Im a computer dummy. Trojan?

Joannekerry

Just got my nice new computer and installed my spyware and Trojan came up as high risk. Clicked on details and was advised to block it which I did but then I had a message come up from Windows XP telling me to reinstall it as my computer would be affected.

HELP PLEASE, do I reinstall it as per Windows XP or just carry on regardless.

scoot1on1

what program did you install that told you it was a trojan??
You shouldn't really get a trojan if you had just started your computer from new.
What make was your computer? as Tiny computers had a reputation of selling 2nd hand computers for new.
Can you rem the name of the Trojan it said it was?

Fran

Have you got Windows XP on CD/floppy? I'm just thinking that if it came preinstalled you might lose it if you remove it to reinstall. (Only guessing.) If you have got it on CD then why not reinstall it if it suggests - assuming you haven't just spent hours installing all sorts of things! When I've had trojans Windows has never left a message like that so I would be inclined to take is seriously. Sorry, haven't really got an answer there!

Foxy

sorry im not a techie but i usually use this page to detect if my pc has anyviruses at all and if they have it usually tells me where to find the removal tools if that helps

hope ypou manage to get it sorted:D

andy88_2

There are some trojans that sneakily share a name with genuine Windows components. But they live in different places, and good remedial programs will tell them apart. lsass.exe and svchost.exe are two.

I don't know enough to say whether this is the problem, but it might explain the confusion. What firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware do you have, and do you remember the suspect filename?

Joannekerry

I bought a Dell computer and everything was preloaded. Ive got Macfree antivirius/firewall etc and downloaded Spyware from aol version 9. AOL said that in the description that Trojan was like the horse, could be good and yet at the same time could be harmful and advised it to be blocked, but when I did windows XP said the computer could be affected and I should reinstall it. My computer has been running Ok but Im not sure what to do.

Browntoa

there is a sticky thread on here about these sort of things top of this section

do this

1) If you do not have up to date virus software then download AVG from (free) from here

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

2) once it is installed and updated go to Control Panel, Internet Options and hit the button that says "Delete files" under Temporary Internet files

3) boot the PC into "safe mode

two methods for starting the computer in Safe Mode. One method uses the F8 key during system startup, and the other method uses the System Configuration Utility, which is a feature of some Windows operating systems. Please note the following:

• System Configuration Utility:If you try the System Configuration Utility and cannot start its dialog box, use the F8 method instead. If the System Configuration Utility method is not listed for your operating system, the utility is not available in that operating system.
• F8 key: Using the F8 key can be more difficult than using the System Configuration Utility because you must press the F8 key at just the right time. If the F8 method does not work, repeat the steps, but press the F8 key more quickly, or press it several times. If the F8 key still does not work, use the System Configuration Utility method instead. On some older computers, the F8 key method does not work because the computer has disabled the F8 key for this purpose or the computer is designed to use a different key.
  
  (If your computer has been infected with some worms and Trojans, the System Configuration Utility will not work. In this case, using the F8 key will be the only option.)

4) run AVG ( or your own Virus software) from the Test Centre , do Scan Computer and let it clean anything it finds

5)reboot into normal mode and see what happens when you scan again

andy88_2

The fact that the AOL spyware program seems to be ambivalent about this makes me think that it could be one of the normal Windows processes, as I mentioned.

I think I'd be tempted to let Windows win this one, get different anti-spyware, and run that.

AdAware, Spybot Search and Destroy and Microsoft Anti-Spyware are the free ones to go for. SpywareBlaster will block installation of most of these problems. I have all four.

ocemeer

Hi I've picked up a trojan virus on my other laptop, running win 98. Its a b***h to remove. They can redirect your home page, or connect you to the internet without your knowledge.
The best option I've found is to use spybot search and destroy, its a free down load just search on google or use this link,
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/
He asks for donations but you don't have to. If this works then its your choice for a donation.

If this doesn't work then there is another free software "cwshredder" at this address'
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
This is available with spy subtract pro, free on a thirty day trial.
Hope this helps,

Fran

There is all this info and more if you look under FAQ's which is a sticky at the top of this board!

Tharweb

I have spent most of the afternoon removing a trojan and other nasties from my father's PC. AVG anti virus identified the trojan but couldn't permanently remove, neither could Adaware, Spybot or CW Shredder. However, I successfully removed it finally with a2 another free program http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/