I think I may have a virus

[Sheenar]

http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail118.html

Anyway, I think my computer has a virus. I'm currently using one of the campus computers in the library.

My operating system is Windows XP. I use the Firefox browser.
I'm not quite sure how I got the virus. I was looking for a download of a song on Friday (to buy) and then on Saturday my computer started doing a lot of weird things. (It has worked really well all semester.)

All these annoying boxes keep popping up. I updated my Norton Antivirus to Norton 360, ran several complete scans, (it says it fixed the risks it found and that I'm protected), but these annoying boxes still keep coming up.

I have received the following messages:

"Security Warning!
Worm Win32.NetSky detected on your machine. This virus is distributed via the Internet through email and ActiveX objects. The worm has it's own SMTP engine which means it gathers e-mails from your local computer and re-distributes itself. In worst cases this worm can allow attackers to access your computer, stealing passwords and personal data.
This process should be removed from your system.
Type: Virus
System Affected: Windows 2000, NT, ME, XP, Vista
Securty Risk (0-5): 5
Recommendations: Click Yes to remove it from your PC immediately."

Clicking Yes results in 5-12 pop-ups appearing asking me to download various virus and spyware blockers. (Even though I already have Norton 360).

The other pop-up:

"Windows Security Alert
Windows has detected an Internet attack attempt...
Somebody's trying to infect your PC with spyware or harmful viruses. Run full system scan now to protect your PC from Internet attacks, hijacking attempts and spyware! Click here to download spyware remover for total protection."

Please, please help!! I have finals this week!!!:?:

[beau99]

You're definitely infected, and this particular one's not easy to get rid of. The only way you can completely get rid of it (if all else has failed) is to reboot Windows entirely.

Back up everything you think is important to a disk first.

[Jingo Jaden]

Back up ASAP and try to aviod the file affected. Worms are the most dangerous malware for computers ever created. If it can detect the section that is infected then a full delete is often the only solution, but ask someone with more knowlegde of this. It might be a computer file that is vital for the entire machine to keep functioning.

*Edit* I really get someone to have a look at it. If the worm is placed to steal passwords ect it can very easily get ahold of credit card numbers and passwords ect if you type them. *Depends if someone has planted the worm or if it a random one floating on the net*. If it is planted, then it is very serius, but it is hard to know this stuff.

[bakura_fan]

that's exactly the way my computer was...then I restored my computer to 2-3 weeks prior and it seemed to fix the problem. Not sure though...but I havn't ahd a popup in a couple days. Also...we have no virus protection..because my bro in law doesn't believe in it. =_=;

[Sheenar]

The only thing is that I don't know how to do any of that stuff. I know a good bit about Microsoft Office and the like, but I don't know much about technical computer stuff. How do I backup files and restore my computer?
I'm going to talk to the Computer Services Help Desk on campus and see what they say.

[bakura_fan]

To restore or create a restore point. Start -> all programs -> accessories -> system tools -> system restore.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

With all due respect to the previous posters, they are most likely incorrect in their assessments.

You know those warnings you got? They're fakes that try to get you to download harmful software. Clicking yes and downloading the random spyblockers are actually how you get these viruses and malware. The whole "scanning your system" bit is nothing more than a convincing picture that looks like an actual virus-scanner.

Refer to this video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8lBUQqufZWc

[bakura_fan]

With all due respect to the previous posters, they are most likely incorrect in their assessments.

You know those warnings you got? They're fakes that try to get you to download harmful software. Clicking yes and downloading the random spyblockers are actually how you get these viruses and malware. The whole "scanning your system" bit is nothing more than a convincing picture that looks like an actual virus-scanner.

Refer to this video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8lBUQqufZWc

I didn't download anything from the pop ups, so something else from some other date downloaded it. It's basically a virus that tell you you have a virus. =_= at least that's how my brother in law explained it. I got a message saying I had "potential embarassing adult material on my computer that could lead to firing from a job or a failed marriage." I just hit the little x button at the top. I don't know why but going back two to three weeks on system restore fixed it.

[Jingo Jaden]

I'd defidently have someone check it.

*From wiki*

***

A computer worm is a self-replicating computer program. It uses a network to send copies of itself to other nodes (computer terminals on the network) and it may do so without any user intervention. Unlike a virus, it does not need to attach itself to an existing program. Worms almost always cause harm to the network, if only by consuming bandwidth, whereas viruses almost always corrupt or modify files on a targeted computer.

***

Worms are something you don't mess with. Might be what MSP is suggesting, but I have not seen pop ups like that since my prev computer was infected by malware which is along time ago. However haveing someone with exstensive knowlegde check it is probably the smartest thing to do. On a pc haveing a solid anti-virus and virus deleter is mandatory if you ask me.

[Saj]

Easy solution for you Sheenar... Go to http://www.download.com and search for Adaware( the newest version ) and Threatfire, download those to programs and run the scans 3 times each, and youll be ok.

most likely thats all just spam, and adware.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I didn't download anything from the pop ups, so something else from some other date downloaded it. It's basically a virus that tell you you have a virus. =_= at least that's how my brother in law explained it. I got a message saying I had "potential embarassing adult material on my computer that could lead to firing from a job or a failed marriage." I just hit the little x button at the top. I don't know why but going back two to three weeks on system restore fixed it.

Could have just been some simple spyware.

A virus won't bring up a message and start going "Oh hay you have a virus download more viruses!" They instead just kill your computer from the inside.

Like I said, the designers of the fake "system scan" popups are pretty tricky, but know that they're only popups and not really any messages from your actual computer.

[bakura_fan]

ok...virus or not. What she is going through on her computer is just what happened to mine a couple days ago. She asked for help, I told her what helped me, simple as that.

[ChristianKitsune]

With all due respect to the previous posters, they are most likely incorrect in their assessments.

You know those warnings you got? They're fakes that try to get you to download harmful software. Clicking yes and downloading the random spyblockers are actually how you get these viruses and malware. The whole "scanning your system" bit is nothing more than a convincing picture that looks like an actual virus-scanner.

Refer to this video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8lBUQqufZWc

Quoted for Truth-

This same thing happened to me in October, unfortunately, I thought it was serious (shoot this little quote bubble was popping up in my desktop tool bar, of course I would believe it! D:)

unfortunately, they couldn't save my computer, and I had to have my entire hard drive re-written....losing everything...

-3- *misses her old things*

To be honest, I would just take your computer into a repair shop and get it fixed..."Let those awesome computer nerds do what they are paid to do and fix the darn thing!" I would rather spend a 100 dollars getting my computer fixed, rather than another 500-600 getting a new one years later ^^;

[Sheenar]

Unfortunately, I no longer have the original software that came with my computer. So if I get it wiped, I don't know how I will get Windows XP and all the other essentials back on it...
I'm going to talk to the Help Desk tomorrow. Didn't get to go today.

[Sheenar]

Well, I talked to a guy at the Help Desk and he told me to download the AVG Antivirus software and explained that 1 program can't find everything which is why Norton hadn't found the virus.
I ran the scan in AVG and it found 3 Trojan horses! And promptly deleted them! The software is free and it was an excellent backup for Norton.

So yay! I am virus free!!:jump: