anti virus software.

[Tellos]

So for a while I used AVG and Malwarebytes as a combo, partly cause they have seemed to limit performance dents in my PC vs AVast. [which kills my performance too noticeably] and seem to cover each others holes decently. But I do have access to Sematics norton and wasint sure if it might be a good change from AVG.

[yathis]

Stay well away from Norton, 100 foot pole.

 

Install MSE and CCleaner

[79wjd]

I'd switch to Windows Defender actually. 

Just now, yathis said:

Stay well away from Norton, 100 foot pole.

 

Install MSE and CCleaner

Supposedly Norton is pretty decent these days. 

[yathis]

Just now, djdwosk97 said:

I'd switch to Windows Defender actually. 

Supposedly Norton is pretty decent these days. 

They are not bloated anymore?

Background services were through the roof.

[79wjd]

Just now, yathis said:

They are not bloated anymore?

Background services were through the roof.

Supposedly not. 

[Windows7ge]

Norton Security and McAfee both no...just no...

[VinZie]

You all got it wrong.

 

The most common malware issues can be taken care of just by running a few simple programs and it would help to run them in order.

1. AdwCleaner
2. Junkware Removal tool
3. Malwarebytes

I will post specific instructions for each program later in this post.

For the more tougher malware issues, such as mbr/bootkit infections and browser redirect infections we must use stronger programs.

1. TDSSkiller
2. ASWmbr
3. Combofix - NOTE: Should only be ran when told to do so by me.



So if you come here looking for help to remove malware on your system, we would appreciate it if you would go ahead and follow steps 1-4 outlined below and we will determine if any more scans are needed to get you cleaned up.

1.

Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode onto your Desktop.



•Please close all open programs and internet browsers.
•Double click on adwcleaner.exe to run the tool.
•Click on Scan.
•After the scan you will need to click on clean for it to delete the adware.
•Your computer will be rebooted automatically. A text file will open after the restart.
•Please post the content of that logfile in your reply.
•You can find the logfile at C:\AdwCleaner[Sn].txt as well - n is the order number.

2.

Please download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop.

•Shutdown your antivirus to avoid any conflicts.
•Very important that you run the tool in this manner:
Right-mouse click JRT.exe and select Run as administrator
Do NOT just double-click it.
•The tool will open and start scanning your system.
•Please be patient as this can take a while to complete.
•On completion, a log (JRT.txt) is saved to your desktop and will automatically open.
•Post the contents of JRT.txt in your next message.

3.

Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and save it to your desktop.

• Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
• At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to
  • Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
  • and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
• then click Finish.
• If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version. Please keep updating until it says you have the latest version.
• Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.
• When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
• Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
• A log will be saved automatically which you can access by clicking on the Logs tab within Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

If for some reason Malwarebytes will not install or run please download and run Rkill.scr, Rkill.exe, or Rkill.com. If you are still having issues running rkill then try downloading these renamed versions of the same program.

EXPLORER.EXE
IEXPLORE.EXE
USERINIT.EXE
WINLOGON.EXE

But DO NOT reboot the system and then try installing or running Malwarebytes. If Rkill (which is a black box) appears and then disappears right away or you get a message saying rkill is infected, keep trying to run rkill until it over powers the infection and temporarily kills it. Once a log appears on the screen, you can try running malwarebytes or downloading other programs.

Please post the log that Malwarebytes displays on your screen.

4.

Download OTL to your Desktop


•Double click on the icon to run it. Make sure all other windows are closed and to let it run uninterrupted.
•Click on Minimal Output at the top
•Click the Quick Scan button. Do not change any settings unless otherwise told to do so. The scan wont take long.
◦When the scan completes, it will open two notepad windows. OTL.Txt and Extras.Txt. These are saved in the same location as OTL. Just post the OTL.txt file in your reply.

So in your original thread asking for help, please give us a short description of what the problem is and then post the logs from the following 4 programs.

1. Adwcleaner
2. Junkware removal tool
3. Malwarebytes
4. OTL

[Tellos]

@VinZie I have copied that all down for future looking. Defiantly not a bad step by step to have. Mostly this is more jsut analyzing my current set up and seeign where I can imrpove my security suite set up or if it's ok. I do love malwarebytes though it works wonderfully.

[Enderman]

13 minutes ago, yathis said:

They are not bloated anymore?

Background services were through the roof.

It's one of the top ones at detection rates.

 

I still prefer windows defender+malwarebytes.

AVG free is filled with ads and popups now.

[VinZie]

If you run into anymore malware problems its best just to reinstall windows. Back up what you need, and then reinstall.

[Tellos]

@VinZie thats always my option of last resort, if it's too stubborn I nuke and pave save what I can.

[ARikozuM]

I prefer Kaspersky, Malwarebytes, and practicing safe browsing.

[VinZie]

Just now, ARikozuM said:

I prefer Kaspersky, Malwarebytes, and practicing safe browsing.

@Tellos

 

I had a breach in my computer this morning. Ever since I have a addon that locks my browser so no one can access it.

[Tellos]

@ARikozuM I don't have much experience with Kaspersky I may have to research them. As i said I'm always open to imrpoved alternatives. I also heard norton has gotton better.

[VinZie]

4 minutes ago, Enderman said:

It's one of the top ones at detection rates.

 

I still prefer windows defender+malwarebytes.

AVG free is filled with ads and popups now.

Overall, Windows Defender doesn’t provide bad protection, assuming you keep Windows up-to-date, use an up-to-date browser, and avoid potentially dangerous plug-ins like Java. In short: the standard computer security practices you should be following go a long way, and Windows Defender combines that with a baseline of protection.

[VinZie]

1 minute ago, VinZie said:

Overall, Windows Defender doesn’t provide bad protection, assuming you keep Windows up-to-date, use an up-to-date browser, and avoid potentially dangerous plug-ins like Java. In short: the standard computer security practices you should be following go a long way, and Windows Defender combines that with a baseline of protection.

Also a good idea for safe browsing practices is to download noscript, and ghostery. Ghostery blocks trackers, and noscript doesn't allow javascript plugins.

[Tellos]

@VinZie I use chrome so I assume should have add ons for those?

[ARikozuM]

3 minutes ago, Tellos said:

@ARikozuM 

When using @, make sure to select the user from the drop-down menu, otherwise it just looks like a normal post.

[VinZie]

Just now, Tellos said:

@VinZie I use chrome so I assume should have add ons for those?

Ehh Chorme is a good browser. I recommend firefox. It gives you can option to reset the browser when you close it. Resetting option is good for when you are logged into accounts and stuff.