this cant be good..

[Footy Chick]

My comptuer just told me I have a backdoor trojan malware threat..

I just tried to download some 80's music.

Am I screwed?

F***** I hate computers.

[JAS]

Hey there FC

First thing...don't panic or do anything drastic
I don't think malware is the same or as bad as a virus.

When that kinda thing has happened to me in the past it was my anti-virus prog that warned me and it offered to remove it at the same time. Did yours do the same? I've always accepted the removal and had no further probs.

I'm no computer whizz though so might be best to wait for the experts to confirm or deny I'm doing the right thing Sorry I can't be more help.

Regards
JAS

[Punk Rooster]

*blind leading the blind*
try right click & open?
click madly on everything?
if this doesn't work, your computer is running too hot (ie over-heating) & this can be fixed by pouring cold water over it (room temp water is ok too)

This advice I've given works for all computer problems...

[Dog_ger]

Firstly.

Just run your anti virus.

Do a scan...

Not as much as me....

[Psyber]

Rather than an antivirus programme I would download and run one [or even all] of these free products:
AVG Antispyware http://free.grisoft.com/doc/download-fr ... e/us/frt/0
AdAware http://www.lavasoft.de/
EMCO Malware Destroyer http://www.emco.is/
I have them all on board and run a different one each weekend, after updating it. The paid for versions update themselves.

[smithy]

Don't worry about adaware anymore as you now need to pay for updates.
Pity as it was a good program.
Spybot is one I use often that gets rid of those nasties too.

[Footy Chick]

It got REALLY messy there for a while, i had all sorts of worms, trojans etc..

I ended up buying virusranger. Got rid of them in a flash..

Can anyone suggest where I can download some good songs for free without the threat of my bloody computer going psycho again?

[Kahuna]

Falcon Chick you may like to have a look at the following link. I don't think VirusRanger was such a good idea.

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=virus ... 8&oe=utf-8

[Footy Chick]

Oh crap, I just paid $50 for it... F%$#@ SH*%^^

Did I mention I hate computers...

[Psyber]

Don't worry about adaware anymore as you now need to pay for updates.
Pity as it was a good program.
Spybot is one I use often that gets rid of those nasties too.

I installed the free version of "Adaware2007" recently and it is still updating, but you have to do it manually. The trial versions of the non-free version time out and require you to pay thereafter. Like others, they make it easy to download a trial version, but the free one is still there just made less easy to find. The older version of the free one I had stopped updating.

[smithy]

Falcon Chick - If I may suggest some freeware that gives you FREE updates and works really well.
I have been using these programs for years and they are fine and FREE.

Avast anti-virus - http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

Spybot search and destroy - http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

[JAS]

Falcon Chick - If I may suggest some freeware that gives you FREE updates and works really well.
I have been using these programs for years and they are fine and FREE.

Avast anti-virus - http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

Spybot search and destroy - http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

Ditto

Those are the two I use as well and never had a problem with them

Regards
JAS

[zipzap]

My comptuer just told me I have a backdoor trojan malware threat..

I just tried to download some 80's music.

Ah yes, the little known Roxette virus!

[Footy Chick]

I clicked on the free removal for virusranger and it was all double dutch to me, the one thing I did understand is the bit that said that "this could destroy your computer"... Fantastic

[Psyber]

And while you are prtecting your computer don't forget a free and effective alternative to the windows firewall.
http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/ ... y=&lang=en

Finally, do not use Internet Explorer or Outlook/Outlook Express - try Opera or Firefox/Thunderbird.
http://www.opera.com/download/
http://en.www.mozilla.com/en/

[Psyber]

I clicked on the free removal for virusranger and it was all double dutch to me, the one thing I did understand is the bit that said that "this could destroy your computer"... Fantastic

Read the "how to remove..." instructions in the link Kahuna posted.

[Footy Chick]

I clicked on the free removal for virusranger and it was all double dutch to me, the one thing I did understand is the bit that said that "this could destroy your computer"... Fantastic

Read the "how to remove..." instructions in the link Kahuna posted.

that link was just the results of a google search...

this is all too much..

Did I mention I hated computers?

[Psyber]

I clicked on the free removal for virusranger and it was all double dutch to me, the one thing I did understand is the bit that said that "this could destroy your computer"... Fantastic

Read the "how to remove..." instructions in the link Kahuna posted.

that link was just the results of a google search...
this is all too much..
Did I mention I hated computers?

If you click on the links displayed in the Google search they should then take you to the web site listed where you can read it and even print it off. Then use the back arrow to return to the Google search and click the next link etc.

It is a steep learning curve when you first start. but after a few months, following the guidelines here, it starts to become familiar and easy.

[Kahuna]

How are you managing with this Falcon Chick? Still got it? Welcome to the wonderful world of Malware.
As you said the link I posted was only to results of a Google but it did show what an absolute minefield and trap for the unwary this stuff is. It is extremely difficult to sort the wheat from the chaff and most often the cure is as bad or worse than the infection. I had a look at the first 2 pages of those results and would not with any confidence recommend any of the results as being reliable or trustworthy.
As a simple rule of thumb,never ever trust any of the sponsored ads as it is a living certainty they are scam sites will cause you more grief and/or try and get money from you.
I wouldn't trust anything offering "free scan" or "free removal tool download" either as a "free scan" will often install something so it has something to find which leads to "free download" which will be free but the "removal" bit will ask for money to remove what the "free scan" installed and will probably not fix your problem anyway as it will leave you a gift which will be used against you in the future.

Cheerful,positive and upbeat post this is,eh?

It is difficult to give advice as like I said this can be a minefield but I would do this-

1/ Understand that this is advice from a layman and as such it would most definetely be worth waiting for other opinions or advice from qualified people.
2/ Read point 1 again
3/ Download and install Adaware 2007 from http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php (official site)
Spybot S&D from http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html (official site)
Ccleaner from http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4191.html (official site will link your download to here or Filehippo anyway)
4/ Back up anything you can't afford to lose,documents,photos etc to cd/dvd just in case!
5/ Assuming you are using XP, set a System Restore point,then update and run the above programs to get the feel of them and remove any rubbish they find. I think each one has a user forum/tutorial accessible via those links.System restore will give you a measure of protection if something goes pear shaped.
6/ When you are comfortable with the above turn OFF System Restore on all drives.Malware often reinstalls itself if this is left on.
7/ Restart your pc in Safe Mode. Run your Anti Virus (NOT VirusRanger!!!!!!!!!!!!),run Adaware,run Spybot and delete any threats found.
8/ Run a Search for any reference to virusranger and delete.
9/ Now run Ccleaner especially the Registry scan part,this will hopefully remove any registry entries related to VirusRanger.
10/Restart Windows normally and turn System Restore back on.

Hopefully that will fix it if not try asking for help at http://www.spywarewarrior.com/
Again understand the disclaimer in point 1. Also understand that stuff like this does not always have a happy ending,your computer will not be "destroyed" ,at worse you may need to format and reinstall Windows but seeing as you have backed up all your important stuff in point 4,it is an inconvenience not the end of civilisation as we know it.

Edit: Psyber is correct in saying this is a steep learning curve but it is doable and spyware scans should be something you routinely do.

[firstblood]

Try this (Comodo). It's free and it's a full version.
http://antivirus.comodo.com/