have computer 'virus'-need advice

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ting

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have computer 'virus'-need advice
« on: August 06, 2008, 11:19:11 PM »
oops, after years of trouble free operation here in china my computer has suddenly been infected by some kind of imported web crap which greatly inhibits the speed, delays opening pages, stops the normal workings etc.  probably from a distasteful porno site-please save your comments on this, my only personal failing.  my virus scan and fix software, AD aware, is also infected and stops when reaches 95000 bytes ? and is rendered useless.  previously the ad-aware scaned for virus, identified and i could then delete.  now all  this is junk due to the malicious software.

what to do.  i will go to BJ soon.  can i buy a clean up disc of some kind to clean my machine?  if so , which is the one to buy.  any advice is very welcome.  xie xie ni

Re: have computer 'virus'-need advice
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2008, 01:17:08 AM »
I know you said your net access is slow, but an online virus/spyware scanner is one method of attack. You could try here for starters:

http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/tools/security_tools/housecall

my only other advice at this stage is use bittorrent for your porn ;)

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Pashley

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Re: have computer 'virus'-need advice
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2008, 02:15:53 AM »
Adaware is specifically a spyware checker, not an anti-virus solution. Getting a Windows box anywhere near secure needs one of each. Adaware is a good product, and free, but it does not do virus checking.

As for the virus checker, Skygod's suggestion of Trend Housecall is a good one. I prefer AVG, a free downloadable virus checker. http://free.avg.com/

You also need to run Microsoft update to get security fixes for Windows, and Office if you use that. Lots of folks, especially in China, have "pirate" copies of Windows that cannot be updated. Either switch operatng systems (I'll start another thread on that) or buy a legal copy of Windows.
Who put a stop payment on my reality check?

Re: have computer 'virus'-need advice
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2008, 04:22:15 AM »
Oh, I totally agree about AVG.  It's excellent.  About Windows, you can manage with your pirated version.  You don't need to buy a legal copy -- very hard in China, anyways.  What you do is go to Automatic Updates under Control Panel.  Set it to notify you when updates are available.  When the "Updates Available" balloon pops up, go through them carefully.  When you come to the "Windows Genuine Advantage Notification" update, uncheck it, and later check the box that says "Do not offer this update again" or something.  After that, you can set your updates to automatic or whatever you wish, and you're done.

:-)

Switching to Linux is cool if you're prepared to invest time in figuring out how it works and searching for drivers when you install new hardware.

Good luck!  :-)
"Time is an illusion.  Lunchtime doubly so."
- Ford Prefect

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Raoul F. Duke

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Re: have computer 'virus'-need advice
« Reply #4 on: August 07, 2008, 08:05:57 AM »
Dittoons for AVG. It's GREAT...in many ways I like it better than Norton or the other major flavors...and it's totally free. Why, there's even a link to it on the Links page...

Oh, and don't worry about the personal failings. We're sort of the Personal Failings Fan Club and Support Group here. agagagagag
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Mr Nobody

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Re: have computer 'virus'-need advice
« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2008, 08:20:36 AM »
Poissonally, (That's a joke, a pun in 3 directions) I think that more than one virus checker is needed. I use Xoftspy (pirated, cracked) AVG (free edition but thinking of updating to cracked professional or whatever it's called) adaware and spybot. I don't get virii any more.

Also I use Firefox so I don't attract them, and if my friends in low places like Oz started using some sensible msgr software, I wouldn't use msn msgr either and pretty much kill the whole issue.

But then I don't surf porn. I got a beautiful wife, so who needs it?

When I do a major crack thing, though, I ramp up everything since that is the time I get bastard virus things. Last time, a few weeks ago, got a nasty sucker but I killed it dead. Was really really worried about that one. First time for years that one got through, and it was a nasty one, and I was the one who OK'd it, bastard got in while I was coincidentally cracking a game, so I accepted the registry changes thinking it was the game installing. Bastard.

Live and learn. Or don't and die.
Just another roadkill on the information superhighway.

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Raoul F. Duke

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Re: have computer 'virus'-need advice
« Reply #6 on: August 07, 2008, 08:23:43 AM »
Understand the thinking, but implement it carefully. Some virus scanners (for example, AVG and Norton) don't like each other and will not co-exist peacefully on your computer. Might help if you only use one for real-time screening of incoming stuff, and then multiples for periodic deep scans...
"Vicodin and dumplings...it's a great combination!" (Anthony Bourdain, in Harbin)

"Here in China we aren't just teaching...
we're building the corrupt, incompetent, baijiu-swilling buttheads of tomorrow!" (Raoul F. Duke)

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Mr Nobody

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Re: have computer 'virus'-need advice
« Reply #7 on: August 07, 2008, 08:27:11 AM »
Hell yes. And schedule them at non conflicting times. My series don't conflict although Adaware doesn't like Spybot much but I never had an issue.
Just another roadkill on the information superhighway.

Re: have computer 'virus'-need advice
« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2008, 01:21:24 PM »
Alternatively, change to Linux, invest the time to figure it out (Stil did it, so it's not too hard!)

...then sit back, relax and read topics like this with a wry grin because you never have to worry about virii again!
You have to care for it to matter.
http://www.haerbinger.com - All About Harbin

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Pashley

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Re: have computer 'virus'-need advice
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2008, 01:23:53 PM »
... if my friends in low places like Oz started using some sensible msgr software, I wouldn't use msn msgr either and pretty much kill the whole issue.

Pidgin is free. Does MSN, AOL IM, Google talk, QQ, half a dozen others. http://www.pidgin.im/
Who put a stop payment on my reality check?

Re: have computer 'virus'-need advice
« Reply #10 on: August 08, 2008, 05:39:28 AM »
Oh, absolutely, using Firefox is safer.  There's also Safari from Apple.  Pretty good.  Internet Explorer will always be targeted by hackers.  :-)
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Foscolo

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Re: have computer 'virus'-need advice
« Reply #11 on: August 10, 2008, 09:04:42 AM »
Thumbs up for AVG from me too - been using it for eight years, no problems at all.

You can get Spyware Doctor free by downloading the Google desktop, elect to add-on Spyware Doctor, then when you've got it up and running uninstall the tiresome Google Desktop. You can get quite a few other goodies that way too, but Spyware Doctor is the only one as far as I'm aware that you would otherwise have to pay for. It seems better than Xoft Spy to me - picks up more stuff.

(NOTE: I did this three months ago, but of course it may have changed since then)

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