Hey guys,
I'm on a friends computer that has the Security Toolbar 7.1 virus on it.
You know, the annoying pop-ups (antiSpyware/malware sites) everywhere with the blinking yellow triangle with the fake security alerts and changing the homepage...
I had a similar virus like this on my computer at home but it was ActiveX. I learned how to delete it by going through SafeMode and showing all the hidden files in that particular folder and deleting them all - which successfully got rid of it just fine.
This time, seeing how it's pretty much the same thing (from how it looks and acts - googled Security Toolbar and it shows pictures of it - yup, what this computers got for sure), I figured I could do the same thing. But I can't for the life of me find anything about it by Googling it. All I can find is crap I have to download. I don't want to have to download anything. I didn't have to last time since I learned to do it myself.
Does anyone know how I can get rid of this like I did the last one?
- EDIT -
I also installed my Defender Pro and it didn't do jack shit. It does a great job blocking and keeping it safe from further infection, but it didn't get rid of it :(
Thanks in advance,
--Snake
The thing about this kind of malicious software, is that the program made to "clean" it from your system is usually made by the person(s) who created the malware in the first place.
I'm not familiar with this particular brand, so the best I can advice I can offer is:
Full system scans, using:
Spybot (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html)
AdAware (http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php?PHPSESSID=c39f1fe7a5c429c70fb0cc060ac7d9c9)
Hijack This (http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/threat_analytics/hijackthis.php)
If nothing else, these programs should shed more light on the problem.
I just downloaded HijackThis, since everyone seems to use it, and am waiting for my confirmation email for a tech forum to come in so I can post it.
This shit sucks. The people that make them suck. Last night my girlfriend's son asked me where virus' come from.
I said, "They're man made."
"They're man made?" He asked suprised.
I said, "Yeah. There are people out there that have nothing better to do than create these programs that mess with your computer."
My girlfriend also says, "If they're so damn smart to do these things to everyone's computer, then why the fuck don't they use their heads to do make something good."
That's when I thought of them being the same people that sell the anti-virus/spyware bullshit.
--Snake
If you've posted in a Tech forum they'll probably see you through just fine, those guys really know what they're doing. Anyway, some more pointers if you need them:
Follow LimpingFish's links, in that order, since the first two you just download and run without having to post on a tech forum (don't forget to update them first). Also download AVG Free (http://free.grisoft.com) and give that a go.
If they don't fix the problem, pop open the Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del) and check all processes against a list online like http://www.tasklist.org/ (http://www.tasklist.org/). If you find any nasty processes then Google them and you should find instructions on removing them at popular anti-virus sites.
Some things don't show up in the Task Manager. Go to the Start menu > Run and type 'msconfig' without the 's. Go to the Startup tab and make sure nothing there looks malicious.
Of course, once this is removed make sure the computer is protected well. There is a bunch of free tools that are very popular (Ad-Aware, Spybot, AVG, ZoneAlarm) and Microsoft updates. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Wow, this is weird.. I just came home from my buddys house and he just got the same thing, begging me to help him get rid of it. I'll try what you did Snake, and I'll be the hero of the day someday.