Help! I think I got a virus!

[Arch]

I was just on Cyclechat on my samsung netbook, when Firefox crashed, all the desktop icons disappeared for a moment and I got a window up saying AVG had detected a security risk, and gave me the option to quarantine it, which I did. Now, the icons are back up, but nothing will open. I get a message asking me which program I want to open the file with (for example Wilog.exe when I click to connect my mobile broadband dongle, or explorer.exe if I try to open my files), and giving me the option of internet explorer(recommended), or the other windows programs or an option to browse other program files. I don't know what to try, and if I click on Explorer and say ok, it just says it's stopped working and will close.

Of course, I didn't look very carefully at the name of the security threat, it might have said 'worm'. Can I find out more detail, and how? I've tried restarting, but it's the same.

Do I need to completely reboot, or reformat or something, and if so, how do i do that? I'm completely in the dark, and using my old stoneage laptop again!

Firefox did crash a couple of times today, which is unusual.

 

[wheres_my_beard]

Try turning it off, taking the battery out and the dongle. Reinstall the battery after about 20-30 seconds and then power on. If you are given the option to start windows on "safe mode" do that; either way, run a virus scan. Quarantine/ Move to Vault anything you are directed to.

Restart. See if anything that didn't work before does now. If so, plug in your dongle, and try connecting...

 

[Night Train]

Have you saved your files?

If so you could format and reinstall the operating system from the recovery disc. It means you start from scratch.

 

[Jezston]

Are you using AVG Free?

Get rid of it. It's useless. Get a proper paid-for AV like Avira or Avast.

 

[siadwell]

Of course, I didn't look very carefully at the name of the security threat, it might have said 'worm'. Can I find out more detail, and how?

You need to open up the AVG console and check what's in the virus vault or whatever it's called. You can then Google the name of whatever's in there to find out more about it. Most reputable anti-virus suppliers maintain a searchable list of viruses and their activities.

 

[ian turner]

Look in AVGs quarantine section and find out what the name of the file was that was quarantined. The file name not the virus name.
It may be a false positive and AVG has just removed part of your operating system which has happened to most of the av suppliers
at various times. Mcafee had to pay out compensation to victims over one case.
Go into help and support and one of the options about half way down the right side should relate to system restore. Go into
that and select a restore point before the fault occurred.

 

[Arch]

Try turning it off, taking the battery out and the dongle. Reinstall the battery after about 20-30 seconds and then power on. If you are given the option to start windows on "safe mode" do that; either way, run a virus scan. Quarantine/ Move to Vault anything you are directed to.

Restart. See if anything that didn't work before does now. If so, plug in your dongle, and try connecting...

No, I just tried that, no change. No option to start in safe mode, it just goes to desktop as before, and nothing will open...

Have you saved your files?

If so you could format and reinstall the operating system from the recovery disc. It means you start from scratch.

Yes, everything important in backed up. But I don't know HOW to format and reinstall. There's no disk - it's not got a CD drive. WHen I got it I just turned it on, and went from there following instructions.

Are you using AVG Free?

Get rid of it. It's useless. Get a proper paid-for AV like Avira or Avast.

Thank you, That really helps me just now.

Look in AVGs quarantine section and find out what the name of the file was that was quarantined. The file name not the virus name.
It may be a false positive and AVG has just removed part of your operating system which has happened to most of the av suppliers
at various times. Mcafee had to pay out compensation to victims over one case.
Go into help and support and one of the options about half way down the right side should relate to system restore. Go into
that and select a restore point before the fault occurred.

I can't get AVG, or anything, to run, I just get the 'please choose a program to run avgui.exe', and the internet explorer option, which doesn't do anything. Is there another way to get into AVG?

I have managed to get Help to open up, so I'm looking through the system restore stuff now...

 

[wheres_my_beard]

If you don't have the original operating system disk you will need to purchase one, i.e. Windows 7.


Following the instructions once the disk is in the drive will mean you have a clean install, and a system that runs like new.

 

[Arch]

Ok. Whisper it. I worked out how to do a system restore, and it might have worked - programmes are opening again. I need to log off on this laptop to transfer the dongle and check getting online....

 

[Arch]

Hoorah! System restore seems to have worked. Thanks for the suggestions everyone. At least I've worked out how to do a system restore now...

 

[Night Train]

System restore is useful.

If you force a restart, say by holding the on/off button down to force it to switch off it will restart and offer to start in safe mode as it wasn't shut down properly. You may find there is a 'Press F2' or something similar appear for a few seconds during the start up process that allows you to format and reinstall.

Well done for getting it sorted. Now just take heed of all the advice on safe sharing of data and logging onto suspicious sites to play games and stuff.

 

[Bman]

Ok Arch. Now everything (like AVG) is running.

1. Update AVG fully, until there is no more updates
2. Restart your computer into safe mode (press f8 while booting up your computer, just before the windows logo appears. Choose Safe Mode when prompted)
3. Run a full virus scan. quarantine/repair/delete any infections.

AVG isnt useless. Its protected me against malware that Microsoft Security Essentials or other "paid for" products didnt.

 

[wheres_my_beard]

AVG is great. I've only had one virus (a trojan I think) in 4 years. It totally killed my system, but it was only one virus. Not bad for a free program.

 

[TheDoctor]

Are you using AVG Free?

Get rid of it. It's useless. Get a proper paid-for AV like Avira or Avast.

Sorry, Jez, but that is just plain wrong. It works fine.
And that's six years as an IT pro talking there, before you start.

 

[Bman]

Sorry, Jez, but that is just plain wrong. It works fine.
And that's six years as an IT pro talking there, before you start.

Just six Doc, (or do you not count the "F" word)!?