Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Charismatic on December 22, 2008, 10:54:06 pm

Title: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: Charismatic on December 22, 2008, 10:54:06 pm
Lol, take two. Last time it didnt save what i said..

For the last week or so I have not really gone on any new sites. Only my regular one. Then all of a sudden today crap start happening. Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox both go to a certain site, as if i clicked on a link  or something. A whole new window comes up and it tries to install a exe installer file.

It seems to keep starting in my temporary internet folder, which i cant keep it out of there. I empty the folder, it come back.

I have dealt with something like this in the past but this time i cant get around it. And its anoying. I have 4 pics for you all. I use the AVG antivirus, free edition.

Help or information would be gratefull.

[attachment stolen by Slimey Goober]
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: FUBAR-BDHR on December 22, 2008, 11:11:05 pm
I've seen this (or something like it) before.  They are hard to get rid of.  I take it you have tried booting up in safe mode and running a scan.  Also if Symantec's site still has the free online scanner you can try running that to at least see what nasty you picked up.  Once you know what it is you can usually find a removal tool. 

More info here:  http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2008-082521-2037-99&tabid=3
Never tried it but there is a removal tool here:  http://hijackers-removal.blogspot.com/
Even better manual removal instructions:  http://www.windowsvistaplace.com/antivirus2009-antivirus-2009-removal-instructions/spyware-removal
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: Wanderer on December 22, 2008, 11:19:26 pm
Hijacker...

Make sure your anti-virus is up-to-date (assuming you still can)
Download and run some reputable spyware/adware programs, preferably more than one (spybot, adaware, avg anti-spyware for example) and see if they catch it
Or search with google for 'Antivirus 2009' and 'removal'.. should provide plenty of hints on how to get rid of it.
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: Fury on December 23, 2008, 01:19:57 am
Ah, the good old AntiVirus XP, since then known as AntiVirus 2008 and now 2009. :D

Congratulations, you have won a trojan. Follow the link Fubar posted to get rid of it; http://www.windowsvistaplace.com/antivirus2009-antivirus-2009-removal-instructions/spyware-removal

After that, please get yourself some decent malware scanners. AVG free edition if I remember correctly, does not scan for malware other than viruses. I personally use avast which does. If you want to keep AVG, then get yourself free versions of SuperAntiSpyware and MalwareBytes and use them to run manual scans. If you got one trojan, who knows what else you may have.
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: FUBAR-BDHR on December 23, 2008, 01:47:40 am
AVG 8 does scan for spyware but I still run Spybot and AdAware occasionally just to be sure with a yearly HiJackThis thrown in to make sure nothing sneaky got in. 

Also remember ALWAYS BACKUP!!!!!  No better cure for any virus/spyware/etc then a good backup to restore from.
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: Fury on December 23, 2008, 01:55:16 am
No better cure for any virus/spyware/etc then a good backup to restore from.
Still doesn't beat not getting infected in the first place. :p
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: neoterran on December 23, 2008, 02:07:54 am
I'd like to advise getting a mac  :o
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: Fury on December 23, 2008, 07:14:12 am
I'd like to advise getting a mac  :o
I don't. I have a MacBook and I wish I had bought a regular (and significantly cheaper) laptop instead and installed linux on it.

Macs are seriously overrated.
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: IPAndrews on December 23, 2008, 07:36:55 am
Macs are seriously overrated.

We agree on something. My girlfriend often asks me for tech support with her Mac. the last time was setting up and securing an apache server. Seriously the user interface is so minimised that if you want to do anything more complicated than playing an mp3 then I suggest giving up before you start and volunteering for root canal dental surgery instead.

Macs are made to make me suffer.
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on December 23, 2008, 07:39:21 am
We agree on something. My girlfriend often asks me for tech support with her Mac. the last time was setting up and securing an apache server. Seriously the user interface is so minimised that if you want to do anything more complicated than playing an mp3 then I suggest giving up before you start and volunteering for root canal dental surgery instead.

Macs are made to make me suffer.

The interface of a Mac is different from that of Windows. There cannot be a proper comparison.
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: IPAndrews on December 23, 2008, 07:48:46 am
The interface of a Mac is different from that of Windows. There cannot be a proper comparison.

Yes it is different. Yes I have used both extensively. Yes I can compare. I just did. Taking into account the differences. So don't tell me what I can and can't do.

The windows interface is pretty good for simple tasks and pretty good for more technical tasks. The apple interface is slightly better for simple tasks and the demonic spawn of Satan himself for anything else. Therefore given my personal tendency to use the interface for both types of task the Windows interface is superior to the Mac interface. Easily. It's not even a competition.

I'm not a Microsoft fanboy. I so want to like the Mac, but it has driven me to near suicide on numerous occasions.  :mad:
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on December 23, 2008, 08:39:28 am
No arguments there, IPAndrews. I always quit ChatZilla accidentally on Mac simply because I tend to forget that COMMAND + Q quits the whole of Firefox.

Sometimes, Firefox crashes with 10+ tabs open to HLP. :wtf:

When it comes to speed, however, I think Macs have got a lot going for them. As for program compatibility, however...oh dear. :doubt:
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: Charismatic on December 23, 2008, 10:00:19 am
The first link that was given me, sent me to : http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2008-082521-2037-99&tabid=3

That says to disable system restore. That seems like a ****ty idea..

In Step 2, well, I dont use any of the products it lists, I use AVG. Its up to date tho.

Step 3 says to do a full system scan. I did, and the results (of the changes) were posted in that pic. It did not give me any options. Only options were confirm changes, or ignore..

And as regards to safe mode, im not quite sure how to run a scan in safe mode. Or how to get in safe mode or what it does.
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: watsisname on December 23, 2008, 10:18:45 am
And as regards to safe mode, im not quite sure how to run a scan in safe mode. Or how to get in safe mode or what it does.

Reboot, and keep hitting F8 like your life depends on it.  An option for booting in safe mode should appear.
Essentially Safe Mode only allows vital programs to run upon startup and thus allows you to delete files (viruses/malware files) that otherwise would not be deletable in normal mode.

Edit:  Gwar, I remember being infected with Antivirus 2008 a while back.  What a ***** it was to get rid of that junk. :no:
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: captain-custard on December 23, 2008, 10:45:05 am
if you really get stuck run combofix (its free, just google it)  and that usually does the trick
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: Fury on December 23, 2008, 11:55:35 am
For once I have to agree with IPAndrews wholeheartedly.

OS X interface makes me scream bloody murder most of the time. Not to mention that the Mac keyboard is slightly different from the standard PC one. I don't know how it is with the US/UK keyboard layout, but Fin/Swe layout is a pain in the ass because several keys are replaced by key combinations. It outrages me when I have to google for those key combinations because I always forget them.

As much as I want to like my MacBook, it usually just makes me angry.

As far as user interface goes, I prefer Windows, Gnome and KDE any time over OS X. The only interface I can think of that is much harder to use is Enlightenment. It is supposed to be lean, mean and powerful interface. Yet I couldn't figure out how to use it well. They are like exact opposites, yet the end result is the same.
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: Wanderer on December 23, 2008, 12:20:26 pm
That says to disable system restore. That seems like a ****ty idea..

There is a valid reason for doing it...
http://antivirus.about.com/od/windowsbasics/a/systemrestore.htm
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: FUBAR-BDHR on December 23, 2008, 12:21:48 pm
That says to disable system restore. That seems like a ****ty idea..

The problem is there is no way to delete files in the system restore folder while it is turned on.  The virus/spyware keeps a copy of itself in system restore and reinfects the machine from there.  The only way to get it out is to disable system restore.  After it is gone you can enable it again. 


Posted at the same time. 
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: Hellstryker on December 23, 2008, 02:31:10 pm
I'm going to take a guess here, just an educated guess, but it sounds like it could be the dreaded Vundo I dealt with not two weeks before. If you can manage to get this to your computer, here: http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?part=dl-10804572&subj=dl&tag=button That will elimate (if it is) the said vundo.

Edit: Ok so it's not vundo, but it's worth a shot anyway. Lord knows what else you have on your comp.
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: Charismatic on December 24, 2008, 11:04:25 pm
I just want to make sure one of these sites is the real one:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-amp-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html
http://www.spybot.info/en/mirrors/index.html

Ifso, ill try that, and then startup in safe mode.

But btw, once in safe mode, how do i locate\delite the files i need to , and which ones are they?
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: FUBAR-BDHR on December 24, 2008, 11:10:31 pm
The download.com one is the one I have. 

When in safe mode you delete files just like you do any other time.  Browse and delete.  As to which ones they are the instructions on how to remove should have that info. 
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: Nuke on December 25, 2008, 12:31:00 am
kick the internet, it always works for me
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: ssmit132 on December 25, 2008, 02:30:49 am
It's because you're using a dump truck instead of a series of tubes. :drevil: :nervous:
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: Charismatic on December 29, 2008, 12:07:39 am
The download.com one is the one I have. 

Downloading that now. Hopefully it will work.

And yeah my AVG is the most up to date for the free versions. I can only afford the free version. My PC is getting too hard to use the internet now. I gotta fix this soon. I want to try to follow the 'how to remove' instructions on my own, but i dont want to mess up or encounter prolems where i can only get so far.. So hopefully i can get my dad or stepdad to try to get rid of it for me .. in a few days.

So "Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6" is the latest version?

EDIT: Took a lot of work but i finally found it: http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.html?part=dl-AVGAntiVir&subj=dl&tag=button
avg 8.0 free

When i went to their site all i saw was 'you can only buy it'.. etc, but hey, downloading now.
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: FUBAR-BDHR on December 29, 2008, 03:07:58 pm
Just got a computer to work on from a fried.  Has the same stuff on it as well as some others and a hard drive with bad sectors.  After running Seatools on the drive I got it up and running pretty quickly after installing AVG.  Hard part was getting the old NAV 2002 uninstalled with all the virus warnings.  Now All I have to do is wait for the new HD and DVD drives to come in.  No sense giving them a machine that will die in a couple of days from the bad hard drive and both their DVD drives don't read disks half the time even in DOS. 
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on December 29, 2008, 08:33:59 pm
When a hard drive has bad sectors, it's always a sign that the hard drive is going to fail soon, right? I used to have an old Windows 98 that started giving the click of death, which prompted me to start doing hard disk scans per week, and as the days went by, the scans kept reporting more and more bad sectors.
Title: Re: Internet problems, who has advice?
Post by: FUBAR-BDHR on December 29, 2008, 10:33:30 pm
Well back in the day it wasn't.  All hard drives used to come with bad sectors on them from the factory.  If you low-level formatted a drive you had a table of bad sectors on the drive to enter with a utility.  These days I'd say if you get 1 bad sector it's probably not an issue.  Keep a close eye on it and backup everything.  If you get one then another then you have an issue.    This drive had 4 in different areas of the drive and they just popped up in the last couple of weeks. 

I do have 1 80 gig drive that I know is failing that has been running for over a year now.  It runs really slow all the time but I just use it for temporary downloads.  Heck it won't even work in most other computers but it likes the one it's in.  Hasn't died yet. 


Back on topic.  I had to run AVG twice to get rid of it.  It wiped out most of the stuff and told me to reboot.  I ran it again and it found some more.  Cleaned them and rebooted again.  Ran a third scan and it came up clean.  Adaware and Spybot still found some additional spyware.