Help! Computer Virus... can't use Norton's

[Jeannie]

My DD got a virus/worm on her laptop the other day. She got the pop up saying that the system is infected, but then it shuts down the internet. She can't run a Norton's scan to quarantine the virus because she cannot get into to the internet. Is there anything she can do?

Thanks!

 

[JR6ooo4]

try to find the name of the virus.

on a different computer download a removal tool to a flash drive and then run it.

Mikeeee

 

[FireDancer]

The only way to really be sure you got rid of a virus is to do a wipe and clean install of Windows. Many viruses can get their hooks into the OS and even the Kernel so it is very difficult to get completely rid of them. When anyone I know calls me to tell me they have a virus I have them back up their data, wipe their hard drive, and reinstall Windows from scratch.

In the meantime the computer has a very good Microsoft tool called the Malicious Software Removal Tool. Click on Start -> Run -> Type 'MRT' -> Hit Enter. If the computer is up to date the tool will have the date "December 2009" in the title bar. Choose to do a full scan and let it run. It is a very good tool and often gets rid of anything bad.

I would also get rid of Norton and use either AVG or Avast. Both are free and work as well if not better than Norton without all the bloat that Norton brings. The most important thing to remember is that Virus software is only a secondary defense to viruses. The first line and most important thing is the user behavior. Most viruses come from clicking on things that no one should, allowing mail clients to preview mail, or allowing scripting to run un-checked.

Good luck.

 

[charlie,nj]

Something like this happened to my wife a few months ago. She kept getting a pop up saying she had a virus. Turns out the pop up was the virus, it looked like her laptop was giving the warning but it wasn’t. It kept saying click on a link to clean up the virus. I got out of the internet and just clicked on my anti-virus icon and ran a scan. No problems after that.

I think there was a thread on here about a similar situation see if you can search for it.

Good Luck



.

 

[Jeannie]

Thanks so much for the quick replies! We're trying the 'MRT' scan now. Fingers crossed.............

 

[clovergirl5]

Something like this happened to my wife a few months ago. She kept getting a pop up saying she had a virus. Turns out the pop up was the virus, it looked like her laptop was giving the warning but it wasn’t. It kept saying click on a link to clean up the virus. I got out of the internet and just clicked on my anti-virus icon and ran a scan. No problems after that.

I think there was a thread on here about a similar situation see if you can search for it.

Good Luck



.

I had this one too, another thing that works is a system restore back to a point before the virus started.
Good luck op, I also had to have the computer wiped clean and windows reinstalled a different time. What a pain. I second AVG free.