Thread: Warning!

Yeah, this 'un is a pain. But it could be worse.... it can be fixed without requiring a restore or [gasp] reformat.

Antivirus8 removal instructions. I recommend the manual method if you have the nous.

-or-

Malwarebytes Anti Malware also removes it. (Download the free, unreg'd version and run it. You can delete it after restoring the system - or pay the small reg fee if you think it's useful enough to keep around and you want the extra features.)

My wife's PC picked this thing up recently. The problem we had with deleting it was that it blocked any attempt to download a fix. We ended up downloading Malwarebytes (I think) on another PC and transfering it via thumb drive. We had to run the malware program several times as the virus/trojan makes several copies of itself in different areas on your PC. We thought we had removed it a couple of times only to have it pop back up.
Good luck with it.

Malwarebytes seems to be the best & fastest free solution to these Fraudulent AV infections, I have used it on 4 computers now to get rid of the unwanted/uninvited 'help'.

Oh boy, since removing Antivirus8, well I think it's gone, my computer runs..... oh.....so......slow.

I've downloaded all the recommended programs you fellas suggested, including AVG tune up.

Nothing seems to really address the problem.

Is there a fair dinkum free piece of software that will really restore my PC to it's former speed?

Strange that after running each piece of software to cure my ails, one piece of software will detect problems with ABC, and another piece of software will detect problems with XYZ.

Different programs, different errors.

Got me stuffed, who can you trust to fix all problems? If I have to pay a moderate amount, so be it, just so long as it really works.

Ken

When I do run Windows, which isn't often, I use Spybot -Search and Destroy.
So far it's kept the malware out.

I should point out that when I do run Windows, I don't use it for browsing or email so the major sources of infection are absent.

I use Spybot Search & Destroy & Malwarebytes.

Spybot will immunize IE against known attacks & Malwarebytes is much faster doing a scan than Spybot.

Originally Posted by neksmerj

Oh boy, since removing Antivirus8, well I think it's gone, my computer runs..... oh.....so......slow.

I've downloaded all the recommended programs you fellas suggested, including AVG tune up.

Nothing seems to really address the problem.

In what way is it "slow?" Takes forever to access the drives? eg. loading programs, etc. Or just slow in doing everything?

I assume you've done the "basic housekeeping"?

ie.

• gone through your drive deleting any old, unused programs and documents. (A full Hard-drive will significantly slow the OS)
• defragmented your partitions and performed drive integrity checks.

If you hit Ctrl-Alt-Del to bring up the Task Manager and select the "Performance" tab it should show some graphs and some information. Under "Physical memory" it should list "Total" "Available" and "System Cache."

(You can ignore the fact that the CPU graph constantly hits 100% cpu usage. That's typical. It should regularly drop to 30% or so on a cyclic basis though; if it stays stuck at 100% then something is overworking your system.)

Similarly, if the "Available memory" is significantly less than, say, 30% of the Total available then too many tasks are running in the background and either more RAM is needed or reducing the number of tasks loaded at startup.

It's possible that other tasks have been started in the background, either by the virus or by the SW that removed it. These processes aren't necessary and can be safely killed off and/or removed from the startup list. Or, better still, removed from your computer altogether.

You can see what tasks are started with Windows by doing a reboot, immediately starting the Task Manager and looking at the "Applications" and "Processes" tabs. There will be a lot of tasks that can be removed - but there are quite a few that are vital to the operation of our system. I don't recommend playing with these unless you have some idea of what is what.

That's where tech's make their money.

I'm pretty sure that Spybot S&D has a function which allows you to edit the Startup List, giving basic descriptions of what the most common tasks are. For the ones it doesn't describe, there's always Google.

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

...
That's where tech's make their money. ....

Shh.

Hi guys,

I was checking out a bench some time back, forget what post it was on but when I went to enlarge the image it didn't work! I was
confusabubbled. Immediately the crap you guys got, got me!
My super IT guy said anytime you get stuff like this just hold your finger on the power button which forces shutdown. Unplug your INTERNET connection, then hit the power button again as normal, you will get options depending on your OS! Go into safe mode then hit system restore the day before you got the crap! Worked for me!

Have a good Xmas,and remember 23% of road accidents are caused by alcohol, so 77% are caused by you sober lot, so get on the and stay safe!

Cheers...Oddjob1

My computer is running oh..so..slow doing everything. Since this only happened after picking up Antivirus8, I must conclude that it is the cause. I reckon it's running at about 25% full speed.

As far as stopping running programs, I wouldn't know which programs are safe to stop.

Is there a program that will put the zip back into my machine? As mentioned above, I downloaded AVG PC tune up 2011, didn't make one scrap of difference although it did find and fix a few thousand problems, so it claims.

Back to you for more ideas.

Ken

Hi again guys,

I have always kept a clean machine, one day a friend suggested I get AVG to see how many bugs I had.
So I downloaded the latest version and went through a whole scan with all the options checked, and you know what after running my PC for three years without any form of anti-virus program, Avg said! No threats!
So wow, anyway since installing AVG on my PC it has been like a slug, I guess because it is like a firewall that has to pre-read all the stuff you download. Anyway, I just uninstalled AVG and all it's backup stuff and hello speed again, so me thinks if you run a clean machine and a clean mind, if you know what I mean, you don't need big Brother looking after you. Get something, force shut down, safe mode, restore!

Works for me,

Have a safe festive season,

Oddjob1

Oddjob,

What you say makes sense, however, I would feel very uncomfortable not having AVG or something similar. You say keep a clean mind etc, I got Antivirus8 after downloading a wiring diagram, no naughty girls visible. So, you just never know.

And by the way, AVG did not pick up this nasty virus, makes you wonder?

Ken

Hi Ken,

makes you wonder who's the good guys and who's the bad guys hey.
If you get a PC set up that doesn't matter it will allow you to feel comfortable with experimentation, I use logic and a process of elimination, from there you will be able to feel comfortable using your main machine. Have a bit of fun and you find out the boundaries. And who says they're naughty girls? That is what makes the world go around.

Cheers,

Oddjob1

Originally Posted by neksmerj

....
Is there a program that will put the zip back into my machine? As mentioned above, I downloaded AVG PC tune up 2011, didn't make one scrap of difference although it did find and fix a few thousand problems, so it claims......

You have some sort of spyware/malware that is hogging memory, download & run Malwarebytes from here. Malwarebytes
Just select the free version.
Let it do an update as it is installing & then run a Quick Scan when it is installed.
If it finds anything, then let it fix it.