How do you get rid of a virus that won't let you download a virus killer?

Question

I have a laptop that has a virus that is so ingenious that it won't let me download any antivirus program, or even go to an antivirus website.

I have restarted in safe mode, that doesn't work,

I have done a system restrore to an earlier date, that doesn't work

I have put installations of antivirus on a memory stick and installed that, but that doesn't work because all the antivirus programs have to download current definitions, so ultimately that doesn't work!

Anybody have any ideas? I don't want to let these creeps win!

Thanks.

Answer 1

hi

use your usb stick to download a rootkit revealer such as

http://www.sophos.com/products/free-tool...

run it and delete the hidden files that it finds.

now your av program will be able to access the internet to update and will hopefully find the other nasties

has worked for me when getting rid of the vundo variants such as winantispyware2008 etc

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^edit

some sumware DOES block internet access for other programs and use browser hijacks in IE to redirect you when you try to go to AV sites. They also stop other non compromised browsers such as opera and firefox running

PS rootkits will still be running even if you are in safemode.

microsoft thought that it would be a good idea to make it possible for some files to be invisble to the O/s by putting a $ sign in front of the file name?!?!?!?

Answer 2

A virus would NOT restrict access to a website.  If it exhibited that kind of behaviour, it would be counter-productive to the virus, as it would prevent it from spreading....The other possibility - that a virus could prevent you from using an antivirus, would make this the most invincible bug ever created; which again would be a very small probability.

Viruses are usually the knee-jerk reaction to a computer problem, though they are the least common cause of most problems.  If you haven't been opening unfamiliar emails, or downloaded and RIGHT-CLICKED unusual files, you don't have a virus.

ADVICE:

Have you checked your I/O card?  Could be hardware problem.

Answer 3

Well, from the looks of it you have access to another computer. Like you mentioned before, use another computer to download the following files onto a flash drive, if you are using Windows XP or earlier disable system restore, restart into safe mode, and try the following:

The easiest way to fix it is using Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware (Turn off system restore, Download it, update it, do a full scan, and remove everything it finds).

I would also recommend the following programs to make sure that you don't get infected again in the future:

Spybot - Search & Destroy

Avira AntiVir Personal

Spyware Doctor Starter Edition

Answer 4

You might have to purchase one in a retail store, and manually download it.

Answer 5

I'm not sure if you can do something in this case. I never heard of such a virus. From how I see it there is only one option: reinstall windows....if you only have Windows on (C:) , that's all you'll lose, but if you have stuff you want on (C:) like Word docs., music, movies, pictures , you'll have to move them on (D:) or (E:) or create a back up disk. Do it as quick as possible! If you have online bank accounts or so...there's the risk of the hacker to get your password and get money from your account (happened to a friend). Hope I helped!