I've got me some problems!

[J pold]

So I'm pretty sure I've managed to get some sort of virus on my laptop, hopefully not but this is where I need the CP brain trust to help me out. Basically whenever I do a Google search and I click a link to any web-page I'm redirected to another website usually in the interest of buying or selling items. If I have my Internet on for a long period of time some pop-ups eventually springs up and tells me that I've got a virus problem and to download there anti-virus program, which I don't. When these pop-ups come along I can't exit them and if I try they tell me my computer will no longer be "clean". Anyway it's rather irritating and I'm wondering if there is something I can do about it. Unfortunately my Norton subscription has ran out and currently don't have any anti-virus programs, oh and there is no problems at all when I disable my internet connection.

Any help will be very appreciated! Thanks.

[MelBridgeman]

your virus scanner may be useless against spybots, malware and stuff like that...give this a shot
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

[jammies]

You can always use AVG Free for anti-virus (and it's free!): http://free.avg.com/

Next thing is dump Internet Explorer - if you are using it - and use Firefox http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/firefox/ instead.

If you go into TOOLS-INTERNET OPTIONS and then the PROGRAMS tab in IE, you should be able to MANAGE ADD-ONS. Anything that looks suspicious or useless, either disable or (preferably) delete.

You can also find removal instructions for AV 2009 (which is what it sounds like you have) here: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/malw...antivirus-2009

[OBCT]

What operating system and internet browser do you use? How old is your computer, and how recently did this problem start?

I haven't been a proponent of Norton of McAfee proucts for years. I'd recommend uninstalling your Norton Suite and installing something else (free!) that'll be just as good if not better, while consuming less system resources and causing fewer incompatibilities.


The previous posters offered good advice. If their ideas don't fix it completely, you may be dealing with some other type of nasty malware (possibly spyware or adware), or a hijacker. There are many pieces of free software floating around out there to help get rid of this stuff, but not all of it is great. I could list some options for you, but I'm lazy. I'll just offer some links to past threads where similar-ish issues and possible solutions have been discussed in depth. Lots of good stuff in 'em.


http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=71114
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=73990
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=73692
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=68126
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=67591

[Human Torch]

Crap I had that in my windows partition for my macbook...ended up having to do a fresh reinstall after trying the many solutions online. Sorry no help here.

[J pold]

Thanks all for the advice I'll give those suggestions a try tomorrow and let you know how it goes.

[Human Torch]

This is where I went to try to fix it:
http://www.techspot.com

Nothing really worked as I think there's probably different versions of the virus so I just reformatted . Hopefully you can find something that works for you. I remember when I got it my first thought was to search on google for a solution...yeah.

[Hack&Lube]

Get a program called Combofix.

That bugger is amazing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ComboFix

[alltherage]

AVG is the best free stuff I've found.

[J pold]

Ok so it looks like this AVG thing worked it's magic and everything is working well, thanks to everoyne for their responses.

But now I've got another problem, when I got to open my Firefox up this is what I get the message I get:

Proxy Server Refused Connection

Firefox is configured to use a proxy server that is refusing connections.

The browser is configured to use a proxy server, but the proxy refused a connection.
* Is the browser's proxy configuration correct? Check the settings and try again.
* Does the proxy service allow connections from this network?
* Still having trouble? Consult your network administrator or Internet provider for assistance.

Any ideas?

[jammies]

Originally Posted by J pold

Any ideas?

Tools - Options - Advanced - Network Tab - Settings button - Change whatever your proxy setting is to "No Proxy"

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by J pold

Ok so it looks like this AVG thing worked it's magic and everything is working well, thanks to everoyne for their responses.

But now I've got another problem, when I got to open my Firefox up this is what I get the message I get:

Proxy Server Refused Connection

Firefox is configured to use a proxy server that is refusing connections.

The browser is configured to use a proxy server, but the proxy refused a connection.
* Is the browser's proxy configuration correct? Check the settings and try again.
* Does the proxy service allow connections from this network?
* Still having trouble? Consult your network administrator or Internet provider for assistance.

Any ideas?

Thats likely residually left over from the spyware that was removed.

I had a similar issue with a user where I work and was able to fix it with AVG.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Bump.

I have a question about AVG anti-virus..........please don't laugh.

So I was browsing in internet explorer the other day when AVG(free) notified me of a threat. The prompt asked me if I wanted to "heal" the file, so not knowing what I was doing I clicked yes. Another prompt said the file could not be healed and asked if I wanted to move it into the virus vault, which I did.
Looking in my virus vault, there are a handful of isolated files that have collected over the years in there.....am I supposed to delete these or what? I don't get it.....

Also, alot of people here talk highly of firefox. I assume this is a browsing program. Can someone tell me why is it better then internet explorer?


Also, what is the best free program for removing spyware as I think I have something on my machine..............thanks.

[OBCT]

mikey...

No, you do not need to delete those files. All AVG did was quarantine the dangerous files to nullify their harmfulness. They're fine where they're at.


As for Firefox, yes, it is a very good browser. It's best feature is it's endless customizability. A little like apps for iPhone users, add-ons for Firefox users are fun, interesting, helpful, powerful, bizarre, aesthetically pleasing -- whatever you want them to be. Essentially, FF can be whatever you want it to be.

Beyond the customizability, it is generally faster than IE as well.

If you want a browser with less a little less polish and bells & whistles, but a lot of speed and still more potential, you could also consider Google Chrome. I know a number of people who really like it, too.


As for the best free program to remove spyware... that might not be as easy an answer as you'd think. IMO, there are several worthy options in this category. If you're looking for a one-stop-shop, do-it-all program, I'll recommend: ccleaner, Spybot Search & Destroy, Ad-Aware (Anniversary Edition), or Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Thanks a ton OBCT.........one more for you.

If I want to get rid of AVG-free and get a better anti-virus system, I must delete those files out of the virus vault before removing the program right?

Thanks again.