Comments for My computer's infected with a virus, how do I clean it up?

Comment from Daniel on 2009-09-16

2009-09-16T20:23:28Z

HOW DO I completely reformat the machine and reinstall the operating system, updates, applications and data from scratch?

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A comment on: My computer's infected with a virus, how do I clean it up?

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Comment from ellie on 2009-09-02

2009-09-02T23:08:06Z

HOw do you reformat a computer. Mine is a Dell..and I cannot get on the internet at all because I have a virus. Can you help me? Thanks

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Comment from Patricia on 2009-06-29

2009-06-29T22:37:48Z

I too have a virus and can't even keep my computer on for one minute without it freezing up. I'm so sick of PC's!!! I'm buying a Mac and then I won't have to worry about these stupid viruses. :)

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Comment from dorothy gee on 2009-01-09

2009-01-10T00:56:25Z

I've read through all of this and am still in the dark. I downloaded (& pd 4)the Spyware Doctor with anti virus, even though I already have AVG on my machine. I can't see that it is doing anything. I guess I'm a real dummy and shouldn't be allowed to have one of these thing. I have something going on. I was told I have a 'corrupted file'- which I would assume is because of a virus. So, what now? And what is this about the article at the top of this page? Do you mean that there is no guarantee that the virus will be gone - that the best thing is to avoid it in the first place??? I'd really like to know what I have done to get a virus. I do not download a bunch of stuff - SELDOM open an attachment, use this for my business only. Sorry, just had to get that out, and you probably won't print it or read it since I don't know what article at the top you refer to. Thanks anyway. I'll just keep on trying.

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Comment from DEBRA on 2008-11-19

2008-11-19T18:21:22Z

MY VIRUS IS BAD, I CAN NOT DO ANYTHING ON MY COMPUTER, HOW DO I GET RID OF EVERYTHING AND PUT THE ORIGINAL WINDOWS CD IN?

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Comment from Biplop on 2008-11-15

2008-11-16T02:21:29Z

I am using the Kaspersky antivirus, but I see my system hiden file are not shown by clicking the tools , folder opstion, show hiden file ,

What can i do?

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Comment from john on 2008-10-01

2008-10-02T01:57:41Z

er....i just wanted to ask you whether is it possible for a cable modem to be infected with virus...thx!

In theory I suppose so, but I've never heard of it happening. I wouldn't waste any time considering it or worrying about it.

- Leo
02-Oct-2008

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Comment from Leo A. Notenboom on 2008-01-15

2008-01-15T21:50:29Z

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Natalie Kehr: no, I actually don't control which specific
products appear in the Google Ads on my site. More info
on ads and more here: http://ask-leo.com/terms.html

Thanks,

Leo

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Comment from Thomas on 2008-01-13

2008-01-13T15:26:05Z

IF you have important files and projects on your computer that you have to preserve, then you MUST do the following;

Get the kids their own computer. Computers are a commodity now, and $300 will get them a starter new computer or a decent used computer.

Either get them OFF your network (internet connection), or find someone who knows how to protect your computer from the rest of the local network. Share nothing.

You can get them their own DSL service or their own cable modem. Let them pay the monthly fee for service; no pay, no service.

Demand the right to check up on their computing activities. Disucss the rules for computing that you expect them to adhere to, and retain the right to cut their online services if they abuse the rules. You will need to get someone to show you how to track their activities as kids quickly learn how to clear histories and caches.

With these protocols in place, only THEIR computers and data are at risk, and if they continue their unsafe computing habits, they will suffer the consequences, not you.

If, on the other hand, you do not take measures to protect your computer, it's only a matter of time (months, not years) before everyting goes kaput!

Backup. There is a good chance that one day, your backup will be the only thing left of your computing world. Your current unsafe computing situation just guarantees that this will happen much sooner.

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Comment from George Arauz on 2008-01-13

2008-01-13T13:03:49Z

Reformat your computer... but keep in mind you will lose everything you had on it.

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Comment from Doug Woodall on 2008-01-12

2008-01-12T16:41:14Z

Im curious, what settings do you use on your Firewall?
Is it even running? Ive found alot of users do not have their Firewall configured properly.

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A comment on: My computer's infected with a virus, how do I clean it up?

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Comment from Nico on 2008-01-12

2008-01-12T12:09:45Z

I agree will all. Good article.

As a general tip: Remember, you will again have problems with virusses and malware, and as Leo said, chances are very high you will have to reinstall Windows. This will happen frequently. The savest way is to format the drive.

To save you the effort of backing important data up such as your photos, music and documents, and to avoid loosing it when it is crunch time, rather partition (split) the harddrive into two. Save all your important stuff on the second drive and keep the first only for the Windows installation and origional programs and games you have. This way, when you have to format the c: drive to reinstall Windows, you will not loose any information as it will remain intact on the second drive. Frequent backups should still be done, but at least this way, you don't have to do it all that often.

On a different note, I won't blame teens for this as they don't know. As long as you can keep an eye on them, which sites they visit and so. Personally I would (as suggested) get them their own PC, establish a network by using a router. Then, check the history in their browser, from time to time, of the pages they visit. If you don't approve of the sites they visit, simply block it in the router.

Good luck.

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Comment from Hugh E Torrance on 2008-01-12

2008-01-12T11:11:57Z

What about using a live operating system CD like...Ubuntu,PCLinuxOS,Mepis,Etc Etc that way anything you pick up will disappear when you reboot.
Stuff can be saved to another drive like a USB one.

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Comment from Buffet on 2008-01-12

2008-01-12T10:30:37Z

The minimum age requirement to be president is 35 - there's a REASON for this. No one under 30 years of age should EVER be allowed to touch a computer!

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Comment from Rick on 2008-01-11

2008-01-12T07:54:01Z

While I agree that the behavioral problems that led to this compromise need to be addressed, you do not address remedial procedures that may remedy the situation short of a reformat and re-install.

"mustafx2.exe" is a variant of the Trojan.Virantix.B malware (a blended threat that shuts down most antivirus/spyware programs, modifies system files and registry entries, hides itself with rootkit tools and monitors your browser activity . . . that is, if it is not continually forcing your computer into a restart.

Symnatec has a writeup here:

http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2007-122607-2738-99&tabid=3

including advice on how to use the Recovery Console.

In the event the computer reboots continuously, try issuing the 'shutdown -a' (minus the single quotes)command from a command prompt to abort the shutdown and allow you to clean your computer.

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Comment from Natalie Kehr on 2008-01-11

2008-01-12T06:09:57Z

This feature comes with 17 ads by Google. They all imply that they are the best thing since sliced bread. This can't be true, so could you help people decide between them. Do you have any control over the ads which Google puts on your pages?

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Comment from Ravi Agrawal on 2008-01-11

2008-01-12T04:06:01Z

Sure, but creating a Local Restricted User account without any administrator Rights should take care of the problem upto 80%. She shoul password protect the system. Or Go for Vista, It has a lot to defend / combat such things,

Anyways those are my views.

Ravi.

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Comment from Sandi Nickerson on 2008-01-11

2008-01-12T03:28:32Z

Mom of teens here, this all sounds so very painfully familiar. I found the worst offender for the kids downloading viruses and such was an Instant Messaging program, in their case it was MSN Messenger. I set it up to run all incoming files through my Norton AntiVirus, but more importantly I taught the kids not to accept ANYTHING from anyone they didn't know and to check with me first if it was someone they did know. Even files that look legit can be infected and one of their friends was infected and didn't know it so her machine was sending out files unbeknownst to her. Hope that helps, we usually think of web pages and email as being the culprits (and they can be) but with the way teens rely on IM programs, you might find that's where your security leak it.

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Comment from Youlak on 2008-01-11

2008-01-12T03:00:05Z

* Choice I
1. Update your virus definition (symantec,mcafee,avg)
2. restart your computer and go to safe mode
3. run virus scan
3. clean up registry by use "registry clean expert " software
4. reboot
* Choice Two :
1. Take out your hard disk
2. connect your hard disk as slave hard disk with other computer that have no virus and make sure the other pc virus scan up to date
3. scan your hard disk
4. clean registry entry

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Comment from John Sturges on 2008-01-11

2008-01-12T02:21:20Z

Great answer Leo!!! And I agree with Al, the easiest way to stop kids from messing up your PC is never allow them to use it. Get them their own PC.

Then, to reduce Malware by 90%, put their PC somewhere where you, Mom, can watch everything they do on it, like the dining room.

You do know they are going to Porn, illegal music and illegal video websites because no one is watching them and that's where most of the malware is coming from.

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Comment from Al Kubeluis on 2008-01-11

2008-01-11T13:42:25Z

Hi Leo -- Another excellent article and advice. I would not allow anyone, regardless of age, to use my computers if I did not know they were competent and careful. And I would get the "kids" their own computer so that they could learn the hard way the results of carelessness. -- Al

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Comment from Anne Madill on 2008-01-10

2008-01-10T22:54:02Z

Hi Leo-
As the poster of this problem, I want to thank you for your candor. Sure, I'm sad/frustrated that it's happened and the reversal of the problem is arduous, but I now I have somewhere to start.
Thanks Again!

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A comment on: My computer's infected with a virus, how do I clean it up?

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