So you all know CAMERAS but what about COMPUTERS???

Rick Meyer

Rick Meyer

Veteran
Hey all-

This is the second thread I've started in the past week asking you all to fill in my blanks. I'm an idiot.

adware.virtumonde. Anyone familiar with this nasty little bugger? I fear its a gateway spyware that is preventing me from cleaning my laptop up completely.

Using AVG Free, I've gotten rid of all the virus crap. And, using Spyware Free, I've gotten rid of all my adware files. However, when I scanned the computer, I was still connected to the Internet. So, when I rebooted and scanned again, I had a whole new batch of crap that the AVG software was finding. So, I disconnected from the Internet and ran the software again. I deleted everything it found, rebooted, ran the software again (remaining OFFLINE) and was crystal clear except for adware.virtumonde. So, I deleted that. And, to test the theory (that it was a gateway piece of spyware, inviting all the other crap to the party), I ran AVG Spyware and AVG Free while I was connected to the Internet. Sure enough, it located many more bits of spyware and a trojan or two.

Fast Forward, I repeated and rinsed, twice. a.k.a. I went OFFLINE and scanned the computer, deleted everything, rebooted, remained offline and scanned my computer again and again crystal clear except for adware.virtumonde.

Anyone familiar with this piece of spyware or how I can delete it from my computer permanently? Also, I am using the absolute LATEST versions of the AVG software. I just updated them both this morning.

Thanks all-
Rick
 
rlm7189

Here's a link on how to remove this:
http://www.pcperformancetools.com/remove-virtumonde.htm

You can also go to:
Start, search, all files and folders, C drive for "regedit".
Dbl. click on the regedit.exe icon. Edit, find and type in adware.virtumonde

If it finds the file then (if you are ceratain) delete it. Just be careful what you delete when in the registry.

Good luck.

Mark Dalzell / AudioScapes
Las Vegas, NV
 


Taken from the last time I gave this advice: Clean it manually.


A good way to find out what's busting your PC is to install a firewall. ZoneAlarm is good. What happens is, once you run the firewall, you'll be able to see what processes are attempting to communicate with outside sources from your PC. You note these file-names and types on a piece of paper and then--

use HIJACKTHIS which can be downloaded for free. Google it, I can't remember the name. You Run HiJackThis and you look through every single line that it gives you, searchinig for the fishy sounding ones like: CoolConceptSearchBar ... yeah... Spyware.

Write these down as well. If you are unsure of an item on the list, google it. Most of the time it will tell you if it's a standard Win32/Win process or a possible Trojan or Virus. Here's a neato thing about Adaware: Hijack this recognizes AdAware as Spyware. Search a few forums and you'll be advised not to use it.

Then, you reset in SAFE MODE, find those little buggers and delete them for good. Make sure you empty your trash once you delete them and then do a Windows Reset.

Restart in regular mode, see if they're still around. It actually sounds easier than it is... I've cleaned a lot of computers like that.
__________________
 
Some good tips for all PC users out there:

1. Get a router!
go out and buy a cheap router, put it between your cable / adsl modem and your computer and voila, your computer becomes invisible to the net. This way you won't get any nasty viruses or trojans unless you install them yourself.


2. Use AdAware
Get the free version of the Swedish anti-spy/trojan/adware program AdAware at http://www.lavasoftusa.com/. This little program will clean all those nasty buggers and other crap from your PC, is extremely effective and perfectly safe.


3. Use Firefox, Opera or any other browser except Internet Explorer
The majority of exploits and viruses online are targeting Internet Explorer. IE is also "open" by default so it's easily infected. Firefox, Opera and others on the other hand are "closed" and a lot safer. And they are both free and don't screw up CSS code like IE does.

4. Use a pop-up blocker (preinstalled in Firefox and Opera)
If you insist on using IE, use a pop-up blocker

5. Close all pop-ups using the close window button
A lot of pop-ups are coded so that if you click the "cancel" or "no" or "close" button you are redirected/infected/tracked. Simply closing the window with the close window (X) button circumvents any malicious code

6. Stay away from "free" pr0n, hacker, warez and serialz sites
These things are infested to the hilt. I actually suspect that many of them are infected by people hired by the music/software/gaming community to prevent pirating (but then I also think the CIA are tapping my phone)

7. Delete emails from people you don't know and use a spam blocker
Self explanatory

8. Don't be an idiot.
If you get a message while surfing that your computer might be "at risk" or is infected or anything about the security of your computer, simply close the window as described above. It's never true and ALWAYS an exploit of some sort.

9. go to the GRC website and run ShieldsUp
This program will test your computer to see how safe it is. It's completely safe and a great help if you think your computer might be "leaking" to the net.

10. Run Windows Update frequently
As long as you keep your Windows updated it should be fine

I have run my 6 computers pretty much non-stop for over three years now and have not been infected, invaded, trojaned or attacked with any malicious software even once. All this crap about PCs being unsafe is just that: CRAP. As long as you think before you act you should be fine.

mor10
*computer guru*
 
tommyinla said:
What do I know about computers? I know I hate them... :grin:
Click to expand...

now now... don't hate the player - hate the game

just think for a second what the world would be like without the modern personal computer:

- no spam
- no pop-ups
- no internet pr0n
- no ebay scams
- no credit card fraud
- no facebook
- no myspace
- no paris hilton video
- no crazy 9/11 conspiracies
- no DVXUser
- no point

mor10
*enjoying his passive/aggressive love/hate relationship with his computer/space heater*
 
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