Non MC - What Virus?

[Mike G in SC]

My PC was fine and dandy on Thursday PM.

I go on Friday AM and my desktop only had the wallpaper and one icon, the recycle bin.

START, PROGRAMS,,,, none found. Windows Explorer,, no user files, programs unuseable.

 

Cutting to the chase, the files are there but Icons and program listings are gone.

Files (pictures, documents and such) are found, but not in folders.

 

I do have a newer AV program in use, WebRoot (Essentials, a cloud AV product. been ok for months).

 

So, my son, who is more current on PC installs, is working on restore. Said it's pretty nasty.

 

There are several IT pro's here. Do you know what virus took me down?

I have googled for info, found some info, but no one says what the virus is.

Anyone know this one,,, and how to avoid it.

 

Thanks, Mike G.

[etcswjoe]

Its hard to avoid anything any more, break down and buy one of the major anti-virus software's like Mcafee or Norton and a good firewall.

Edited September 19, 2012 by etcswjoe

[djh3]

I use avast, its free and works well. Also malware bytes. IT looks and isolates these pesky virus. Download and run it first. Sometimes you have to run in safe mode to get rid of these stupid virus's, ocasionaly you have to download the malware bytes to a usb thumb drive and run them from there as the virus wont let you download them to clear them out.

[friesman]

I use AVG and have never had an issue with their free software. I would not use Norton as Ive found it to be a real hog on resources and slows your machine down.

 

Here is a link to snapfiles.com's free ware section, just look for an antivirus program ( i like AvG and Avast) and read and pick, snapfiles rates them by popularity by users and for ease of use.

 

 

http://www.snapfiles.com/freeware/

 

bRIAN

[Mike G in SC]

Hey Joe,

Webroot is a major paid AV product. I previously used Norton then Kasapersky.

Don't know if they would have done better.

(Webroot is "live" or "cloud". Has good reviews. Been using it on 3 machines since May. Retails for $60 at Best Buy.)

 

So, if no one's heard of this virus,, heads up and back up.

Thanks, Mike G.

 

link for Webroot: http://www.webroot.com/En_US/sites/bbi/sem-wsa-3prod-comp1/?esvcid=S1348065573_ADOGOE_AGI1548_CRE16529888240_TID18342_RFDd3d3Lmdvb2dsZS5jb20%3d&RC=4929&sc=701F0000000dDP2&utm_term=webroot&id=1&gclid=COTul83vwbICFQGDnQodZhIA6w

 

 

Its hard to avoid anything any more, break down and buy one of the major anti-virus software's like Mcafee or Norton and a good firewall.

Edited September 19, 2012 by Mike G in SC

[jonesy]

Have seen it on 3 different machines over last 2 weeks, had different levels of success getting rid of it. got rid of it on one , most of it on another, had to replace harddrive on third one. Used Malwarebytes, and Webroot Secure Anywhere Complete {which I get off ebay for about $25. ] to get anywhere near a running pc. It shows something called File Recovery, and offers to sell it to you. Thats the one I;ve seen.

[AKRefugee]

Some viruses change settings on your computer to hide files and even move files to temp folders. This forum might help you find the temp files and correct the problem

 

http://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=85715&st=0&p=434006entry434006

 

This link will take you to a forums I have found great answers on removing a virus before.

Might take a little searching on there but I have always found the answer I needed to remove any virus and restore my system.

 

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/

 

Hope you get rid of it.

[Flyinfool]

Some viruses change settings on your computer to hide files and even move files to temp folders. This forum might help you find the temp files and correct the problem

 

http://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=85715&st=0&p=434006entry434006

 

This link will take you to a forums I have found great answers on removing a virus before.

Might take a little searching on there but I have always found the answer I needed to remove any virus and restore my system.

 

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/

 

Hope you get rid of it.

 

 

:sign yeah that:

I had a malware that would not even allow the computer to boot up. Was down to just the blue screen of death at boot. Bleeping computers was able to talk me thru step by step, holding my hand the whole way to get everything back up and running. They are a bunch of big time computer geeks and used software that they wrote to fix things that there is no commercial fix for. I ran all of the major brands of antivirus software and none of then could find whatever it was that I had. Some of the software that they had me use even found malware hiding on other computers on the network that the commercial AV software was perfectly happy to leave there. Some of the steps took over 24 hours to run but did finally win the war.

[stardbog]

Switch to Apple Mac, I dont have installed any antyvirus software and never have since 1999 there is still no viruses for Mac ( Except if you download ilegal free software from web).

[Mike G in SC]

AKR,

The link went to what looks like my virus:

you have been infected with one of the FakeHDD\Defragmenter rogues that hide your files and Start Menu.

But, did not get a fake "click here" screen.

I have been using the combo of Webroot and Advance Windows Care, but will look into the Malwarebytes product.

 

My son, who has learned alot in the last few years, is bringing the box home today with new drive, restored W7 and was able to find most files and restore my mail.

He suggested the new drive so I could still look on the old one if something is still missing.

 

So with that, what "on-line" backup product are people using, Carbonite, Mosy,,?

Want to do, say 3 PC's (which, unless you piggyback may leave out Carbonite).

 

And thanks all.

Mike G.

 

 

 

 

Some viruses change settings on your computer to hide files and even move files to temp folders. This forum might help you find the temp files and correct the problem

 

http://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=85715&st=0&p=434006entry434006

 

This link will take you to a forums I have found great answers on removing a virus before.

Might take a little searching on there but I have always found the answer I needed to remove any virus and restore my system.

 

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/

 

Hope you get rid of it.

[Gojira]

Or use a flavor of Linux. Ubuntu is one of the easiest to use.

[AKRefugee]

That was a forum discussion that showed the screen that was appearing because of the virus. If you scrolled down it shows you how to get rid of it

 

 

Ride Happy, Ride Safe

[dacheedah]

I use the free Microsoft security suite and malware, my only comment is to make sure you are not running two security programs at once. My mother in law was buying McAffee and I asked her why, she has att & they give you mcafee free with there internet access. I make that comment because several providers offer that and people either don't pay attention or forget. I just hate paying for anything twice, it makes it seem like everyone is turning into the government. . .

[BuddyRich]

Online backup are ok, they are slow on a restore usually. Get yourself a portable HD and use it to back things up to.

[BradT]

No virus for me but on Friday night computer was acting up Saturday did not boot up well. Hard disk failure, no warning. Second one in 6 months on a Levono Thinkpad W520. Won't get it back until Monday

 

IT thinks they saved the most of it, but it did not look good for a while. Backup copy was 6 months old OUCH Where did the time go.

 

Don;t forget to back up.

 

 

Brad

[Hazenson]

I use the free AVG also- but back it up with free Advanced system pro- Ive never had a problem-- when It gets slow- just update and run Advanced system pro and scan with avg every couple weeks or so. Always make sure to check for updates tho - dont matter what AV you are useing.