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Bad news from EVA_Unit_4A (07/29/2011)

Okay, guys, I'm in a real bind now. I'm actually typing this from another computer in my home, because the one I usually use- a laptop- has been infected with a virus for many months, and it's only getting worse.

There's the typical web browser rerouting to spam sites, slower speed, and pop-up shit. But recently it disabled my mouse (I HATE using touch pad!), prevented me from saving Windows MovieMaker files (meaning any video production is on hold), and a few hours ago it disabled both the touch pad's right-click function and prevents me from clicking anything on the desktop.

I think I'm gonna have to power the 'top down until next week, when I can get it into a shop. The two big things I fear most is: A- it'll eat my personal files (of which there is a lot of irreplaceable material), and B- the corruption will be so severe that I'll have to get another computer (which will not happen anytime soon considering how very little money I have to work with each month and could shut me down for possibly the rest of 2011).

So- as someone who sits at home a lot in front of a screen- I'm gonna be quite bored this weekend. The only good thing about that will be we're not expecting 80-degree temperatures outside of Everett, WA.

Optimist? No, realist.


Oh, BTW, you wanna know where I caught this little f___er? Downloading-for-free the OP theme to "Goseiger" so I could insert it into my video reviews. Man, that series is nothing but trouble for me...

Posted 29 July, 2011 - 21:24 by EVA_Unit_4A

Comments

9 comments posted
Can you give some more info

Can you give some more info about what this virus is doing? I might be able to help you.

CRZninjaman's picture
Posted by CRZninjaman on 30 July, 2011 - 15:57
It appeared among a mass of

It appeared among a mass of pop-ups that appeared AFTER I downloaded the file (which scanned clean BEFORE I initiated the download). I was rapid-closing them, and I guess I accidentally hit "Okay" on one of them and... yeah.
I know it happened on August 8th, 2010 because that was the last time Windows Update did its thing.

Computer
--slower processing speed (hasn't changed much, just always noticeably slower; I do not think it's connected to me filling the computer with stuff over time)
--Windows Update disabled; will not connect to site and has not been current since infection occurred, cannot manually start an Update
--cannot create new System Restore points by itself or if I create one manually; currently has no Restore point to go to
--optical USB-port mouse starts randomly losing power, eventually doesn't function after 10min of use
--two private file folders [in different locations] have become corrupted and cannot be opened (;_;)
--Windows MovieMaker cannot create/save project files (newest issue)
--rearrange desktop icons randomly (only happened 3 times)

Internet
--when clicking on non-bookmarked links online the first time, will always reroute to a spam site. But if I click Back and try again, it goes to the correct site I want.
--pop-up window for a spam site when first entering ANY new website (oddly no multi- pop-ups like before I was infected)
--some links/buttons in web pages will not work when a page is first opened; Refresh Page solves problem

AVG Ver.9 does not pick up ANY infections during weekly scans. Recently I did a full shut down and restart with a scan in between (which AVG's FAQ suggested), but it made no difference.

EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 30 July, 2011 - 23:53
That blows Monkey chunks.

I hope you get it cleared up soon and get back on the net before withdrawl kicks in and you start *GASP!* seeking entertainment outside!

Good luck!

Felixman's picture
Posted by Felixman on 30 July, 2011 - 16:28
Government checks don't allow

Government checks don't allow me to get out much even if I wanted to. Hell, it takes me several months to buy a single $70+ toy!

EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 30 July, 2011 - 23:54
Have you tried scanning your

Have you tried scanning your system in safe mode with your anti-virus program yet?

CRZninjaman's picture
Posted by CRZninjaman on 30 July, 2011 - 16:43
AVG Ver.9 (their free to

AVG Ver.9 (their free to download/use software) doesn't pick it up in any regular scans. I followed their online FAQ did a full Power Down and Restart with a scan during boot-up, but that didn't solve anything.
I have also tried System Restore to hold off the latest issues, but it manages to get around that later on. (An additional symptom is it doesn't let me create new System Restore points since I caught it; erasing them every 24hrs. I have that long to initiate Restore before it stays attached.)

Unfortunately, because I'm not a paying customer, AVG doesn't offer online assistance for Ver. 9.

I haven't used Safe Mode simply because I don't know how that works or what I to do with it.

EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 30 July, 2011 - 23:34
to start your computer in

to start your computer in safe mode:
when you turn on your computer keep pressing "F8" this should take you to a menu where you can chose to start it up in safe mode. Then start up AVG and scan your system. if that doesn't work try malwarebytes. that prgram saved my friend's laptop a few months ago and it's free.

CRZninjaman's picture
Posted by CRZninjaman on 31 July, 2011 - 09:07
Re: AVG help for EVA

Okay, I got it into Safe Mode, and I did run a scan (which took about 1hr 18min).
But I didn't see any results after the scan, it didn't give me any actions/options to take, and none of the problems have been solved. It did ask me if I wanted to do "a" scan- as if I hadn't done anything yet.
I checked the Scan Results back in Vista's Normal Mode, and it says: 3 Infections Found and Healed, 1 Warning Found and Healed, and 75 Information Found but no action was taken.

So... now what?

EVA_Unit_4A's picture
Posted by EVA_Unit_4A on 31 July, 2011 - 21:43
EVA, there are a lot of

EVA, there are a lot of places online that will help you out for nothing at all. Places like the forums at Bleepingcomputer, Majorgeeks, and of course the AVG forums are full of people eager to help that just enjoy helping. The last time I had an infection, my copy of AVG had been hijacked, so it wouldn't fix anything. Not only that, the infection blocked any installation of new anti-malware software, and also blocked my access to the forum that I was using to fix the issue (thank goodness for multiple computers). Anyway, the bottom line is that are probably several steps and multiple tools you will need to fix this, and that there are many, many people ready to help.

Edit:
If you can access this site, this is a good starting point, although, like I said, there are many which will help you do the same thing.

SpaceRunaway's picture
Posted by SpaceRunaway on 31 July, 2011 - 23:44