PC has been hacked?

Question

I think my PC has been hacked. Its not the first time. Would wiping the hard drive and re-installing XP Pro, and my anti-virus and all other security software help?

Answer 1

Definitely. Wiping your entire Hard Disk would delete the virus off but once again if you do not install any Virus Guard, you can still get them. So, after formatting and re-installing XP, install an Anti Virus software such as Norton Antivirus 2006 from http://www.symantec.com

BYE

Answer 2

maybe. Although there are some viruses that could survive a harddisk reformatting, the majority of viruses is harddisk based virus, and thus would be wiped out if the harddisk is reformatted.

Be sure to:
1. Backup any important data, IMPORTANT ONLY.
2. Make a flash disk or burn a CD filled with a firewall installer (recommended: Zone Alarm http://www.zonelabs.com/ ), Antivirus (recommended: AVG http://free.grisoft.com/ , Avast http://www.avast.com/), an alternative browser Firefox http://www.mozilla.com , preferably create these from a clean computer.
3. Isolate the computer, plug out any peripherals, network cables, modem cables, any other thing that may connect you to Internet, etc.
4. Do a clean formatting. If time is not too restricting, do a full formatting, not quick format.
5. Reinstall the OS.
6. After finishing installation, Install the firewall, then install Antivirus, then install Alternative browser.
7. After those are installed (at least firewall has to be installed first), connect to Internet, the first website you're to visit is Windows Update http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ using, of course, IE (you might also include Service Packs in the USB Disk/CD you created).
8. After update is finished, do the rest of things you would want to do. Install antispyware, browse Internet, Install games, Install Office, anything.

Answer 3

wiping the hardrive would only help if you had a virus you couldn't get rid of. You should install a program like norton or mcaffe that has a firewall(protects you from those hackers) and anti virus. Make sure you update it too.

Answer 4

I suggest that you try to carryout system restore to a day previous to the day when there was no virus. The problem is likely to be solved. Then,You insatll a standard antivirus soft ware such as Norton, AVG , Avast ( free antivirus software and Ad-aware, Ewido ( free spyware removers). You can download free softwares at
http://fixit.in/antivirus.html and http://fixit.in/spywareremover.html

Answer 5

Definately, but make sure you use an up to date firewall all the time.