocks and removes spyware & such. They also have an anti-virus version that's pretty good, all for less than $40 - with free upgrades for a year.

Luremaker · Mar 28, 2008

MossRoad said:
Maybe I should ask if most folks even know about system restore in XP. Lots of folks don't know about it. It is one of the very few good things from Microsoft. If comes free with XP. Set it up to do regular system check points, like once a week. Also, manually run a system checkpoint before installing any software. If the software goobers up the machine, just restore to the checkpoint and it is gone.

When you restore to a previous date do you loose data like new documents, email etc?

MossRoad · Mar 30, 2008

Luremaker said:
When you restore to a previous date do you loose data like new documents, email etc?

You are not supposed to lose any data, only changes to the system registry. I have done system restores probably a hundred times or more on many, many machines and have had very good success with it and never lost data. Even so, back up your data first. Why? Mr. Murphy suggested it.

And everyone should have an adequate data backup plan, anyway.