What is this problem and how can I fix it?

Question

I know that my boyfriend goes to all those sites like rotten.com and uselessjunk.com. So in the process, he got trojans, spyware, and adware on my computer from all the links on there. I used AVG to scan for viruses, and it wiped out some of it. I used spybot and ad aware to try to get rid of some of the spyware. So before, I had my desktop as a warning message (I have windows xp) telling me my computer was infected with spyware. After multiple scans, I restarted and the warning message is not there anymore, now its just a plain blue. However, my computer seems somewhat cleared but is running a little slow still. Also, when I go to change my desktop back, I can only do it by selecting a picture and put "set as desktop background" I can not get into the screen saver or desktop portion in my control panel. Has this ever happened to anyone else? Also, AVG only takes serious threats. It took 5 trojans, but didnt take out any of the harmful tracking cookies. I know theres a way to erase all my cookies, but I can't remember how. Can someone tell me how I can erase all my cookies? Is that a good idea, or will that mess something up? And how can I restore my control panel? And lastly, is there any other scanners I could use that may clear up the last of the problems? Thank you.

Answer 1

Use system restore, go back to afew weeks or even months ago before your bf visited those garbage sites. System Restore is in the control_panel. I suggest either wipe your hard drive or go into safe mode then once your in windows safe mode, run system restore. If you cannot get into system_restore using safe mode, get what data you need on a cd and wipe the system. I suggest linux (rather than windows) a child site blocker (it is your computer after all) and finaly put a password on administrator or any of the windows accounts, so they cannot log in without your approval. He might get a little angry at this, but if you do not want to be bogged down by worms and virii it is my only suggestion. Most of those programs the gentleman below my column wrote of design the viruses to infect your computer, release them, then add fixes in their software or make their software buggy so you buy the full version. Just system restore (not to many bugs can effect it) in safe mode. It would be better to put your data on disk, or a alternate hard drive, before reinstalling windows (however you are way better off with linux), If you start downloading those programs listed, your problem is going to get a lot worse before it gets better unless you pay the companies that make anti virus software money to protect you from the virii they build. I know some idiots have given me a thumbs down, but I have been using the internet since 1996 and live relatively virus free.

Answer 2

No one program is sufficient to get rid of all the malware on your computer.  Doing a Restore Point is useless as they may be just as infected and might need to be removed.

LavaSoft's AdAware 2008:

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_a...

Spybot Search & Destroy:

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index...

Anti-Virus Programs -

AVG:

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/28415/lng/us...

AVAST:

http://www.avast.com/eng/download.html

ClamWin:

http://www.clamwin.com/content/view/18/4...

RogueRemover Free 1.24 :

http://www.majorgeeks.com/RogueRemover_d...

All free!

**************************************...

Use these Guides and Tutorials to clean pretty much 70% or more of the malware:

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Malware-R... or http://tinyurl.com/2jvph7

If you still have problems with malware, then follow the instructions on this section of the forum:

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Malware-R... or http://tinyurl.com/25eu6w

These people are very, very good and very busy so please be patient.

It is free help and registration. Should you have any other computer problems, check through the different sections of the forum and post in the correct one:

Ron

Answer 3

you can try the trend free online scanner. you've done just about everything you can do. well everything sensible anyways.

to get the broken parts of windows working again will be tough. if you can't live with it, it sounds like its time to reformat or reload the factory image.

take care