virus but not on the virus scanner...?

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Well my home computer is used by my mum and dad and they have got a trojan (supposedly)
well let me explain... My dad was on the internet not the best at computers! and had heard from work that you could download movies for free, so he types some think into google along the lines of "free movies" and he clicks on it and now it says we have a trojan and when you type into google the search gets hijacked and go's on porn! I scanned the computer twise with Norton anti-virus and nothing comes up and you carnt do any think with out a box saying there was a trojen.

As i am the normal guy they come to when there's a problem on the computer i feel its my duty to sort it out but i dont have a clue whats a matter this time.

So it would be much a perished if any one could explain, thanks :D
 
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Have you updated norton's anti virus database. It sounds like a worm

Is it IE that's infected - persuade him to switch ti Firefox
 
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al see if it is firefox but when your not running IE it still pops up saying you have a trojen and thanks for the reply :D
 

Neo


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What is your home computer? You don't say if it's a Mac or a PC...
 
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Am sorry its a PC I dont no the make I think it was build by my sisters boyfriend
 
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OK al try it in the morning if the computer is infected an get my wireless internet from it dose it effect the speed of my internet?
thanks :D
 
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James there is a program popping up on macs from porn sites I am told trying to sell a program called 'Macsweeper' which will allegedly remove infected files. Maybe this has been picked up and is doing that windows thing scaring folks into buying their download?

Do a Google on Macsweeper for more info. Here is one link:-

http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/01/16/macsweeper-scam
 
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You have of course looked at the home page in IE to see if that has been changed?
 
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My general concept of viruses is that the end user needs to have a perception of what they're doing in order to prevent infection and fancy antivirus is not usually required.
I usually advocate AVG as a good free antivirus software for windows. It doesn't mess around with the OS too much, is free, is updated often, scans emails in outlook express automatically and usually does a good job. Combine that with antivirus.com or sophos.com to diagnose what the virus is.
Add in spybot s&d to clean up spyware and close down the gaping holes in windows and it's software. Run it regularly and you should have everything to keep windows running without selling your soul to the world.

There is a technique to removing windows viruses if the antivirus doesn't pick them up, and the key to it is knowing that the first thing a virus does is disable any antivirus software as well as it can as soon as you're infected.

Booting into safe mode should be your first point of call as most viruses have to reside in a combination of the registry, startup items, win.ini or background processes. Booting into safe mode should give new life to your anti virus software but will often prevent you from having internet/network access. So, you may need to download the latest update to the anti virus software from an uninfected machine (such as a mac) and install it by burning the file to cd etc. Update the software and run the anti virus full scan and see if you have any joy.

Failing that, look in the startup items and win.ini file to search for suspicious behaviour.

Run Spybot S&D and clear out all the junk

If that doesn't fix things you've got a real stickler and you'll need to have your wits about you to be rid of it. There's a new windows virus every day so you may have to wait till a fix is released for your one from the anti virus maker. Check out the task manager to see what unusual named processes are around (other than the helpfully uninformative named normal windows processes) and end them.

Hope something in here helps and good luck - once you fix it you will learn from your experience for the next time you have to tackle a windows virus knowing how they work and get them before they cause too much damage
 
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I wouldn't advocate fiddling with the registry unless you know what you are doing. I have in the the past used Spybot (freeware) and adaware (freeware). There was a program called noadaware also that was very good. I used to also use registry mechanic from pctools (not free).

I have found Kaspersky to be the BEST anti virus You can download a free trial fully working version that will get rid of most any pests. Failing that AVG is a good free anti virus.

All I can say, thank God for Apple Mac's.
 
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Thank you all I think my mum is going to get every thing off it and sell it for some one else to deal with and go with a mac, I think she's glad it happed for a reason to get a mac! :D
 

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