Virus Problem

I'm trying to help someone with what seems to be a trojan.  I don't have her specs, so let me know if you need them.  

She used spyware/adware programs to remove data loggers.  She used an outdated anti-virus, but found nothing.

She logs onto AOL, gets disconnected automatically, and then is relogged back on.  (except the icons are different)  When she logs off, she gets "weird" programs e.g. "Jenny's Small Bldg.exe."  She has searched her hard drive for these files but can't find them.

What should I recommend she do besides getting an updated anti-virus scanner?  What is the best one out there?  sorry for being new to this. :-/

specs on machine

what programs did you use? were they up to date??

did you do the scans in safe mode and with system restore off??


unlovedwarrior


oh you should real get an new AV like AVG free

I won't be able to get her specs til tonight.  

Question:  Do you press F5 for safe mode with win XP during boot up?  Secondly, how do you turn system restore off?

thanks for the quick reply.

"She used an outdated anti-virus, but found nothing." First boo-boo.    ALWAYS use updated antivirus & antispyware definitions.

what programs did you use? were they up to date??  
 
did you do the scans in safe mode and with system restore off??
 

Can you answer these questions from unlovedwarrior before we can help you more?

Does she have a real Windows CD in case you need to wipe the drive and reinstall Windows?

Alan <><  

its f8

turn off restore

right click my computer> properties>restore>check turn off restore> click apply


and enjoy

from what I can remember, she runs windows XP (not sure if SE or not) but it's post 2003.  Pentium 4 processor.  Not sure if she has a real Windows CD.  She runs IE.  (not latest version I'm guessing)  

She did not do the scans in safe mode or with system restore off.  If you don't mind me asking, how does Safe Mode and system restore off see something that a normal C drive scan wouldn't?

some infections like to hide in the system restore files and then when you remove them they just reinfect

and safe mode makes sure that the infection isnt in use so you wont have any problems removing it

ok one more stupid question:

after she gets AVG, should she first turn off system restore files, then reboot, then safe mode, then run the AVG?  i'm confused as to the sequence of everything.

first remove the old av?? which one is it? then turn off restore then reboot in safe mode

[Moderator]

first remove the old av?? which one is it? Then install AVG and update it, then turn off restore then reboot in safe mode

You should read this as well:

http://www.computerhope.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1149948530

This is a perfect example of a system that needs to be formatted and have Windows installed and then Safe Computing practiced.

thanks guys.  I'm printing that Safe Computing page.  

you never told us the programs you were using

Noob  

WHO the O.P.

[Moderator]

Innappropiate in a Help Forum.

 :-/

[Moderator]

Deleted.