Hacked off

Hightower · 02 December 2006, 12:07

I'm really getting hacked off.

I keep getting a bloody Virus or something that is redirecting most of my Favorites to dubious websites.

I've completely reinstalled XP SPII and done the minimum to get connected to the Web (after installing zone alarm and AVG)

I guess it's somewhere on my hard drives, I'm reformatting my second drive as I write but what to do for my main hard drive?

Any anwsers or is it a trip to a computer shop?

Nos4r2 · 02 December 2006, 12:20

I've just had this too and cured it. Download HijackThis from http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html and run it.

Also download Ewido-antil spyware jobby- ( www.ewido.net ) and get the free antispyware trial from grisoft. it'll find stuff others won't.

I had a nasty wake-up call last night by doing this. My PC had 5 trojans that McAfee didn't spot.

Nick Hearne · 02 December 2006, 12:31

Give this a try http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ I have used it when my Norton has let me down!

Nos4r2 · 02 December 2006, 12:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

Give this a try http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ I have used it when my Norton has let me down!

Tried this last night. It missed it

Poly · 02 December 2006, 12:35

I have found the panda activex software to be quite good at spotting (but not necessarily fixing) things that AVG has missed. Its quite slow - but free.

Hightower · 02 December 2006, 12:40

I've tried all of these and more. Nothing works! I guess it's either residing somewhere on the hard drive and misses it when XP is reloaded or some things targeting my IP address. One thing though, I never use messanger but there are one or two indications that something is comming though messanger. I'd delete it off my system if I could.

codprawn · 02 December 2006, 14:36

Sounds like spyware to me. Get adaware and spybot - both free. Make sure AVG is updated. Make sure Windows own firewall is on BEFORE you plug in any phone or cable wires. It is possible something is coming through whilst you are waiting for your firewall to download.

ollyit · 02 December 2006, 14:57

I got summink that'll clean it up

bloody spyware n crap

I have a spare license for this F secure 2007

http://www.f-secure.com/ - ur welcome it

codprawn · 02 December 2006, 15:04

In our experience often the free packages are often as good - or even better than the stuff you pay for!!! Norton is a classic example - it's worse than any virus!!!

widey · 02 December 2006, 19:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

I'm really getting hacked off.

I keep getting a bloody Virus or something that is redirecting most of my Favorites to dubious websites.

I've completely reinstalled XP SPII and done the minimum to get connected to the Web (after installing zone alarm and AVG)

I guess it's somewhere on my hard drives, I'm reformatting my second drive as I write but what to do for my main hard drive?

Any anwsers or is it a trip to a computer shop?

Wots a virus?..........bin it and get a Mac

or ditch Explorer and use firefox.

1st is better

Aidan · 02 December 2006, 23:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by widey

Wots a virus?..........bin it and get a Mac

or ditch Explorer and use firefox.

1st is better

I believe Firefox is great.
However I find the free software from grisoft.com called AVG is great and use in conjunction with free STINGER from Mac afee which surgically removes viruses that are residing on Hard drive.

Use both from free,
Meanwhile down load and use STinger.
Aidan

jyasaki · 03 December 2006, 04:11

Site redirection is usually done by a browser helper object.

Use Hijack This, look at anything with (BHO) in the line, and delete any of them that you don't *know* is good software (Do not do this if you have appliocations that may have modified your browser; can't think of any offhand, except for file downloaders, but they do exist.)

You can also web search for filenames; often, it will ID exactly what A-hole advertiser has gotten you.

For genereal stuff, I've had good luck with Spybot and Ad-Aware, as well as Microsoft Defender.

Luck;

jky

Hightower · 03 December 2006, 11:55

Well what ever it is, I can't get rid of it. I've tried all free anti-spyware software I can find, to no avail. I've reloaded my windows operating system and still have a problem (must in the boot part of the drive), I can't format my main drive as my windows disc is a Novatech one and dosn't seem to have this option.

Sooo, Yes please Olly. I would like to try your F-secure, I'll PM you.

If this dosn't work I'll take out my Hard drive take it to work and get someone there to reformat it.

I'll let you guys now how I get on.

jwalker · 03 December 2006, 13:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

I can't format my main drive as my windows disc is a Novatech one and dosn't seem to have this option.

Andy, you should be able to partition and format your HD from DOS. You'll need a DOS start-up disc to get your machine up and running. That way Windows doesn't come into it so it's very unlikely any dodgy software will know what's going on.

I'd be a little reluctand to connect a HD with unknown software to a good working system since you don't know how clever the offending software is. For instance, it could see a new boot sector and off it could go.

Save just your files you need to keep to CD (and hope there's nothing unwanted saved with them). Format both your HDs under DOS and re-install Windows. Get your protection software up and running before you first connect to the internet and then install your drivers and programs. Back up the whole lot to your second drive at this point so you've got a restore point for the future. Disconnect your second drive and only then copy your files across from the CD and hope all is well. Should it go pear-shaped, you'll only have to reformat, install Windows, connect your second drive and copy all the backup files across to get your drivers and programs up and running.

Hightower · 03 December 2006, 14:20

I've did a major back-up a couple of months ago (when I had a major cleanup and hardware update) so I'll have most of my personal settings and files from that. All of my mails I wanted to keep between the refit and now I forwarded to my own e-mail address, ready for downloading when I get everything sorted.

Can't I just type Fdisc or something into the run command thingy?

jwalker · 03 December 2006, 14:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Can't I just type Fdisc or something into the run command thingy?

Yeh you can but I think you might still be under Windows control although you are using a DOS editor. I'm not sure how that part of Windows works so can't be much help there.

Hightower · 03 December 2006, 14:37

So where can I get a DOS startup disc from John?

codprawn · 03 December 2006, 14:53

You don't need a DOS startup disk. Assuming you are running XP just boot off the CD - it will ask you about the file system or partition - say you wish to delete it and create a new one. This will wipe the disk and then create a new partition - chose NTFS. Remember you will lose everything!!!

MikeCC · 03 December 2006, 17:24

Another one to try before the radical route is Sophos Anti Virus - you used to be able to download a 30-day copy from www.sophos.com - useful in emergencies!

jwalker · 03 December 2006, 17:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

So where can I get a DOS startup disc from John?

Andy, go to: Start->Help->(type in) Boot disc -> (select) Creating. You will note that is tells you that you can make boot discs from any version of windows so, if your own drive should fail, you can still get up and running by making discs on another PC.

Just a thought. If you have a PC where your Windows installation files and your programs are stored in a hidded partition which allows you to reinstall everything back to the way it was when you bought the PC, you will, of course, loose everything if you reformat.....but you know that.