I need computer virus guru!

Call Chuck the Beach Geek. This is what he does and he's local. Call him at (850) 687-5174.
He fixed my last computer when it crashed.

Happy to help

Bad virus. Rootkit. Turns off anti-virus software protection. Need someone with experience and tools to get rid of it. Can anyone help?

I am here for you and will be at your door with my mobile computer service within a few hours of your call. I've been doing this 24 years! Most viruses I remove in under one hour without losing ANY of your information. Some years ago I had 17 employees, now it's just me and will remain that way because I have never been able to find/employ and train anyone who can do what I do in a timely, 100% effective professional way as myself. I literally have hundreds of fresh references, some on my website Home - ComputerWorks we come to you for all computer needs, including repairs, upgrades, networking, web design, data recovery
I'm so confident with what I do, I guarantee not only to remove your virus(es) but make your computer faster than it was brand new or you pay nothing! Call Mark, the owner of ComputerWorks (850) 687-3161

You probably have malware, not a virus, but it will still make you want to throw away your computer and start over. You can get rid of it if you have another computer to download some free software to like Malware bytes. You have to restart in safe mode, and maybe rename the Malware bytes files, so that the malware doesn't recognize the name of the protection software. Then, you just run a scan and quarantine. Dont make the mistake of trying to delete the problems, because that may open a new can of worms!

If you aren't tech savvy at all, you should just call someone to do that stuff for you.

You probably have malware, not a virus, but it will still make you want to throw away your computer and start over. You can get rid of it if you have another computer to download some free software to like Malware bytes. You have to restart in safe mode, and maybe rename the Malware bytes files, so that the malware doesn't recognize the name of the protection software. Then, you just run a scan and quarantine. Dont make the mistake of trying to delete the problems, because that may open a new can of worms!

If you aren't tech savvy at all, you should just call someone to do that stuff for you.

Well, I did start over ? the dreaded ?recover to delivery status? routine. I had gotten to the point where it wouldn?t start in safe mode, so I gave up the hunt. I had previously scanned with Malwarebytes, and windows malicious, and others and had found files which were quarantined. I did remove them ? never had heard that deleting them might not be a good thing.
So, my computer is theoretically clean now, but what?s disturbing about it all is not knowing where the problem came from. This is just the second time in 25 years of computing that I have gotten a virus. First one came from a friend?s diskette about 15 years ago ? small problem compared to this one. Since this is my business computer, I?m very paranoid about opening attachments or going to unfamiliar websites, so it must have come from someplace that I will encounter again. Can?t wait!
Used to consider myself somewhat tech savvy ? that opinion has gone steadily downhill with the rise of Windows! I did call someone, by the way, but no luck with his attempt to help. Obviously will need someone who can delve deeper the next time.
Also, no one seems to know of an anti-virus package that will catch these rootkit viruses. That?s not encouraging.
Thanks for ?listening.?

Run avg it will fix it.

AVG looks for viruses, and Malware Bytes looks for malware. I use both on my pc. You don't want to use more than one virus protection and one malware protection.

Note that the free versions of each won't catch it until after the fact, and that's IF you have set up auto scans daily (or nightly). The pay versions of each are supposed to catch it before it gets to your computer.

Note that for the future, it is a good idea to keep a download of each on a thumb drive, which you can plug in to run while in safe mode. Otherwise, you won't likely be able to run if from your puter in safe mode.

My worst malware came from a friends link on facebook. It took me at least a week of searching online (another pc) to finally figure out how to get rid of it. They can be a real PITA.

Aargh!!!

AVG looks for viruses, and Malware Bytes looks for malware. I use both on my pc. You don't want to use more than one virus protection and one malware protection.

Note that the free versions of each won't catch it until after the fact, and that's IF you have set up auto scans daily (or nightly). The pay versions of each are supposed to catch it before it gets to your computer.

Note that for the future, it is a good idea to keep a download of each on a thumb drive, which you can plug in to run while in safe mode. Otherwise, you won't likely be able to run if from your puter in safe mode.

My worst malware came from a friends link on facebook. It took me at least a week of searching online (another pc) to finally figure out how to get rid of it. They can be a real PITA.

The guy who tried to help me recommended Windows Security Essentials, so I'm using that now (scanning daily). I looked at AVG, but comments indicate that it still has some problems with Win 7 x64. So much for being on the tech edge.

I do have everything on a stick so I can run scans in safe mode. That's how I thought I was getting rid of the problem the first two times it popped up. Files found did indicate a root kit (TDSS, Alureon, TDL3, SPM/LX, several connected to JAVA).

So, I'm still trying to figure out where it came from, hoping I can avoid future incidents (wishful thinking). Will probably never know how I got it. I think I need McGee and Abby!!!

The guy who tried to help me recommended Windows Security Essentials, so I'm using that now (scanning daily). I looked at AVG, but comments indicate that it still has some problems with Win 7 x64. So much for being on the tech edge.

I do have everything on a stick so I can run scans in safe mode. That's how I thought I was getting rid of the problem the first two times it popped up. Files found did indicate a root kit (TDSS, Alureon, TDL3, SPM/LX, several connected to JAVA).

So, I'm still trying to figure out where it came from, hoping I can avoid future incidents (wishful thinking). Will probably never know how I got it. I think I need McGee and Abby!!!

btw, I think if we could just take a couple of these virus writing people and hang them in public, it might slow them down a little.

Sometime back I had a virus issue, despite being religious about running anti-virussoftware, not opening strange attachments, not going to weird sites, etc. When I finally got it fixed (after having to re-format the hard drive, reinstall Windows and recreate almost everything) I ditched McAfee and Internet Explorer and switched to MS Security Essentials and Mozilla Firefox. Have had no problems ever since and everything seems to run much more smoothly.

Oh yeah. Also run Spybot frequently.

Sometime back I had a virus issue, despite being religious about running anti-virussoftware, not opening strange attachments, not going to weird sites, etc. When I finally got it fixed (after having to re-format the hard drive, reinstall Windows and recreate almost everything) I ditched McAfee and Internet Explorer and switched to MS Security Essentials and Mozilla Firefox. Have had no problems ever since and everything seems to run much more smoothly.

Oh yeah. Also run Spybot frequently.

I also switched from McAfee to MS Security Essentials. Tried to install Firefox, but it crashed - I think it's another Win 7 x64 issue. Will add Spybot to my tools.

Many thanks to you and everyone else who has responded.

Yep, Mozilla Firefox is much much better than IE, but beware -- it's still susceptible to malware and viruses.

Tried to install Firefox, but it crashed - I think it's another Win 7 x64 issue.

I'm running Firefox on Win 7. Are you up-to-date on updates?

Yes, Chuck is wonderful. Saves you the drive to Destin Best Buy (and saves you the headaches too)!

Beach Geeks

AVG is horrible. Go get Microsoft Security Essentials, it's free and won't drag your system down like most 3rd party virus packages..

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Also, might I suggest disabling Java plugins in whatever browser you use.

Virus Help

Bad virus. Rootkit. Turns off anti-virus software protection. Need someone with experience and tools to get rid of it. Can anyone help?

I can highly recommend Mark with ComputerWorks...he's seen it all and done it all...his experience will get you where you need to be..you'll appreciate the experience!

I had one like this before and had to go to a different pc and download the removal tool then install on mine to get rid of it. Now I run Norton internet security, have it set to do background scans twice daily with a comprehensive scan every night. I also run Mozilla and download any current removal tools from Microsoft onto a cd just in case.

I'm running MS Security Essentials now and scanning daily. Also disabled Java automatic updates since I had seen that action set off the virus twice.

Will keep trying to instll Firefox - maybe my problem is something in the import info from IE.

Seem to be clean right now (nothing like formatting the hard drive to solve a virus problem!), but will keep handy the names of experts recommended here.

Still hope to find effective prevention software.

Thanks again

Norton Internet Security is the best preventative software I have found. It does everything. No extra software needed for malware or spyware, it even removes cookies during the background scans. The only one that I think is better would be the 360 version.

Wow, thanks to all my customers that commented in the thread! You guys are amazing. A few things I would recommend for you off the top. While Microsoft Security Essentials is an amazing free virus program it does very little to prevent root kits. Another (probably one of the largest problems today) is that many of these root kits come from facebook, myspace, twitter, or other social networking sites that most of us have become very dependent on in our daily lives.

In the past I have recommended MSE for a free solution (and still do if you want free), but I recommend that you use it in conjunction with Malwarebytes and Spybot. Just make sure that when you install Spybot that you make sure that you disable Tea-Timer. It will drive you up a wall. ALWAYS do your scans from safe mode and make sure that you run updates to get the latest definitions.

As for a paid solution. I recommend Trend Micro. They are doing a fantastic job of scanning sites BEFORE you navigate to the page. Expect about a 1-2 second delay in your speed of you browsing, however the benefit is amazing. I see customers that have root kits on a daily basis. Trend does an amazing job, it really does. It is more affordable than other paid solutions, and uses very little system resources.

That's my 2 cents. And if you need help, you can always call us.

Beach Geeks