I have a virus that I can't detect. What do I need to do?

Answer 1

For your PC to be OK, you have to protect it from viruses and hackers!
The virus is a small program that attach itself to other files from your computer and can harm your computer, by restarting it, freezing it or even by deleting your files or stealing your personal information.
To keep your computer safe from viruses you have to use an anti-virus program, like Norton, AVG, Kaspersky, Avast, Antivir, McAfee, Bit Defender. Some are free and others have trial versions.
Here you have some links to download the free versions of some of the best anti-virus programs, as well as other security tools:
http://www.kiete.com/download/security/index.html

Answer 2

Norton Anti Virus 2007 is on sale at Best Buy for $19.99. Don't get ripped off! You can go to the site, if your computer will let you, and do a scan for free.

You may need to look in My Documents and see if you have files that don't look familiar and need to be deleted.

Also, look at the programs that run automatically when you start your computer. The virus can hide in one of those programs. Most of the anti virus that you google has a free scan. The costs come when you have to buy the program to remove it. Even Norton professional support could not find the virus I had and they spent 8 hours looking for it. It was a common one, Vundo Trojan (previously Virtumonde trojan) and it was hidden in several places. Also my computer was hijacked and operated remotely. I had to disconnect the internet for several days and keep cleaning files and programs I did not need.

I am not a computer geek so excuse my lingo. Don't let people insult you and intimidate you. I know what you are going through. Try what everyone is suggesting but be careful. Some hackers load the trojan onto an anti virus progam and each time you run the scan you get a bunch of crap on your computer.

Best of luck to you. If you don't have the patience or the skills, you would do best to take your computer into a servicer who can clean it for you. But like I said before, I had the Norton experts for 8 hours and they didn't find it either. I had to learn on my own.

Answer 3

How do you know you have a virus if you can't detect it?

Make sure your anti-virus software is up to date, and if it's got heuristic analysis available turn that on. Heuristic analysis looks at patterns of behavior not the actual code, so it may catch some viruses not in it's database, but it could also give some false positives.

Answer 4

If you can't detect it, how do you know you've got it? Try a different anti-virus program than you usually use. Sometimes one will pick up something that the other one missed. Sometimes just running a repeat scan will find something that didn't show up the first time.

Answer 5

Have you tried running your AV program in Safe Mode? That way, Windows will not load and you might be able to catch any self-executing virus.

To go into Safe Mode:
Windows98 Safe Mode

1.To start Windows in safe mode
2.Click Options, and then click Print to print this topic for reference. Windows Help is not available while you start your computer or run your programs on the MS-DOS operating system.
3.Click Start, and then click Shut down.
4.Click Restart, click OK, and then press and hold the CTRL key until the Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu appears.
5.For some machines, you can use F8 instead of CTRL to bring up the Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu.
6.Enter the number for Safe mode, and then press ENTER.
7.Click Start, Programs, and click on your antivirus program to run it.
8.Notes
9.In safe mode, Windows uses default settings (VGA monitor, no network, Microsoft mouse driver, and the minimum device drivers required to start Windows). You will not have access to CD-ROM drives, printers, or other devices.
10.You can change settings as needed by clicking Start, pointing to Settings, clicking Control Panel, and double-clicking Network or System.
11.After you finish this procedure, you need to restart your computer before Windows will start properly.
Note: Your desktop icons may be out of place. Not to worry, just drag them back into your preferred order.
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WindowsXP Safe Mode
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ss/safemodexp.htm

Press F8 Before the Windows XP Splash Screen
Starting your computer in Windows XP Safe Mode can help you diagnose and solve many serious problems, especially when starting normally is not possible.
To begin entering Windows XP Safe Mode, turn your PC on or restart it.
Just before the Windows XP splash screen shown above appears, press the F8 key to enter the Windows Advanced Options Menu.
The source link is an excellent one. Fully describes the procedure with screen shots.
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Answer 6

Upgrade to Linux, then you'll be totally protected from Microsoft viruses.

You could also use anti-virus software to detect the virus for you.

Answer 7

Still deciphering "I have a virus that I can't detect."

That's like saying "Turn at the corner where the Elm Tree used to be."

Answer 8

For all computer related problems please check out
http://sumiram2006.googlepages.com/combatproblems
It not only gives complete solutions but also offers
free downloads of effective softwares which can detect
and eliminate all spy ware /virus /ad ware /Trojans completely.

Answer 9

you should by nortan antivirus . or u can by nortan internet security, its better. but they both will work. its stops your computer from getting most viruses. and if u do get one , it will tell u. then iyou scan your computer and it will find all viruses on your computer and get rid of them if u ask it to. or u can just take it to a computer shop and get it fixed. but they always rip you off. lol .

p.s. the nortan systems are around 45 bucks a piece and they work on your computer for exactly a year. Symantec.com is the website you can dowload it from them or you can go out and buy it.

Answer 10

Well, how do you know it's a virus.
My computer was slow, but after i killed 95% of the stuff running in the background it was vrooom fast!