Help! My comp is being hijacked by spywear!!

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

And, apparently, the only way to get out of it (although who knows!) is to pay $25 to download the software. I don't know what to do.

HELP!!!

Fucking sons of bitches!!!:wallbash:

[Hottub]

Start with Spybot Search and Destroy. (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/)
It's free and pretty good. Also keeps guard while you are online and you can scan anytime.

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

I have spybot but the spyware won't let it engage. My comp is frozen. I can't get into any files. I can't access the net either.

Should I risk paying these idiots? i'm afraid it may cause more damage to my comp.

[boosterp]

Can you download this and run it? (http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?tag=mncol) Of freeware this is the most accurate at catching this stuff. If you can not do so, you may need professional help.

Also, you can try this web based utility that can identify the bad stuff. (http://housecall.trendmicro.com/)

Do not pay those people, hell the Geek Squad is a better option.

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

Yeah, I called a guy who rebuilt my comp a few years ago. My comp is SEVEN years old. I'm just better off buying a notebook and having my files transfered it it. Hopefully my files can be retrieved and haven't all been destroyed.

This REALLY pisses me off! :furious:

[Devo37]

have you tried doing a windows System Restore?

you could also try these:
- AdAware (http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php)
- CoolWeb Shredder (http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Popup-Ad-Spyware-Blockers/CWShredder.shtml)
- Hijack This (http://download.cnet.com/Trend-Micro-HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10227353.html)
- Pest Patrol (http://majorgeeks.com/PestPatrol_d1187.html)

if all else fails:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c395/Devo37/Mallet.jpg :wink:

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

have you tried doing a windows System Restore?


How do I go about doing that?

[Fallon]

How do I go about doing that?
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/systemrestore.mspx

Also, I wouldn't give them money to get rid of the spy-ware. Seems shady.

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

Thanks Fallon! I printed out the instrux. Hopefully I'll be able to do this. The spyware has frozen my comp.

[Devo37]

How do I go about doing that?

follow Fallon's link.

Basically, as you're using your pc, windows periodically creates Restore Points. if anything goes wrong with your pc (like the problems you're having), you can use System Restore to travel back in time and restore your pc to a previous state (i think you can go back 4 months if necessary). the bad news: you'll have to re-install any programs you installed after the restore date. the good news: your files (documents, mp3's, videos, etc.) will not be affected.

[sr71blackbird]

Petrina, if you ever get the money, get a Mac. You will be amazed at how this thing never has an issue. I even got Norton for it, just in case and it's never picked up squat. I look at porn and surf wherever. You will be shockingly happy, once you get used to it, which takes a few days.

[Death Metal Moe]

NEVER pay ANYONE money to remove something they put on your computer. Even if they gave you back access to it, it's just the principal of the thing.

If all else fails you will need to back up files and reinstall Windows. It's the only solution that works every time you do it.

[MisterSmith]

Don't pay them anything - it is a ripoff scam.

Booster had it right with Malwarebytes - that program is top-notch in my book. It is great for removing spyware and malware.

Another good thing to do is run the scan while your system is in Safe Mode. When the computer starts up, begin hitting the F8 button. That will allow you to choose how to start the computer. If Malwarebytes is already installed and updated, just choose Safe Mode. Otherwise, use Safe Mode with Networking so you can still connect to the internet and use USB devices. I'm not sure what OS you have, but this link can give you some pretty good instructions on starting in Safe Mode (http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial61.html) (to fill in gaps I might have left).

[instrument]

Boot into safe mode then run the program.

And why are you using a 7 yo comp? Scary

[styckx]

Just format it. You'll spend the next 3 days trying to clean this thing only to realize your system is even more unstable and you'll never actually erase all traces of it. More then likely a trojan(and more then one of them), which probably corrupted system files anyway which you can't clean, but only delete. Now your system has missing dll's and other important shit it actually needs to run and you end up with a useless computer that does a really great job at running the bios post.

[boosterp]

System restore will not do shit at this point. Safe mode (pressing f-8 during the stat up screen) and running anti malware programs will buy you time.

If you have the money for a new one invest in it. All your data can be gotton off your old hard drive by someone who knows how to remove the HD and pull the info.

[paulisded]

God, I wish I had my last computer handy. There's a great message board that will assist you get rid of everything bad on your computer. I had something that I could not get rid of, and after signing up and making a post they had me run a couple of scan to create reports to send them. Over the course of the next couple of days, they sent me various tools that eventually completely cleaned it out.

[styckx]

System restore will not do shit at this point.

Exactly. If his computer is infected with a virus/trojan (which it probably is) most likely even his restore files are also infected.

The only right way to do a system restore is after a format, and fresh install. Do all your updates, install all the stuff you want, copy all your files and back it up to an external device. DVD, hard drive, etc. This is what you restore from. Preferabbly DVD as nothing can write back to it during a restore.

Backing up his files now shouldn't be a problem. Fixing it completely is pretty much out of the question when your shit gets to the point "it just locks up"