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How can I get rid of spyware and a virus when my Norton anti-virus was insufficient for protecting my pc?

The Norton anti-virus has scanned my pc and was not able to remove the spyware. I have disconnected my pc from the internet to prevent further exposure. Warning messages that keep popping up inform me that it's a category 5 virus on a scale of 0-5. What can i do to save my pc?

Public Comments

1. Virus/Spyware Removal Instructions: Download, install, and update antivirus and antispyware programs (found below). Turn off System Restore off (Right click My Computer, to Properties, go the Restore tab, check the box to Disable system restore). Reboot into Safe Mode (pressing F8 on power up). Run the installed antivirus/spyware. After you have verified they are removed turn System Restore on (uncheck the box) and make sure all of your Windows Updates are completed. Ad-Aware http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-2007/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?tag=lst-1 Spybot http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html?tag=lst-1 Spyware Terminator http://www.spywareterminator.com/download/download.aspx SuperAntiSpyware http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html Free Online AV Scan http://www.pandasecurity.com/homeusers/solutions/activescan/ AVG http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.html?tag=lst-1 Threat Fire (Behavior analysis, so can be run side by side with antivirus without causing problems) http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,64144-page,1-c,antivirus/description.html If you are experiencing problems with SmitFraud or Vundo please use the programs found below VundoFix http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4954.html SmitFraudFix http://www.precisesecurity.com/tools-resources/adware-tools/smitfraudfix/
2. I hate anti-virus software. If you are just responsible on the internets, you shouldn't need it. All they do is take up system resources. Download Spybot S&D and download CCleaner. Both are free and very powerful. Make sure on CCleaner you run both the Windows cleaner and the Registry cleaner.
3. Restart your PC in safe mode http://www.pchell.com/support/safemode.shtml And run a full scan A lot of anti-virus software are unable to terminate the process when running in normal mode.
4. get stop sign its 99% effective not 1 virus in 2 years
5. rescan in safe mode. Safe mode only loads critical system processes and should allow you to remove the offender. If it's something hooked into a system process you will need to google for manual removal of the particular spyware/virus that norton detected. Norton website has manual removal instructions for many types of malware.. you need to search the name of the offender.
6. get back online and go here: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ Use there scan and verify Nortons findings. Get rid of Nortons, get Trend Micro, be responsible online and you really shouldn't have problems at all.
7. virus and antiviruses are same. they both use multiple process strategy to do their work. so never install antivirus. if you can be little bit clever u can be antivirus your self. read information by clicking "be antivirus yourself" in rat32 virus scanner . download it from http://www.geocities.com/mast ratna best of luck
8. Norton's poor. I prefer Avira (http://free-av.com/ ). Install it, run an update followed by a full scan. These warning messages are created by spyware and malware to trick you into buying their own useless software. To protect yourself in the future, I would get rid of Norton and replace it with http://free-av.com/ , although if you are prepared to pay you should look for NOD32 or Kaspersky. To protect other aspects of your computing, download: http://www.spywareterminator.com/ http://free.grisoft.com/doc/download-free-anti-spyware/ Install them, update and run full scans to make sure there is nothing left over.
9. I like to use Threat fire. http://www.threatfire.com/ It has no trial limit and its Easy on the Resources And Maybe if you have resources to spare you can Try C.O.M.O.D.O. Firewall. http://www.comodo.com/products/free_products.html I just don't have the resources to run it all the time.