Infected Computer

[Kuroneko97]

Basically, I looked up a lot on the internet about light novels, and now my computer is not failing to tell me something very likely wrong with it. I wouldn't care so much, as everything I need is saved on a flash drive. But there's a new file I've been working on that I haven't saved. And now I can't open wordpad, notepad, calculator, ms paint, or anything really aside from the internet, and that doesn't seem like a great idea.

the message I get when I try to open wordpad is "Application not found. The file wordpad.exe is infected." I'm now hitting myself for looking up so much on light novels. I feel very retarded, and am hoping that you escapists know what to do. The only program I trust that actually works is McAffee. Another program that somehow got on my computer I don't trust is Antimalware Doctor.

I've also gotten alerts that say people have been hacking into the computer, and then the programs go haywire. Please help me. I'm pretty worried for my computer.

EDIT: I've figured it out. I have two viruses pretending to be antiviruses. I'm currently looking up how to get rid of them. And I should be able to get to wordpad and all that stuff after this.

 

[Erana]

Well, if you have almost everything you need, I really suggest you wipe your computer and avoid the types of sites you've been going to. If your computer again rides the shoopuf, then one of the files on your flashdrive is a contributing culprit.

As for that one file, well, its prolly lost. Unless its more than a day's effort, though, I'd really just suggest reinstalling the OS.

Try Spybot and a few other programs, I don't recall what they're called. Someone will be kind enough to refresh my memory. Just have three or four good programs updated and run regularly, and try to avoid sketchy sites.

 

[Anarchemitis]

Those messages actually might be a virus, and by clicking on any of the buttons on those prompts might be giving it permission to do further damage. Grand apologies if this makes you even more scared.
Download Avast! Antivirus [http://www.avast.com/en-ca/free-antivirus-download] (a free, reliable antivirus program) (and if you have Windows XP, Spybot Search & Destroy [http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html]. if you have a newer OS, don't get it; updates won't work quite right).
As soon as they're installed and set up, do complete scans of your computer, and browse through the list of programs in Programs & Features in your Control Panel as well as in your C/Program Files, and do a bit of spring cleaning, getting rid of unneeded or suspicious programs that may have been installed in the past. If you're unsure what it is, google the program or its component filenames.
Don't forget to do other regular computer maintenance stuff like De-fragmenting your hard-drive, and clearing your browser cookies.

 

[Kuroneko97]

Those messages actually might be a virus, and by clicking on any of the buttons on those prompts might be giving it permission to do further damage. Grand apologies if this makes you even more scared.
Download Avast! Antivirus [http://www.avast.com/en-ca/free-antivirus-download] (a free, reliable antivirus program) (and if you have Windows XP, Spybot Search & Destroy [http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html]. if you have a newer OS, don't get it; updates won't work quite right).
As soon as they're installed and set up, do complete scans of your computer, and browse through the list of programs in Programs & Features in your Control Panel as well as in your C/Program Files, and do a bit of spring cleaning, getting rid of unneeded or suspicious programs that may have been installed in the past. If you're unsure what it is, google the program or its component filenames.
Don't forget to do other regular computer maintenance stuff like De-fragmenting your hard-drive, and clearing your browser cookies.

What I've recently done is a complete, 2 hour long scan on McAfee, which only turned up one bad file that was removed. And I agree with the idea that they're fake, as the "hacker" one just minimizes my windows and freezes my mouse for a moment, and the windows explorer keeps on opening up is(for some odd reason) porn sites. I've figured out that I don't have a problem. This program that somehow is stuck on my computer keeps on throwing "Your computer is at risk" messages every minute or so. I'm going to look it up and see if it's a real program. If not, then how to get rid of it.

 

[The Cheezy One]

Malware bytes is what we use with clients at work (IT Support), not a firewall, specially designed to hunt and kill infections. Go for that!
Run in safe mode (hit F8 during boot and select safe mode in case you don't know) to override most of the viruses control