help with virus needed

[kidsworld1972]

hi, i dont know if anyone knows what my problem is but any help would be nice.

i normally use mozilla to browze the net but every now and again i need to use internet explorer if i need to paste anything, but today when i clicked on, my homepage has been replace by some internet security page saying i have a spyware and my computer is effected and its a virus that hackers use to get your personal info and that i should download this anti virus programme.???

i cannot get internet explorer up at all and the last time i downloaded a so call anti spyware it was a hoax and i ended up with a laughing soldier on my screen which then shot me and killed my computer.

i have avg that i scan daily and i have no problem when i use mozilla as you can tell im using my computer with no problems which makes me wonder if it is a hoax as i would of thought that if my computer was affected then i wouldnt be able to use mozilla either.

any info would be nice as im not a computer wizard infact im a bit thick when it comes to this sort of thing!!


thanks to you all, joanne

[buttons-and-bows]

I would think this is another hoax, just leave IE off till someone comes on that can tell you what to do, sure they will be along soon.

[buttons-and-bows]

Oh And go and post this post on the KT as there are more people in there

[Dianekmt]

Hi,
I know lots of people swear by AVG, but I had it last year and it let a really bad virus into my computer, that I was told had wrecked it completely. I bought a computer book and managed to fix the problem myself, but it was a tedious process and it took weeks of tweaking to get things right !
If I can learn how a computer works, then anyone can.....until last year I had only used computers as glorified typewriters, so please don't think you are thick, you will learn what you need as you go !
I think you have to operate from the idea of rejecting all messages as being potentially harmful, unless you are certain where they come from.
Have you tried getting to your homepage via the homepage tab on internet explorer ( the house picture on the toolbar )?
Diane.

[kidsworld1972]

hi, thanks for the reply's.

ive tried using the toolbar and its totally blocked my homepage and wont let me do anything, and keeps trying to download a virus programme all by its self.

im using mozilla still which is fine but my fire wall is set high and i cant do some things on it like paste certain things.

i might have to go and find a good site that gives idiot proof instuctions or a book as suggested, and dont use my computer for my personal details like bank ect till i get it sorted.

well thanks anyhow and if there is someone who is a wizard any info is welcome.

thanks to you all, joanne

[Gothicina]

Hi Joanne,
I'd ditch the AVG if I were you, my nephew was using it & when I checked his PC because it was playing up it had 139 viruses on it, AVG just wasn't cleaning them for some reason. He had trouble with Avast too, but he will go on the sort of sites that are full of viruses.

Of the free antivirus programs I've found antivir seems the best, I use it on my backup machine http://www.free-av.com/
(uninstall AVG first, then install antivir)

I also suggest you download some free spyware removal programs I use
ad aware http://free-adaware-download.com/index.htm
spybot search & destroy http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html
& spywareguard http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html
Spywareguard integrates with both firefox & IE & stops a great deal of spyware being downloaded in the first place,
the other two work a little like your antivirus program, they need to be updated regularly & to be able to scan your system regularly (I try & scan once a week).
I use the two in case one misses something.
If I think I have a problem I'll scan using both (not at the same time, one after the other) otherwise I just use one, Spybot on a wednesday Ad Aware on a sunday something like that.

You've probably only got a homepage hi-jacker, but I wouldn't ignore it.
BTW if you go to internet explorer - tools - internet options - you can change your homepage there. For now while it's playing up I'd set it to use blank, once your system is clean you can change it to whatever you usually use.

[kidsworld1972]

hi Gothicina and thanks,
when i get five mins peace from my lot i will go and download the info you gave me and get rid of avg.

will let you know if it works and once again thanks to you all.
joanne

[eddieitman]

the issue is not antivirus its browser jacking you need spyware removal tools
Try downloading Spybot search and destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
also adaware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
and hijackthis
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html

AVG is a very good antivirus software and it is not its fault that this has happened its crappy IE
also get a decent firewall
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/
all these items are free
trust me am an IT person

[auctiongroup]

avg is not the problem, it is one of the best anti virus on the market. one of the most common ways this happens is link or movie clicking the best example being on bebo where you get a pm asking to check out a photo, what happens then is a small non virus file is downloaded this then runs innoculously and disable parts of what ever antivirus prog your running by changing small parts of the registry it then downloads whatever viri it can find and installs it on your pc , this is not common knowledge and the antivirus companies wont admit that is how its done, if anyone has ever been infected by brave sentry (which claioms it is a spyware tool) then you know what i am talking about. best advice i can give is save your important stuff then use a secure deletion program to wipe your drive then reload windows or better yet use linux, then when its all up and running blacklist bebo.

[Cushtydeals]

Would System restore remove the programe?
Then sort out the registery?