IlliniKrush Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 (edited) Computer guys, Pretty sure I have a trojan on my computer. I have Windows Security Essentials, AVG, and another malware protector. They seemed to have caught the trojan and the computer is operable, not really affecting too much performance, etc. The issue is that every 10 minutes or so Windows Security Essentials gives me a little pop up window that says "detected threats are being cleaned, no action necessary." Until today I had never seen this pop up. If I open it up, I see that it keeps listing out the same trojan every time that has come up, so it has it every few minutes and says it's been removed. Besides it being annoying to have that pop up window, I feel like it means something is obviously still wrong. I'm not a computer guy by any means so I want to figure out how to clean everything out and get rid of whatever's there. A friend had me restart in safe mode and run full scans of Windows Security Essentials and my malware program, as he said that might get rid of it because it's tough to do it when the computer is running like normal. However it seems to still be "there" now that I'm back in normal mode. What are my next steps? The guy said Norton Antivirus is the best out there, if I have to buy it I'll do that, if that's what can fix it. If there's something else I can do or download to try to help, I'm all ears. If I can't do anything but bring it to Geek Squad (or somewhere else?) or something, then I'll do it. Just not sure how to go about it now. Thanks for any help - Edited February 20, 2013 by IlliniKrush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chw42 Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 (edited) QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Feb 19, 2013 -> 09:19 PM) Computer guys, Pretty sure I have a trojan on my computer. I have Windows Security Essentials, AVG, and another malware protector. They seemed to have caught the trojan and the computer is operable, not really affecting too much performance, etc. The issue is that every 10 minutes or so Windows Security Essentials gives me a little pop up window that says "detected threats are being cleaned, no action necessary." Until today I had never seen this pop up. If I open it up, I see that it keeps listing out the same trojan every time that has come up, so it has it every few minutes and says it's been removed. Besides it being annoying to have that pop up window, I feel like it means something is obviously still wrong. I'm not a computer guy by any means so I want to figure out how to clean everything out and get rid of whatever's there. A friend had me restart in safe mode and run full scans of Windows Security Essentials and my malware program, as he said that might get rid of it because it's tough to do it when the computer is running like normal. However it seems to still be "there" now that I'm back in normal mode. What are my next steps? The guy said Norton Antivirus is the best out there, if I have to buy it I'll do that, if that's what can fix it. If there's something else I can do or download to try to help, I'm all ears. If I can't do anything but bring it to Geek Squad (or somewhere else?) or something, then I'll do it. Just not sure how to go about it now. Thanks for any help - Your anti-virus programs should be able to tell you where the trojan exactly is (program path). Write that down, boot into safemode, go to the file's location, and delete the file. If it's a fairly simple virus, that should solve all your problems. Edited February 20, 2013 by chw42 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaylorStSox Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 This isn't a bad one to get rid of. Just Google the steps. I don't remember what they are off hand. Use your smart phone browser while you're in Safe Mode with no networking. Norton really sucks. Use Avast. It's free and stable. You're going to have to delete this one yourself though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangeSox Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Feb 19, 2013 -> 10:50 PM) Norton really sucks. Use Avast. It's free and stable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjm676 Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 if you are able to boot into safe mode with networking, download and run Malwarebytes. Works almost everytime for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Feb 19, 2013 -> 10:19 PM) Computer guys, Pretty sure I have a trojan on my computer. I have Windows Security Essentials, AVG, and another malware protector. They seemed to have caught the trojan and the computer is operable, not really affecting too much performance, etc. The issue is that every 10 minutes or so Windows Security Essentials gives me a little pop up window that says "detected threats are being cleaned, no action necessary." Until today I had never seen this pop up. If I open it up, I see that it keeps listing out the same trojan every time that has come up, so it has it every few minutes and says it's been removed. Besides it being annoying to have that pop up window, I feel like it means something is obviously still wrong. I'm not a computer guy by any means so I want to figure out how to clean everything out and get rid of whatever's there. A friend had me restart in safe mode and run full scans of Windows Security Essentials and my malware program, as he said that might get rid of it because it's tough to do it when the computer is running like normal. However it seems to still be "there" now that I'm back in normal mode. What are my next steps? The guy said Norton Antivirus is the best out there, if I have to buy it I'll do that, if that's what can fix it. If there's something else I can do or download to try to help, I'm all ears. If I can't do anything but bring it to Geek Squad (or somewhere else?) or something, then I'll do it. Just not sure how to go about it now. Thanks for any help - Is it possible that the "Windows Security essentials" popup is a spoof showing up from some program that is running in the background? I've seen things that will fake alerts like that before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaylorStSox Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 20, 2013 -> 12:19 PM) Is it possible that the "Windows Security essentials" popup is a spoof showing up from some program that is running in the background? I've seen things that will fake alerts like that before. Windows Security Essentials is a pretty common virus/malware. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IlliniKrush Posted February 20, 2013 Author Share Posted February 20, 2013 Guys thanks for the help. I had someone take over my computer remotely and found a couple things. I don't know exactly what it was or what he did, but there was something in the registry(?) or whatever he had to delete. It didn't appear that the security essentials thing was the actual virus, but it was catching whatever the problem was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Feb 20, 2013 -> 03:16 PM) Windows Security Essentials is a pretty common virus/malware. Doesn't mean a message can't be made to look like its coming from it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooftop Shots Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 QUOTE (robinventura23 @ Feb 20, 2013 -> 08:57 AM) if you are able to boot into safe mode with networking, download and run Malwarebytes. Works almost everytime for me. i have 2 pro tech friends and another one that catches stuff is FREE also superantispyware download the FREE one Also Spybot search and destroy is free also it catches some oddball ones as well. Once i had the blue screen that kept coming up and computer wouldnt even let me in Malwarebytes or Security Essentials A PAID one called Hitman pro found the culprit anmd I was back in business. (you can also get Hitman pro on a 30 day trial as well). It saved me quite a few times. If all else fails start up in safe mode and go to system restore and go back to whatever time that your comuter was working fine. One time I had a virus that would not even let me in ANY of my security program. NOT EVEN IN SAFE MODE. I went to system restore. went back a few weeks and VOILA Computer worked perfect. THEN i did all my scans in safe mode after that. EVERYTHING got cleaned up nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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