Virus Weirdness?

[Mr. Perfect]

explorer.exe runs all the time, iexplorer.exe doesn't. The tin foil hattists are debating the difference.

[Saturo]

IE is a service too, turning it off disables most browsing.

*Wears Tin-foil hat*

[Mr. Perfect]

Hmm... What name are you seeing it under? I haven't got an IE service on either XP Pro or 7 Pro 64bit. iexplore.exe runs only when IE is open, and promptly closes when the browser does. There's the WebClient service, if that's what you mean?

[Saturo]

You're thinking of processes. It's actually a service. Not on my windows-system now, but I'll check it later.

[Vespias]

Avast Antivirus is a terrific program.

http://www.avast.com/en-ca/index

It's free and one of the best out there. My boyfriend swears by it for all his techie work.

Just had some major craziness with my comp and had a friend look it over. She told me she removed 4 viruses and when I explained that I had like 5 anti-malware and anti-virus programs so it was impossible she asked me where did I think the virus came from. She explained that companies like Avast (which was one of the programs I had) make money selling their anti-virus. So why in the hell would they give it away free? I said the free time is just to try it out and then you're supposed to buy it but you can still use it and she said that after that trial period it and all the other "free" programs begin to dl their virus very slowly...just a tiny bit each time you log or reboot. Sounds just wacky enough to be true to me. Not a knock against what everybody uses, but something to think about.

[fatman]

I think the Avast! free version doesn't come with a built-in firewall. As for how those free anti-virus make money, that's a different story. I think the free home users just ride on the coattails of their corporate clients but that only explains it part way.

[Ryno]

Well, I have a problem that could be considered "virus weirdness".

I downloaded a torrent program, along with a version of frapps. Cool beans.

Turns out, it installed an "Ask Toolbar" too. Now I can't get the Ask Toolbar program off of my computer.

I took care of the frapps and the bit torrent programs, they're gone. But the Toolbar is evading me.

I did try to uninstall it. It says I have to be logged in as an admin to do this. I don't know how to do that. /headdesk

Then I thought "Hell, I'll just system recover from the day before I downloaded all this". Well, each time I try a system restore to a previous date, it say an "unknown" error stopped it.

I can't get Norton Anti-Virus to touch it. And after the dirty secrets here revealed about free virus protection, I really don't want the suggestion of getting another one.

Any ideas? I read somewhere that starting in safe mode can let me remove it, maybe. But I couldn't figure how to get my computer in safe mode either. I have the computer skills of a limbless monkey.

[Adam-Savage]

Don't use Norton and try using a registry cleaning program ?

[Ryno]

try using a registry cleaning program ?

Well, I did find one called CCleaner. It worked, it's not there anymore. I can't express how much better I feel.

And I will keep using Norton for now at least, mostly because I just renewed it recently...

What did Ryno learn today?

SATURO IS OUT TO KILL HIS COMPUTER SO SHE CAN RUN THE CHURCH OF P. DAWG.

[Saturo]

As I said in the PM, it's possibly to untick the checkbox for Ask toolbar. Norton is not to blame, as it's a legit program. Legit programs aren't allowed to be removed by the software, even tough the thig classifies as unwanted adware.

Apologies, and you can follow the link in my PM to get rid of that piece of shit.

[Vespias]

CCleaner is an absolute neccessity on any comp!

[zedxrgal]

Well since everyone else has thrown in their two bits I'm going to throw in mine.

I have used Windows 7 since it was a pre-beta. NEVER had a problem. The full version has ran on both of my Netbooks to. Never had a problem.

IE .................... gone. Deleted. Doesn't start, doesn't run. Never used it anyway. Shittiest internet provider out there.

Firefox is good. Used it for days. But alas Google Chrome is so much better. And it's faster and never crashes on me unlike FF has multiple time. Some in the same hour. I solely run Chrome now. Love it.

One word ....................... Kaspersky. Pricey but more then worth it. I've used it for three or four years and NEVER had a thing leak or sneak through. You can certainly download the 30 free trial and use that till you can pay for it if you want.

I am not a full tech but now my stuff when it comes to computers. All the aboves have made things so much easier.

[Kaleos]

Free versions have no issues they just never come with all the bells and whistles that a full program will come with. Avast!, AVG, Kaspersky, all great programs and come with free versions for basic virus protection, scanning, and removal. Toolbars like Ask, Yahoo, and others are usually always a bad idea since they can be back doors for virus' just never bother with them. The most important thing as with any program regardless of which one you choose is ALWAYS KEEP IT UPDATED.

[Ryno]

As I said in the PM, it's possibly to untick the checkbox for Ask toolbar.

Lies!

When I did it, there were two check boxes.

One said: Install Program AND ASK TOOLBAR ZOMGZ!!

The other said: Do Not Install Program.

Maybe not word for word, but that was the idea.

[Saturo]

Nope, one said "Install program and askbar", the other "Do not install askbar". Your confusion is understandable tough.

Have you gotten rid of it? I PMed you a link.

[Ryno]

Aye, 'tis gone.

[Saturo]

Good. Apologies, I should have explained better.
EDIT: Spellcheck. It fails.

[Ryno]

Good. Apologies, I should have explained better.

Nah, wasn't your fault. I was just treading into stuff I never treaded before.

Also, gonna call up Webster and talk to him about treaded. It is a word now.

[Bubbleme]

I use AVG + Ccleaner, which actually really REALLY helps with viruses etc. I'm not sure if AVG comes with windows XP, or if you buy it or download / install it, but if you can get it, you should get it. There might be newer and better programs out there, but AVG rocks still.

[Gimlion]

One AV I find to be very useful is the Free Microsoft program Microsoft Security Essentials. It scans all downloaded files, whatever they are, and scans my computer ever Sunday, as well as allowing me to scan it when I feel like it. I trust it, and seeing as my dad (who's a software engineer) suggested it, I don't see why not.