Malwar & Trojans

[magsrob]

Sorry If I have posted this in the wrong section as I am new to this site - I am wondering if anyone can give me any advice regarding the following.

I have Avast and Spybot on my computer. When I have scanned my computer with Avast I have collected 4 losts of Malware and 1 trojan in the virus chest - As I am a total novice I do not know how to get rid of them. They have been in the virus chest for some time.

Also I have just read that you can now download new security from windows. Can anyone recommend this? Any advice would be appreciated.

Mgt

[dave.m]

As the items have been in the virus chest for some time, and everything else appears to be working on your computer it means that nothing that was quarantined was done by mistake.
You can now delete what is in the virus chest. I don't have Avast but, start the main interface, click on the chest icon. select 'infected files' on the left, and remove them.

This is the user manual for Avast:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/7960585/Avast ... ser-Manual

You can use the Microsoft Security Essentials free from:
http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

As it includes an antivirus, you must disable your Avast and then uninstall it.
If you plan on removing Avast, use the official Avast Removal Tool to ensure that all traces are removed:
http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility

If you plan to use the MSE then can I recommend Comodo Firewall
Note! Comodo Firewall is now part of Comodo Internet Security Suite = Comodo AntiVirus + Comodo Firewall, but you can install just the firewall if you use a different AntiVirus.


Post back with what operating system you have (XP, Vista or Win 7) and also what browsers you have.
Any questions about security, ask here but you can have a read of the options Here

dave
ps

[chat_to_rich]

I can recommend Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE). I used to use McAffee and found it slowed down my machines. I tried MSE when it was in beta and haven't looked back since. I now have it installed on all my machines. The initial scan of one of my computers with ~40GB took 10-20mins, but now a quick scan takes less than 1min. To be safe I run a full scan every month.

[dave.m]

Rich,
I liked MSE except for the auto update glitch where it does not auto update unless the computer is switched on and not hibernating at 1am.
It needs to then be manually updated, or a reboot, or a scan scheduled whereby it will check for updates before scanning.

In this link:
http://tinyurl.com/yjsk28b
they (MS) recommend checking for updates manually every week
A real-time antivirus program that only needs definition updates weekly

MS actually update the definitions up to three times daily, so it needs manually checking every day, unless you shut down at night and reboot in the morning, but don't leave it on standby or hibernation all night.
I was waiting for the OP to come back and then set him straight on the update situation. As I said it is fine if you shut down every night.

I used it for a while but went back to Comodo IS, it nags a bit until it gets the feel of your operations, but is fine after that, and phones home regularly for daily updates.

dave

[chat_to_rich]

Maybe I'm just lucky, but I always hibernate my XP laptop and I haven't noticed the definitions get out of date. I like MSE because of the speedy scans and the fact it doesn't nag you about upgrades etc. When I was running the Windows 7 Beta there were only a few AV programs that supported Win 7. I tried Kaspersky and Panda. I remember I thought my machine was running so slowly I was going to need a hardware upgrade to run Win 7. I installed the MSE beta and my machine ran much faster. That's when I realised it was Kaspersky and Panda that were causing the slow down. They were beta products and so now they may be much faster, but I've stuck with MSE.

[magsrob]

Thanks very very much lads for all you help - as I said before I am a total novice. I have had three different computers over the last 6 years. It is a laptop I am using at the moment which is Windows Vista. Will I still have to leave the Spybot on if i take Avast off and use MSE? Can you explain to me how I find out what browsers I have as I haven't got a clue - told you I was a novice also can I take the avast off with the virus's left in the chest?

I have a desk top which is XP but cannot get this to work with the wireless router unless it is plugged in to the main phone socket. Have had it into the computer shop and used different plug ins they have recommended - even bought an extension cable they said would work but it still doesnt. Anyway that's another problem I have.

Thanks again,

Mgt

A

[chat_to_rich]

My recommendation would be to remove Spybot if you are going to install MSE as MSE includes anti-spyware. That way you can be sure the two won't conflict with each other. I don't know for certain, but I imagine that if you choose to uninstall Avast it will ask you what to do with the files in the chest. I would choose to delete them.

For browsers:
As you are running Windows Vista you will have Internet Explorer (IE) installed, which is made by Microsoft. As some websites use vulnerabilities in IE to install malware many people choose to run Firefox http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/firefox/ . Firefox is generally faster than IE and there are lots of add-ons available, for when you become more adventurous. A third browser that is becoming popular is Chrome from Google http://www.google.com/chrome. This too can be faster than IE for websites that have lots of Javascript. I use IE because it's my default browser at work and Chrome as it runs a website I use all day faster than any other browser. One slight issue with both Firefox and Chrome is that many websites are written for IE and it can mean that they don't look quite right in Firefox or Chrome.

With your desktop:
I don't quite understand your problem and configuration. Can you get a wireless connection from your router with your laptop? If you plug your desktop into the router using a network cable can you access the internet? With some more info we should be able to get this working.

Hope this helps

[magsrob]

Thanks for your help. I have now uninstalled the Spybot & Avast and installed the MSE.

I can get a wireless connection without any trouble from my router to my laptop. However, I have to plug a cable into the back of the router and then into my desktop to access the internet. The desk top is upstairs & if I want to use it I have to bring it downstairs to plug it in to the router. I bought an extension cable to plug into the back of the router but it doesn't work.

Any advice would be apprciated.
Thanks
Mgt

[chat_to_rich]

Thanks for the extra info, I now understand your problem. What's the make and model of the wireless dongle for your desktop and your router? Now you've installed MSE, I would change the default scheduled scan to a time when your machine is likely to be on and also tick the box to check for the latest definitions before running the scan.

[magsrob]

Thanks again for your help it really is appreciated. I do not have a dongle for my desk top have been connecting it to the internet via my router. Which works fine when I bring the desk top comp down stairs and use the short connection cable but when I use the longer one I bought I cannot get onto the internet.

Mgt

[dave.m]

The longer cable that you bought wasn't a 'cross-over cable' by any chance as that would explain why it doesn't work.

How to Identify a Crossover Cable

[magsrob]

I will compare the cable I bought with the picture tomorrow but I don't think it is a cross over cable as it wasn't very expensive. I bought it off the internet.
Mgt

Just been looking at the jokes page - this is a cracking site - much better than facebook.

[dave.m]

To set your PC up wirelessly you need a wireless adaptor (dongle) like one of these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Netgear-WG111-W ... B0002LHX8O

They will connect to your wireless router no matter what make it is.

This is how easy it is to set up:

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/organiz ... setup.aspx

What you should do, just to check that the wireless signals are strong enough to reach upstairs where you have your desktop PC is to take one of the laptops that is connected to the router wirelessly and make sure it works when placed near your PC. Once you are satisfied, geta dongle and get it set up. Saves trailing wires all over the house.

dave