I've got a virus.

[Akai Shizuku]

Hai guise. Looks like I've got a computer virus. I'd post a screenshot, but like with most other programs the virus refuses to let me open Paint. "Windows Security Alert"s and porn keep popping up. My computer is slow. My anti-virus and anti-malware programs won't open, and though I frequently used both, neither detected this. What do you guys think I should do? Should I just nuke the whole thing, and completely wipe all data (I've put the irreplaceable stuff I want to keep on USB drives)? I want to take it in to my uncle's friend, who's a computer technician, but at the moment I have no idea how to get to him.

Also, if I wipe my computer, will I have to re-install something to make my Internet and router work from a disc? They both came with disks if I remember correctly, but like with most things my mom threw them both out.

Anybody help a commie out? Not sure what to do.

 

[The DSM]

Back everything up on a portable hard drive, then reformat and put everything back on, I had to do the same.

 

[USSR]

Wow.

---Security Alert!!---

--You don't want paint, you want porn!---

 

[Akai Shizuku]

Back everything up on a portable hard drive, then reformat and put everything back on, I had to do the same.

By "everything", what do you mean? I've got all the files I want to keep on USBs.

Also, I have no idea how to reformat.

 

[Mekado]

Hai guise. Looks like I've got a computer virus. I'd post a screenshot, but like with most other programs the virus refuses to let me open Paint. "Windows Security Alert"s and porn keep popping up. My computer is slow. My anti-virus and anti-malware programs won't open, and though I frequently used both, neither detected this. What do you guys think I should do? Should I just nuke the whole thing, and completely wipe all data (I've put the irreplaceable stuff I want to keep on USB drives)? I want to take it in to my uncle's friend, who's a computer technician, but at the moment I have no idea how to get to him.

Also, if I wipe my computer, will I have to re-install something to make my Internet and router work from a disc? They both came with disks if I remember correctly, but like with most things my mom threw them both out.

Anybody help a commie out? Not sure what to do.

You might want to try cleaning it with housecall first, it runs a scan through a website instead of a program so it should do fine, it's also pretty good, if a little slow (housecall.trendmicro.com)

If that dosen't work, the best (but most drastic) solution is format-reinstall, the only thing you'll have to reinstall for web access would be your network card drivers, but unless you have something very special (or very old) windows recognizes these automatically anyways, so no, nothing special to reinstall to get web access.

 

[Distorted Stu]

NUKE THE HARDDRIVE!
I do it with mine when i get a mother virus that just disables everything. Aslong as you have everythign saved (music, photos, work, programs etc) you should be fine!

 

[ElephantGuts]

Do you have any idea how you got the virus?

Out of curiosity.

 

[possessedtuba]

Wow.

---Security Alert!!---

--You don't want paint, you want porn!---

windows vista alert you attempted to mutitask. Vista is now confused

 

[Akai Shizuku]

Do you have any idea how you got the virus?

Out of curiosity.

Let's just say I don't pay for half of my DS games.

 

[Akai Shizuku]

Hai guise. Looks like I've got a computer virus. I'd post a screenshot, but like with most other programs the virus refuses to let me open Paint. "Windows Security Alert"s and porn keep popping up. My computer is slow. My anti-virus and anti-malware programs won't open, and though I frequently used both, neither detected this. What do you guys think I should do? Should I just nuke the whole thing, and completely wipe all data (I've put the irreplaceable stuff I want to keep on USB drives)? I want to take it in to my uncle's friend, who's a computer technician, but at the moment I have no idea how to get to him.

Also, if I wipe my computer, will I have to re-install something to make my Internet and router work from a disc? They both came with disks if I remember correctly, but like with most things my mom threw them both out.

Anybody help a commie out? Not sure what to do.

You might want to try cleaning it with housecall first, it runs a scan through a website instead of a program so it should do fine, it's also pretty good, if a little slow (housecall.trendmicro.com)

If that dosen't work, the best (but most drastic) solution is format-reinstall, the only thing you'll have to reinstall for web access would be your network card drivers, but unless you have something very special (or very old) windows recognizes these automatically anyways, so no, nothing special to reinstall to get web access.

Thank you very much. I'll use Housecall first.

 

[Binerexis]

What antivirus program and antimalware program were you using? Were they up to date? How often did you scan? How do you think you got the virus?

 

[dududf]

First off, go to another computer and GET THOSE DRIVERS, do that before your reformat.

I'd suggest not taking the irreplaceable, if it's a word file, try to retype, if it's a picture file, go upload it online to tinypic.com They MAY be infected, and frankly you don't want that on the new computer.

Secondly, some virus' plug them selves onto USB drives.

Frankly just nuke it, and move on. From the sounds of it there's no going back.


____________

Side note, can someone reccomend me a good firewall/antivirus something? Just something to PREVENT them coming in.

Thanks.

 

[Akai Shizuku]

What antivirus program and antimalware program were you using? Were they up to date? How often did you scan? How do you think you got the virus?

AVG and Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. Used them at least once a week. They were up to date as far as I knew. I think I got the virus from pirated games.

 

[Akai Shizuku]

First off, go to another computer and GET THOSE DRIVERS, do that before your reformat.

I'd suggest not taking the irreplaceable, if it's a word file, try to retype, if it's a picture file, go upload it online to tinypic.com They MAY be infected, and frankly you don't want that on the new computer.

Secondly, some virus' plug them selves onto USB drives.

Frankly just nuke it, and move on. From the sounds of it there's no going back.


____________

Side note, can someone reccomend me a good firewall/antivirus something? Just something to PREVENT them coming in.

Thanks.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "get those drivers". Could you please explain to me? ^_^"

 

[OmegaXIII]

Sounds like a nuke is going to be the only option. Out of interest what AV software are you using?

A strong word of advice, partition your hard drive. Then put your OS on one partition and everything else on the other. That way any virus that attacks the OS can be nuked without fear of file loss. As an extra back up i'd strongly advise getting an external HDD

As some others have said, make sure you have drivers downloaded just in cas they don't reinstall properly.

 

[Mekado]

First off, go to another computer and GET THOSE DRIVERS, do that before your reformat.

I'd suggest not taking the irreplaceable, if it's a word file, try to retype, if it's a picture file, go upload it online to tinypic.com They MAY be infected, and frankly you don't want that on the new computer.

Secondly, some virus' plug them selves onto USB drives.

Frankly just nuke it, and move on. From the sounds of it there's no going back.


____________

Side note, can someone reccomend me a good firewall/antivirus something? Just something to PREVENT them coming in.

Thanks.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "get those drivers". Could you please explain to me? ^_^"

Probably means the drivers you got on cd when you bought the computer (video card driver/motherboard drivers/whatever special stuff's in your computer drivers)

You can all get them (the latest version too) from the web though, if you can at least get your internet connection up and running (probably on the motherboard drivers, if your LAN card is integrated)

 

[MrDarkling]

Note down your windows vista Product key and reformat with a recovery vista disc.

 

[dududf]

First off, go to another computer and GET THOSE DRIVERS, do that before your reformat.

I'd suggest not taking the irreplaceable, if it's a word file, try to retype, if it's a picture file, go upload it online to tinypic.com They MAY be infected, and frankly you don't want that on the new computer.

Secondly, some virus' plug them selves onto USB drives.

Frankly just nuke it, and move on. From the sounds of it there's no going back.


____________

Side note, can someone reccomend me a good firewall/antivirus something? Just something to PREVENT them coming in.

Thanks.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "get those drivers". Could you please explain to me? ^_^"

Well yesterday, I got a very nasty nasty virus (Not to one up you, but alot worse then what you got, crashes before it can start up) I had to install windows on a new drive, but alas I couldn't find my mobos driver cd, and as such I didn't have inteternet. So I went back to my previous version of windows (the one with bugs) got it into safe mode and commenced a 4 hour long precedure trying to get my shit together. Let me tell you, that's a pain in the ass.

Near all of that could be averted if I just had my Driver CD. So go download it. Like now. Do it, I'll wait.

 

[matnatz]

What antivirus program and antimalware program were you using? Were they up to date? How often did you scan? How do you think you got the virus?

AVG and Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. Used them at least once a week. They were up to date as far as I knew. I think I got the virus from pirated games.

Awoaaahawoah woah, don't say that here.

 

[ratix2]

first off, if your anti virus is norton or macafee:

GET THE FUCK RID OF IT!!!!!!

and then go get something GOOD. both avira antivir and avast! antivirus are good ones, and both are freeware. the first one in fact has the highest detection rate of any av program and one of the lowest rates for false positives.

in any case, if you nuke the hard drive make sure to put a good av program on BEFORE you transfer back any saved files, otherwise you run the risk of getting that nasty virus back if one of them happens to be infected. most likely none of them will be but its best to not take any chances.

to wipe the hard drive just put the windows installation disc in the drive, restart the computer and go into the bios (hit either delete or f2 AS SOON AS the computer is booting up) and look for the option to change the primary boot device. then set that to boot from the optical (cd/dvd) drive instead of the hard drive, exit AND SAVE when youve done this, then just follow the on screen instructions. when you get to the installation screen look for the format hard drive option (may just be format depending on the os), and format your computers primary hard drive. once thats done just install the os to that and your good to go.