worm virus "W32.Blaster.Worm"

nigelclose

I have just bought a brand new pc and it is infected with a worm virus already!!!

I was attempting to do a live update with Norton 2004 and being online I have picked up a

W32.Blaster.Worm

and Norton is unable to repair it.

It seems to be slowing my computer down.
Can anyone help plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz?

tru

CLICK HERE

;D

nigelclose

Thank you so much I will try this out asap.

The one thing I dont understand is how do you get on the internet to download for example AVG and zonealarm or even to do a live update with Norton and not be affected with a virus?

The minute you go online to get this software to protect yourself you get a virus!

Do you have any suggestions on how to overcome this?

Thanks

tru

I had the same problem, I used Panda. Once it was ready to run, I switched the modem off. It scans really quickly.

garrydh

Hi,

The trick to not getting infected while downloading updates is not to download updates! As much as possible you should try to connect your machine to the Internet after it is has been protected.

AVG and Zonealarm are usually available free on magazine cover discs, especially "PC Utilities" in my experience. These discs will also have other useful software on them and every now and then they do a security special with loads of great free tools on them.

If you want to go down the money saving route and don't want to buy magazines, and know someone with a CD burner ask them to burn stuff to CD so you can install it before going online.

But you mentioned Norton, if you have Norton antivirus you shouldn't need AVG and if you have Norton Internet Security you shouldn't need AVG or Zonealarm. Check your settings to make sure you are adequately protected. I have met a lot of people who run Norton Internet Security with the firewall off or too open because they can't get it working properly.

The important thing to remember here is that these products treat the symptoms not the cause. To stop yourself getting these viruses in the first place make sure your operating system is up to date by running Windows Update.

Until recently Microsoft offered a free CD with XP security updates but they recently discontinued it. The Official Windows XP Magazine sometimes has patches on its cover discs. Service Pack 2 (which will bring an XP machine right up to date) is available on CD here. But you should probably be aware that many people have chosen not to install service pack 2 as it radically changes XP's functionality to the extent that many people feel that it breaks their computer.

Overall then:
1. Get antivirus installed
2. Get firewall installed
3. If possible get patches/updates on CD or from other offline sources
4. Connect to Internet
5. Update Antivirus (weekly as a minimum)
6. Update firewall if necessary
7. Update operating system (monthly should be OK)

After doing all this for the first time disconnect from the Internet and run a full virus scan. From that point on use the machine as normal, update your antivirus and operating system regularly and your firewall when necessary.

Garry

nigelclose

Hi thanks for the reply,

I have just installed Norton antivirus 2004 and I had to go online to do a live update which was recommended. By going online I picked up the worm virus as mentioned. This I believe was because my pc was not patched properly. So I am now wondering how do I go to http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcentre/FixBlast.exe to fix this virus and properly patch my pc?
Is there any way I could go to this website on another computer and save the software onto a floppy disk. Then I could take this floppy disk and install it onto my own pc. Do you think this is possible?

Also I am not to clued up with the Norton antivirus yet. So I dont actually know how to check if the firewall is on or off.

Also is there any other suggestion on how to keep my Windows Xp up to date without using service pack 2. It doesnt seem the best if people have been complaining about its operation.


Overall then:
1. Get antivirus installed
Ans: Installed Norton 2004 ( but unable to connect to the live update, this could possibly be due to the worm virus)
2. Get firewall installed
Ans: The firewall should be on Norton but im not sure if it is switched on.
3. If possible get patches/updates on CD or from other offline sources
I really need to get that specific patch to safe guard against this Blaster worm. But the only way I know is online!


I would really appreciate it if you could shed any light on this.

Cheers.

peter_the_piper

Might I offer the following. Get a friend to download to CD a copy of Spyware blaster, Spybot S. &D, Ad-aware and hijackthis from http://forum.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=Tech;action=display;num=1094756902
Go online to get the latest definitions and run the first three, let them fix all that they find. Run a scan of Hijackthis and save the log. Register at a site such as http://www.d-a-l.com/help/forumdisplay.php?f=8 (there are others) and post the log there. They will help you get rid of the worm and other things they find. When clear download a copy of Firefox http://texturizer.net/firefox/index.html as your browser, its more secure than I.E. Ensure that Nortons is configured and then run Autoupdate. If you intend to go on Broadband having a Modem/Router will also give an extra layer of protection. Its more likely that someone unknowingly infected your new computer before you bought it than you did by connecting to Nortons liveupdate.
Good Luck.

StrikeEagle

Blaster should be really easy to get rid of.

You download:

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcentre/FixBlast.exe

Run it.

Download (right hand side of screen):

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=2354406C-C5B6-44AC-9532-3DE40F69C074&displaylang=en

Run it.

If your pc says u have 1 minute till reboot, you go:

Start -> Run -> and type:
'Shutdown -a'

This will abort the shutdown.


Download both those files, and stick em on a CD/or Floppy so you always have them handy.

peat

I have spywareblaster, zonealarm, adawareSE, and AVG antivirus. I am pretty religious about making sure everything is up to date. Yesterday I noticed that the MSE site was kinda slow and some other (interactive sites) were freezing so I did all the updates ran the prot ective programmes and continued surfing. Things got worse so I thought I would try the Panda scan thing - would not work. Thought I would try the McAfee stinger thingee- this brought up a page of meaningless letters and symbols. Went to bed most dis-chuffed. Tried the Panda scan first thing this morning and managed a scan. The scan took around 8 hours, found and disinfected 31 infected files- I can only hope my problem is now solved.
The only external source of infection that I can think of could be a CD which came as a freebee which came in last weeks Sunday Times. Does this sound logical?

scheming_gypsy

it is possible, pop the CD back into your drive and give it a scan. You won't be able to clean it but you'll at least know where the infection came form

peat

The CD is in the bin, it was a load of crap anyway.