Re: I have a virus that uses "anti virus software" downloads as a cover up

routeclothing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
Hello there, Today I was browsing the internet when I cam accross a
video I wanted to watch. It told me that I need to download some kind
of activeX control so I did and now I have A seemingly HUGE virus.
The symptoms are as follows...


I have new Icons on my desktop and they are supposubly (sp?) "secruity
programs" and now my home page is always being redirected to a site to
download new internet security programs and everything.

I have been told that other people I know have had it but they have
just simply wiped their hard drive, I have too much stuff on mine just
to simply wipe it all off..

Please please please will someone help me out?

Alex



What specific anti-virus application are you using? What specific virus has it identified? What are the specific removal instructions provided by the AV applications' manufacturer?

Odds are, however, that you don't have a virus. Instead, you deliberately installed adware of some sort. (And, yes, you gave the maker of the adware permission to install these nuisances; read the EULA that accompanied the video "viewer" you chose to install.)

To find and/or deal with issues caused by any sort of "adware" and/or "spyware," such as Gator, Comet Cursors, Xupiter, Bonzai Buddy, or KaZaA, and their remnants, that you've deliberately (but without understanding the consequences) installed, two products that are quite effective (at finding and removing this type of scumware) are Ad-Aware from www.lavasoft.de and SpyBot Search & Destroy from www.safer-networking.org/. Both have free versions. It's even possible to use SpyBot Search & Destroy to "immunize" your system against most future intrusions.

Additionally, manual removal instructions for the most common varieties of scumware are available here:

PC Hell Spyware and Adware Removal Help
http://www.pchell.com/support/spyware.shtml

More information and assistance is available at these sites:

Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

The Parasite Fight
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

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