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Offline franksolich

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computer viruses, getting rid of
« on: March 28, 2009, 04:57:26 PM »
The computer tower and hard-drive from the nephew, for which I've been waiting all winter long, is now in a small town 110 miles away from me, a damned sight closer than it's ever been.  I think I'm going out there to get it in about a week or ten days, but we'll see.

No more library surplus computer.  Yay.

And I can finally connect the printer/scanner/copier.

Anyway.

As soon as I get this one, I'll send its specifications to Thor, who some months ago kindly directed me to a web-site that "analyzes" a computer, in hopes that Thor can tell me what I can do with it.

Anyway again.

Last night, I was reading the afternoon newspaper, and came upon a syndicated column, "Computer Central," written by James Derk.

The topic was about getting rid of computer viruses.

As most know, my former computer was attacked by a virus, VIRUS RESEARCH LAB 2007, and because it was getting pretty old anyway--although still in excellent working order--and because I had nothing of value "stored" on it, and because it had cost a whole $100 four years previously, I had simply destroyed the tower and hard-drive, took it apart and smashed it to pieces.

Now, according to this James Derk guy, the solution was simple.

I don't believe it.

He says that in the case of this sort of virus, looking into "Add/Remove" does nothing.  I already knew this one part, because I recall getting confused I couldn't find the damned thing in all the folders I checked.

He says however that if one hits "Contr/Alt/Delete," this calls up the Windows Task Manager, where one can "kill" the virus.

I'm aware of the Window Task Manager, but have never used it.  How come a virus is in there, and not in the Windows folders?  It never occurred to me that a virus would go anywhere but into a regular folder in Windows.  Do viruses secrete themselves anywhere else in a computer?

The columnist also helpfully suggests ".....or Alt/F4."

Whoop-whoop-de-do.

This is like getting an unassembled nuclear reactor in the mail, with instructions for assembly, which merely state "open the box," and nothing else.

Any illumination of any nature would be appreciated here, so as to prevent problems in the future.
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Offline MrsSmith

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Re: computer viruses, getting rid of
« Reply #1 on: March 28, 2009, 05:04:29 PM »
If you start TaskMaster, you can stop a process through it...but you'd have to know which process is the virus.  I'm not sure how helpful that will be unless you make a habit of scrolling through the processes every few days, so you can quickly spot a new one...   :???:

I generally prefer using programs from microsoft...like the Malicious Software one, and Windows Defender.  I also run the anti-spyware scan from Yahoo frequently. 
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Offline LC EFA

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Re: computer viruses, getting rid of
« Reply #2 on: March 30, 2009, 01:38:01 AM »
Bear in mind that most if not all viruses run as hidden processes, and won't appear in the regular taskmanager.

One can download a program from microsoft Process explorerhat shows a true list of programs running.

There is also Anti-Spy.info which does the above and provides a danger rating for a process.

Be advised that just because a process is flagged as dangerous it doesn't mean it is not required by the system. Check with someone or google the process name before removing things.

 
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Offline Wineslob

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Re: computer viruses, getting rid of
« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2009, 12:32:41 PM »
1. Get AVG (free edition)

2. Do periodic scans here: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
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Offline Thor

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Re: computer viruses, getting rid of
« Reply #4 on: April 14, 2009, 10:45:25 PM »
Quote from: Wineslob on April 03, 2009, 12:32:41 PM
1. Get AVG (free edition)

2. Do periodic scans here: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

+11111111111111111111111111111111111111!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://free.avg.com/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition
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Offline MASHLover

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Re: computer viruses, getting rid of
« Reply #5 on: May 03, 2009, 02:19:44 AM »
Quote from: MrsSmith on March 28, 2009, 05:04:29 PM
If you start TaskMaster, you can stop a process through it...but you'd have to know which process is the virus.  I'm not sure how helpful that will be unless you make a habit of scrolling through the processes every few days, so you can quickly spot a new one...   :???:

I generally prefer using programs from microsoft...like the Malicious Software one, and Windows Defender.  I also run the anti-spyware scan from Yahoo frequently. 

I do on every machine I touch daily.  If I get a call that means something is not right so i always check msconfig to see what is runing and ctrl alt del to see how many proccesses are running,  I can pick several by their file names.  Once your familliar with what SHOULD be there what is there as extra draws attention.
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Offline Baruch Menachem

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Re: computer viruses, getting rid of
« Reply #6 on: May 16, 2009, 10:05:58 AM »
Now that more virisus are showing up on the mac, I need to do that more often.

I just looked at my process list.  There is one with a user of "nobody."   is that a hazard?   
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