A qustion about security. HELP!!!?

Question

I have Trend Micro. Today, when I turned on my computor I got this "security alert" with recommendations that I download their removal software. It comes on anytime I hit intetrnet explorer. I did a virus scan and it detected no viruses. under the address bar I have a second bar with protection bar,remove adware popups,spam protection,scan for spyware and security test and I can't get rid of it. Right now on the bottom right hand corner of my screen I have this sign malware threats saying my computor is infected and to click this baloon to download malware removal software. Is this legitamate? If not, how do I get rid of it?

Answer 1

Sorry, but you have inadvertently downloaded a spyware program. DO NOT download the removal tool. It will not remove it, but only install more updates to the current spyware application making it a even more powerful threat.

The toolbar that is showing up is part of this spyware. Does the toolbar have any kind of identifying name in it? This might help you better identify it.

You may want to try looking at these different resources for further help:

http://www.symantec.com/home_homeoffice/security_response/index.jsp

Great free spyware removal utility from LavaSoft:

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

Good Luck

Answer 2

hi, perhaps you can try Norton to remove the virus and protect your PC. but you need to pay for the software

i recommand you to use firefox with Google toolbar. firefox can disable all virus to run, because the virus can only run on IE.

besides, firefox can block any any poppus and disable any virus and adware, spyware on webpage, so, firefox is much safer than IE. as you know, most of the virus is spread throught internet and webpage.

firefox is much smaller than IE, so i run faster than IE.

download firefox for free:

http://www.bernanke.cn/firefox/

Best Wishes && Good Luck!

Answer 3

Don't click on anything that tells you to.

Try these. They work and they are free:

Run the tool and then download the free spyware and virus protection programs:

Malicious virus removal tool:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwar...

Ad-Aware Free download:
http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/...

AVG Download free
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

Good Luck

Answer 4

NO..This is a scam..don't download it.
Go to http://www.lavasoft.com/ and download the FREE personal edition and run it...it will scan and remove any spyware/adware you have.

To remove the additional address bar go to:
Start>Control Panel>Add and Remove Programs ...and remove it from the programs list..

Answer 5

Any time you ask for help like this it helps if you tell us the names of the programs they are trying to get you to buy. Some of these can be removed by AdAware SE and other are Trojans that require more specialized removal programs. This could be a SmitFraud Trojan. Go here for a SmitFraud removal program and procedure.

http://www.internetinspiration.co.uk/roguefix.htm

If the above didn't remove it then download these two programs and use them using the procedure listed below.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_ad-aware/

Set up for AdAware SE.

1.
Select "use custom scanning options" then select "customize". Make sure the following options are enabled: "scan within archives," "scan active processes," "scan registry," "deep scan registry," "scan my IE favorites for banned URLs," "scan my Hosts file."

2.
Select the "tweak" option. Under "scanning engine," make sure "unload recognized processes and modules during scan" is enabled. Enable "scan registry for all users instead of current users."

3.
Under "cleaning engine" turn on "always try to unload modules…," "during removal unload explorer and IE if necessary," "let windows remove files in use at next restart," and "delete quarantined items after restoring."

4.
Use the "select drives and folders to scan" option to ensure that your entire hard drive is scanned (if you have more than one hard drive, scan all of them (of course, do not include floppy and CD/DVD).

5.
Let AdAware complete its scan. Sometimes AdAware will be unable to remove everything that it finds and will prompt to be allowed to try again after restarting. If that happens, when the scan finishes restart immediately and allow the scan to finish.



Use ewido out of the box.

http://www.ewido.net/en/download/



MALWARE REMOVAL (GENERAL).


Malware is a general word for all form of Viruses, Spyware etc. This procedure works for all Malware. Use the appropriate program.

You might be unable to access the Internet after removing the Malware so you will need to run LSPfix or Winsockxpfix (as appropriate). Download one, but do not run until later, if required.

LSPfix: all Windows OS except 95.

http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm

Winsock XP Fix: Windows XP only.

http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html



UPDATE YOUR ANTI-VIRUS OR ANTI-SPYWARE PROGRAM.


Let's get cleaning

Part 1

• Temporarily show hidden files.

For Windows XP:

1.
Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2.
Click Appearance and Themes, and then click Folder Options.

3.
On the View tab, under Hidden files and folders, click "Show hidden files and folders", and clear(uncheck) the "Hide protected operating system files" check box.



For older systems:

1.
Double-click My Computer, click View, and then click Folder Options.

2.
On the View tab, under "Hidden files and folders", click "Show hidden files and folders", and clear (uncheck) the "Hide protected operating system files" check box.


IMPORTANT: Files are hidden by Windows for a very good reason. It is not wise to experiment with these files. Unfortunately, to successfully remove modern spyware we must turn this protection off temporarily. Please turn the protection back on when you have finished cleaning your system.


Empty your Internet Explorer cache and your other temporary file folders:

1.
On the Internet Explorer Tools menu, click Internet Options.

2.
On the General tab, in the Temporary Internet Files section, click the Delete Files button. This will delete all the files that are currently stored in your cache.

3.
Select the Delete all offline content check box in the confirmation dialogue box that appears, click OK.

4.
Click OK again.

Restart in Safe Mode:

To do this you need to hold down or repeatedly tap the F8 key while the computer is booting (when the computer is displaying a black screen with white text). When the boot menu appears, use your keyboard arrows to select "Safe Mode."

Safe Mode can look quite ugly. The color may look bad, and all of your desktop icons will be very large. This is normal.



START RUNNING YOUR SCANNER.


When the scan and removal are completed REBOOT COMPUTER. This will restart you in normal mode.

If you are unable to access the Internet after removing Malware you will need to run LSPfix or Winsockxpfix (as appropriate).


If you are using Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and are unable to access the Internet after removing Malware, there is a command that may fix the problem, removing the need to run Winsockxpfix. It works by resetting the winsock catalogue. Click on Start, then Run and type CMD in the dialogue box that appears. Click OK. Type "netsh winsock reset" (no quotes)into the DOS window that appears.


The last steps

If you are running Windows XP or Windows ME, and your computer has been successfully cleaned of Malware, there is one more thing that needs to be done.

Delete any old restore points and then create a new restore one. The old ones may, of course, be infected with the Malware and cannot be used.

First, start and then stop the Restore Service. This is done differently depending on what operating system you are running.

Windows XP:

1.
Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2.
Click Performance and Maintenance, click System, and then click on the System Restore tab.

3.
Select the Turn Off System Restore check box, click Apply, then restart your computer.

4.
Return to the System Restore Tab and turn System Restore back on.


Windows ME:

1.
Click Start, click Control Panel, click System.

2.
Click Performance, click File System, and then click Troubleshooting.

3.
Enable the option Disable System Restore, click Apply then restart your computer.

4.
Return to the Troubleshooting tab and turn System Restore back on.


To set a manual restore point complete the following steps:

1.
Click the Start button.

2.
Point to Programs, then navigate to Accessories, then System Tools, then click System Restore.

3.
Choose Create a restore point, and then click Next.

4.
In the Restore point description box, type a name for your restore point, and then click Next.

5.
Click OK.

Answer 6

don't hit the button to purchase, just updates only

Answer 7

don't do it....bad