How can a new computer have a trojan virus and it is not 3months old?

Question

I just purchased a new windows vista computer in Feb. and already had to buy a anti-virus disk to remove the trojan virus. This is insane I thought the computer had built in protection for 60 days at least.

Answer 1

Almost all malware infections require some action by the user to get installed on a computer. The rest can be avoided by keeping your computer OS and programs updated and avoiding driveby downloads by using the Firefox Browser with NoScript extension.
There is no reason to pay for antimalware products. There are many of the best available for free. I have included a link to a list of free products used by members of Bleeping Computer as well as other free programs and tools.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic3616.html

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Depends on where you go and what you do on the internet? Are you a p2p user (e.g. LimeWire, FrostWire, KaZaA, etc.)? A lot of files are just viruses. If you download, be aware that a mp3 file can't be 173kb if it's an entire song. Look at size, make sure it's reasonable for what it is (most Mp3s are around the 2,500kb-6,500kb area). Also, don't go to just any site, don't click on Google Ads, or any of those other things. You could've also gotten the trojan from MySpace. MySpace is crawling with viruses. As for the virus thing, why buy an anti-virus? Use AVG Free, I haven't gotten a virus in years.

Hope this helps,
Steven

Answer 4

The marketing bandwagon really did a great PR job on you!

Think about it, IF there was really an effective anti-virus program out there that could guarantee to keep any PC virus free for 60 days (Heck, why limit it to 60 days?) I for one would buy it and dump the rest, unfortunately there is no such thing available.
PROOF: go on-line and search for anti-virus software, free or commercial, now count how many you find, then tell me, if the one that you expected to guarantee to keep your PC clean for 60 days was in the list, if it is and and it really does what it says, then by default there should be no competition as it would be all you or anybody else needs.

The simple truth of the matter is that the security business is a thriving one and the reason being that there are more people creating and modifying viruses than these companies can keep up with. (Looked at from the other side, if you were a security company, would you create software that could wipe out ALL nasties (even if only for 60 days) leaving you king of the anti-virus hill and potentially no new customers, shoot, you've just cleaned up the problem?)

Essentially the reason there are different companies in the market is that because of the vast variation in the type and complexity of the viruses, each software company has expertise in combatting certain aspects of the threats different than the others, thus there is NOT One Size Kills All anti-virus programs available, having said that there are cowboys in every field of human endeavour, also there are very genuine and caring people in the trade who pride themselves on providing the very best that that they can offer.
This leaves you with a dilemma, what products do I need and who best provides for those needs?

A worrying trend lately is that actual "badguys" if you like are portraying themselves on the net as savoiurs of the masses, you've probably had pop-up messages saying something like "Your PC is infected with XYZ, click here and you can avail of a free virus scan" etc etc, no self-respecting company would invade your privacy and sell itself that way, avoid them at all costs.

The threat to your privacy and PC in general is very real and multifarious, therefore you will need to protect your PC in more than one way, the least you need is Anti-Virus S/W, Anti-Spyware S/W, Firewall S/W Backup S/W and encryption S/W for what you definitely don't want others to see.

As like in all areas of software development, security S/W can be poorly written or implemented or it can be innovative and comprehensive, price is not always a good measure of how effective the product is, e.g. Lavasoft produce an anti-spyware product called AdAware it is effective at what it does and it is FREE, Spybot Search & Destroy is also world renowned and free.

Before you hand over you hard earned cash, don't always believe the marketting hype, research first, (Remember, if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.) a good place to check things out are forums, they usually have real question about real live issues, the answers given are a great source of knowledge and tend to illustrate weaknesses and strenghts in various software products.

BTW: Steve Gibson of www.grc.com has an excellent site that will provide a fantastic starting ground for you research.

Good Luck and keep safe.

Answer 5

As soon as, you are connected to the wire, your security is in risk and you can only minimize it, can not remove it. You should read about the history of nimda virus and it's infection speed, amazing. At least have some desktop firewall and a host based IDS and an antivirus then only u are secure. You can have the Mcfee All in one suit for your security or any other free security suits.

Answer 6

Sorry to be a bearer of bad news but as a previous poster said *points up* no single program or security suite product is a one size exterminates all. you need a variety of products to keep you safe anti-virus program's in general do not look for or detect torjans and vice versa you need a mixture of program's to keep you safe. an anti-virus program is a good start you now need a spyware detection and removal program, a malware detection and removal program, and a firewall program to regulate the information traffic in and out of your computer.

I suggest using zonelabs free firewall, avast anti virus, adaware se, Spybot search and destroy.

Answer 7

a lot of Trojans can by pass your anti virus, it happens, download free Spybot search and Destroy, it will take it out and also protect your computer along with your anti virus, also free adaware keep them updated run them often, all should be ok, good luck.

Answer 8

Some computer manufacturers include it! (AntiVirus Protection)

It only takes a second to get a virus.

My Windows OneCare deleted some kind of web virus just yesterday!

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Answer 9

2) Do an online virus scan to check and remove virus and spyware if you still have viruses on your computer. And let us know if the online virus scan still finds any virus or spyware .
http://spywarekiller.hyperboards.com/index.php?action=view_topic&topic_id=11

3) Get another anti virus program if your present anti virus program is not protecting you any longer
http://spywarekiller.hyperboards.com/index.php?action=view_topic&topic_id=12&latest=1

Answer 10

You could get virus the same day you bought it. it doesn't matter new computer or used one.