Can a computer virus go undetected after a virus check? If so, how can they be detected & eliminated?

Question

Reason I ask is that my computer is performing odd things like erasing files and pop ups keep appearing. Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

First off you do not have a Virus in your computer. If your Virus program is up-to-date and does not find a Virus you are safe there.

What you do most likely have is some sort of SpyWare, AddWare or MailWare that is in your system.

You really are going to have some good programs installed to help you fix all this first and then help stop it in the future.

Here is a place to start first. Have you installed any programs and afterwards deleated them? If so they may have left some sort of tracking on your computer. If per-say you have done this you did not get the whole program off your computer.

To locate what may still be vleft behind, Click on the icon MY COMPUTER, Click on the icon then that represents your HARD DRIVE (C or ?) Look for the file titled PROGRAM FILES. Click on PROGRAM FILS to open. Look for any programs in this file that you may have deleated. If per-say you find one, deleate that file. This now should erace that and help.

Next stem is to deleat all Cookies, Temp files and History. You most likely have done this but do it again.

Now what I should have started off with is suggesting that you download this program. http://www.ccleaner.com/ CCleaner will clean up your Reg. System as well as your computer. What happens is there is always short cuts and other crap left behind that never gets deleated unless you manually deleate these. CCleaner is totally FREE and will do this for you.

Once you run CCleaner for the very first time you will be amaised at what will be found on your computer.

Best choice buy us as Freeware.

Good luck and have fun

Answer 2

hum there are a lot of things that could be affecting your computer. first, if you have an anti virus program,what you need to do is to check in the options of that program your allowed list because probably the virus was allowed in your computer without noticing. sometimes we don't pay attention to what we do for example viruses can be hidden in an add or software that we downloaded from the web so check you allowed list first and if you see anything that you are not familiar with or have weird name maybe that is the virus so delete it. then update your anti virus protection program and after that scan your computer (i would recommend a full system scan). if you don't find anything check other protection programs that you may have. for example windows protection in your computer. in my case i have windows P so i would go to the "start" icon then "control panel "and then "security and settings". check your security setting in your computer besides your virus protection program. is hard to find a virus when the anti virus program can't detect them but there are a lot of ways to find them. you can also find the answer to your problem in your computer and anti virus program just click the "help" icon and read carefully the instruction on how to clean your computer from viruses i know is boring to read all that but is worth it other wise the the virus is gonna end up damaging your computer. good luck!!

Answer 3

OMG! did someone just tell you to use the yahoo toolbar? Listen, toolbars slow your computer down and install spyware. DO NOT USE THEM! Did someone also say use spybot? NO NO NO! If you read the user agreement for spybot it tells you that it installs spyware and if you remove it, the program will not run properly. If you have viruses and spyware, obviously the program you are using is not working. Go on line and research some of the best anti-virus programs out there and buy them.

Answer 4

If you've run a virus check with your antivirus and found nothing, then you have spyware, and it will make the computer do odd things. Get Ad-Aware and SpyBot from download.com, install and run them both, Ad-Aware first, doing a complete scan. Then run SpyBot, being sure to immunize your computer against every known spyware that SpyBot has. Thereafter, run Ad-Aware every day that you are on the internet, doing a Smart Scan.
http://www.download.com/

Answer 5

It's possible, especially if the anti-virus programs and pop-up killers are not up to date. New viruses can sometimes be created over the course of only a few days before the computer gurus even know about them, let alone create programs to stop them. In addition, folks who create pop-ups find ways around the ad blockers routinely.

Answer 6

I suggest that you try to carryout system restore to a day previous to the day when there was no virus or any problems. It may be a few weeks or months back. You have to decide the date. Detailed instructions are posted at http://fixit.in/systemrestore.html
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 7

Yes they can and the best thing first is to make sure all the scan definitions are updated to the most recent. Then if you think it still isn't catching it you are limited to your options outside having someone else do it for you, but you can check the system processes and look for a process with 'ad' or 'hack' or something else in it that looks odd and search that exact process and you can find ways to remove it.

Answer 8

Sounds like it is Spyware rather than a virus. Download AdAware and SpyBot S&D and scan with both. Should work.

Answer 9

You might also do a scan in safe mode because some spyware and virues are enabled at start up.

Answer 10

Either download and run AVG Antispyware, update it first and run a scan in Safe mode.
http://www.ewido.net/en/download/
Or, show us a hijackthis log so we can check via the entries the exact malware in your system.
Hijackthis is the best diagnostic tool for an infected system.


Or: Download and install Superantispyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/downloadfile.html?productid=SUPERANTISPYWAREFREE
Load Superantispyware and click the "check for updates" button.
Once the update is finished, close SuperAntispyware again, we'll perform the scan later in safe mode

* Start Superantispyware.
Click the "scan your computer" button.
Check "Perform Complete Scan" and then next.
Superantispyware will now scan your computer and when its finished it will list all the infections it has found.
Make sure that they all have a check next to them and press next.
Click finish and you will be taken back to the main interface.
Click "Preferences" and then click the "statistics/logs" tab. Click the dated log and press view log and a text file will appear.