Help in removing mal/adware

[Spot717]

Hi all, I'm requesting assistance in removing some malware or adware I seem to have picked up during my travels on the internet.

The first instance of this I noticed was a car advertisement/review being run in the background (I had no programs or anything else open - just running in the background). So, I installed and ran Malwarebytes and it found numerous files and quarantined them, and upon restarting, the advertisement no longer played.

However, the system seems to still run slower than usual, the internet is slow (it is usually pretty fast), when I try to download something it will say my security settings will not allow me to download this (have never had this in the past), when I shut down my computer it looks like there are a couple windows that were in the background that are flashing/closing, and lastly, once in a while upon visiting a website an error box appears saying something can't be executed (when I get the message again I will update this post).

The system runs Windows 7 64 bit.

I'm not very experienced in handling issues related to viruses and the like. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Please let me know if you need/would like more information.

 

[Paul NZ]

Put teamviewer on this http/download.teamviewer.com/download/TeamViewer_Setup_en.exe if you want. And I can check it out from here

If you install this send the ID and password it gives you to me in a PM

Dont worry you'll see what I'm doing

 

[rockie_]

Download Bitdefender or Kaspersky . Might run Anti-Makware in Safe mode .

 

[Spot717]

I will try Bitdefender and Kaspersky tomorrow, it is getting a tad late. I will post my findings tomorrow! Thank you for your responses

 

[Paul NZ]

Dont install both of them at the same time they'll conflict

 

[Spot717]

Hey guys, so I'm trying to download Kaspersky Pure 3.0 Total Security free trial, but when I click the download button, a message pops up and tells me "Security Alert: Your current security settings do not allow this file to be downloaded." I haven't changed any of my security settings for a long time, so I'm not too sure how to work around this. I will keep trying.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Paul NZ]

And what browser are you using? If its IE go to tools/ internet options / security. Untick enable protected mode, OK, then close the browser then try again

 

[Spot717]

Hi Paul, thanks for your response! I am using IE, and that option was actually already unticked.

 

[Paul NZ]

Are you downloading it from the Kaspersky site?

Try the bottom option here http/www.thewindowsclub.com/disable-file-download-option-internet-explorer

 

[Spot717]

Alright, that helped! It is downloading now. I will post back after this downloads and I check it out. Thank you!

 

[Paul NZ]

Cool

 

[Spot717]

All right! I've got it installed, and am currently running a full scan. I will post the results of this scan tomorrow, I'm going to retire for the night. Thank you for your help so far, I really do appreciate it

 

[Spot717]

Hello again, just checking back with the results. After running a full scan it removed a couple things and I suppose so far I have not run across any interruptions. I'll continue to observe while browsing and see if any of those old error messages come up again. Hopefully this will have solved it!

Just a few questions related to the topic. The most mentioned was to run Kaspersky, why was this mentioned over the other options? Is it worth it to invest in a program like Kaspersky (or a similar, more recommended one?) or just stick with Microsoft Security Essentials?

Finally, is there a way to know that your system has no virus/potentially harmful files, or know that whatever I had previously is gone for good? When I scanned with some different programs at different times, Malwarebytes found stuff, then said my system was clean after running a 2nd scan, while Kaspersky found stuff that Malwarebytes didn't. Just looking for a bit of extra knowledge. Thanks again for the help everyone!

 

[Paul NZ]

I wouldnt buy Kaspersky myself. MSE is good enough or Windows defender. If you use Win8

Depending on WHAT the malware is, its a good idea to disable system restore then do a full scan with something

 

[Math Geek]

my last step after it appears to be gone is to do a manual look. look around program files for folders you don't expect such as "ads rock toolbar" or something else you know you did not install. verify it's nothing you need and delete it. i also delete internet temp files and such to ensure it's not sitting there waiting to pounce again.

finally and i only recommend this if you know what you are doing i skim the registry itself and remove anything that should not be there. you can screw the windows install royally deleting needed stuff from the registry so buyer beware. almost everytime i find extras in these places the AV program left behind.

often the virus/malware adds to the startup and services entries so this is another place i look for evidence.

perhaps allowing someone to do this kind of check for you would be safer. teamviewer is a simple yet great program for allowing such access. have it installed and have used it many times to help folks.

 

[rockie_]

AntiMalware is no anti-virus program It tackles malware. It s something different . So , it is importan to have an antivirus program . Kaspersky and Bitdefender are the best but paid . MS SE is not the best but is fast and helpful . i ve been using it for 2 years and my laptop is vurus free . Internet Explorer is best of the browsers . It blocks 95% of the attacks , Google Chrome 80% and so on . Avast is very good adware antivirus .

http/www.av-test.org/en/

 

[Paul NZ]

I wouldnt say that Eset is far better than both of those

 

[Math Geek]

i use avast free on older systems that do not have a lot of ram. a lot of testing and this one is lite on the system but still works well. eset/kapernisky/bitdefender are all great programs if you got the resources of a newer pc and don't mind paying.

i personally do not use any AV or anti-malware on my pc and have not had a virus or anything on my system in a very long time. i have infected a sandbox on purpose a few times to see what something does but that's a different case. if your careful and don't surf porn 8 hours a day, there is little risk. i do have ad block and a couple other extensions in firefox but they are more for blocking ads i don't want to see and such.

 

[Spot717]

All right! A lot of great information here. Thank you all so much for the help in this. I feel fairly confident that whatever I had is gone now. Thanks again, and have a great rest of the week and weekend!