Computer malware help needed

[ChrisL]

My wife's computer is infected with a malware known as "Personal Antivirus". She inadvertently loaded the program. We've tried a full system scan using Avast and its option to scan prior to the Windows OS starting. It didn't remove the program. We've tried Spyware Terminator and I don't think that's finding it either.

I've gone to PCWorld.com from my unaffected laptop for some info and I see there is a paid advertisement for a free "Spyware Doctor" that is allegedly supposed to remove the malware completely.

Am I going to need to reinstall the OS on this PC? The last thing I want to do is purchase some other antivirus software that claims to be able to find this and remove it and then find out this malware flies under that radar as well.

Any advice? My wife is wondering if she got this by spending time on Facebook.

Chris L

[joke1176]

You could try installing Spybot and see if you can expunge it that way...

Maybe throw in Ad-Aware too and see what happens if you are looking to go freeware only.

If it was me, I would try that and if it don't work, I would nuke it with a full re-install after saving important files to a disk or flash drive (and scrubbing them too).

[Pete_S]

Here you go-

How to remove Personal Antivirus (Removal Guide)

Personal Antivirus removal guide, remove PersonalAntivirus

Doubt you'll need to reinstall, I only gave it a cursory look, but it isnt all that nasty, at least compared to some of the other stuff out there.

[chee16]

if it were me i would use MalwareBytes for sure, it seems to work really well and is free. if it is really bad then run it in safe mode also. it seems to be the best malware removal tool out there, that is free anyways.

i recently switched antivirus programs to one called Comodo and really like it, its free and doesn't lag your computer.

[SR-CMT]

+1 on Spy Bot Search and Destroy. Also the comment to run which ever one you use in Safe Mode (Press F8 before Windows loads up to access this mode).

[commiecat]

if it were me i would use MalwareBytes for sure, it seems to work really well and is free. if it is really bad then run it in safe mode also. it seems to be the best malware removal tool out there, that is free anyways.

i recently switched antivirus programs to one called Comodo and really like it, its free and doesn't lag your computer.

+1. I recently started using MalwareBytes and found it to be pretty well. It wouldn't hurt to scan with MalwareBytes, Ad-Aware and SpyBot.

Run in safe mode (with networking) -- I only do the networking part to update the definition files for all the scanning applications.

Hard to say where it came from. I think those buggers usually start by a website popup saying something like "Your computer is infected -- click here to clean!" and clicking will open the flood gates. Or it could have been something done in the background. It happens, but definitely scan it as one malware program usually leads to the installation of several.

Malwarebytes.org
The home of Spybot-S&D!
Ad-Aware Free - Download security software for spyware removal - Lavasoft

[JimmyHAD]

Once you get the box clean and running again if you're not already using Mozilla Firefox for your browser switching to that is supposedly safer. I prefer it to Internet Explorer whether it if safer or not.

Also add NoScript. This is a companion program which lets you control which web pages that you visit are allowed to run java scripts. Malware is frequently placed in scripts running in the background and NoScript may save you if you're on an untrusted site.

I've had to completely wipe a hard drive on two occasions when I picked up viruses that disabled both my Norton anti virus and the Windows restore feature the first time and my Avast and Windows restore on the second occasion.

I switched to Linux with the help of a systems administrator friend of mine and although there is a learning curve it is a bad to the bone OS and I much prefer it over windows. I have bought two separate boxes and components since and assembled them and installed Linux distros.

Never had to pay a dime for anything but the hardware. That is so cool and the hell with Bill Gates and Microsoft.

[northpaw]

+1 on using Linux. I'll never own a Windows machine again.

My wife still runs WinXP on her laptop, though, and it's my job to keep it secure. I switched her to Firefox for starters, then Avast for antivirus, Comodo for firewall, and SpyBot are the three programs used for constant-on protection, and I also run periodic (on-demand) sweeps every other week or so using Avast, SpyBot, and Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (MBAM) in Windows' Safe Mode. Catches a few mostly harmless critters here and there, but no major problems so far.


Slightly off-topic, but funny: I use little USB flash drives to transport files to and from work. They often get infected from the university's machines since the students bring all kinds of nasty bugs from home. The great thing about having a Linux OS is that the bugs can't hide, so I see them at home when I access the drive, chuckle, then delete, delete, delete.

[aroliver59]

+1 on malwarebytes and Firefox w/noscript and Fasterfox

[ChrisL]

Thanks for the info, guys. I use firefox on my PC. I have to set my wife up to use it on hers.

I was able to go in safe mode with networking last night and download the malwarebytes. Spyware Terminator on a full system scan did not find the malware. Avast on a pre-boot of the OS full scan found some corrupted files but that's it.

I did restore to a previous restore point which seemed to get rid of it then did a full scan with the malwarebytes. Who knows for sure, but it seems like the malware is gone............

Chris L