Virus?
#1
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Virus?
Booted up one of my machines this morning & noticed that my network connection was X'd out. When I tried to Repair it, I was given a message to the effect that a service wasn't running & that I would have to manually start it. While I was reading this, I noticed that my antivirus (Avast Free) was also X'd out. Tried to start it manually but wasn't able to.
I'm assuming all this is attributable to a virus. Anyone know what's floating around out there that would produce these symptoms?
I know, a lot of viruses will do this ... just wondering if there is something new that was scheduled to deploy Hallow'een night.
I'm assuming all this is attributable to a virus. Anyone know what's floating around out there that would produce these symptoms?
I know, a lot of viruses will do this ... just wondering if there is something new that was scheduled to deploy Hallow'een night.
#2
Can you boot into Safe Mode and run Avast from there?
If not, download Avast onto a thumb drive and install it (over the existing version) from the thumb drive. Avast will reboot the machine and run a boot scan.
I haven't heard of any new viruses that triggered on Halloween, but there may have been something dormant on your machine.
If not, download Avast onto a thumb drive and install it (over the existing version) from the thumb drive. Avast will reboot the machine and run a boot scan.
I haven't heard of any new viruses that triggered on Halloween, but there may have been something dormant on your machine.
#3
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Yes, tried running Avast in Safe Mode but it was dead there too. Did a System restore and everything came back. From there, I did a few Safe Mode virus/malware scans but they returned nothing of note.
One scan noted rootkit activity but couldn't identify or remove it.
I was given a copy of HirensBootCD but haven't figured out how to run the rootkit killers supposedly on the disk. When I boot to it, all that appears in the menu has to do with disk repair, etc.
I think the System Restore will keep things running for a while ... until the next deploy time. Nasty bugger ... got into my edit machine too.
Can you recommend a good, all-purpose rootkit killer? I had a look at HIJACK THIS but it's a bit over my head.
One scan noted rootkit activity but couldn't identify or remove it.
I was given a copy of HirensBootCD but haven't figured out how to run the rootkit killers supposedly on the disk. When I boot to it, all that appears in the menu has to do with disk repair, etc.
I think the System Restore will keep things running for a while ... until the next deploy time. Nasty bugger ... got into my edit machine too.
Can you recommend a good, all-purpose rootkit killer? I had a look at HIJACK THIS but it's a bit over my head.
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It could be a virus or a conflict in services. Regardless, a couple of good rootkit killers are Kaspersky TDSSKiller and ComboFix (make sure you do a system restore prior to ComboFix).
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You might try AVG free as that is supposed to have a anti-rootkit in it. You have to scan manually for the rootkits with AVGs free edition but they say once you do the program will eliminate rootkits. If you do that though make sure you remove Avast first as the two programs will conflict. You can always put Avast back on and AVG is free too. Good luck to you!
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Would the System Restore I did eliminate the rootkit or is it still dormant?
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I used to run AVG but it was such a resource hog that Ireplaced it with Avast ... maybe a bad decisiuon?
#8
AVG did get bad with one of their updates (don't remember which one). Never used Avast for whatever reason.
MSSE has been working great for me.
MSSE has been working great for me.
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I know I never liked Avast but this was back when I still had Windows 98 and not Windows XP so I can't really say but back then I always heard bad things being said about it in other forums,as for now no but it has been a while too. Maybe doing a Google or Yahoo search for reviews would help you out. When I started using Avast back during Windows 98 days AVG was quiting support of Windows 98 and I didn't have much choice. You are right though AVG as with any antivirus for that matter can be a resource hog. Another good source is to go to Pc Worlds website at Reviews and News on Tech Products, Software and Downloads | PCWorld and look for free antivirus reviews they are an excellent source for professional reviews. Good luck.
#10
Avast (free version) has kept my three machines running for three or four years now. It pops up warnings every now and then if it detects a threat.
My wife's laptop was infected by operator error after she ignored the warnings and opened an email attachment from a friend of hers. Turns out the friend's computer had been infected. Same symptoms as Editor's. That's how I found out about installing from a thumb drive and how Avast reboots and runs a boot scan. It found and removed the culprit.
In this case the virus had wiped out all the restore points, so I don't know if reverting to an earlier state would have solved the problem.
My wife's laptop was infected by operator error after she ignored the warnings and opened an email attachment from a friend of hers. Turns out the friend's computer had been infected. Same symptoms as Editor's. That's how I found out about installing from a thumb drive and how Avast reboots and runs a boot scan. It found and removed the culprit.
In this case the virus had wiped out all the restore points, so I don't know if reverting to an earlier state would have solved the problem.
#11
I use the free version of Avast also, on two computers. Haven't had any problems.
I use MSSE on another computer. Haven't had any problems with that, either.
I use MSSE on another computer. Haven't had any problems with that, either.