Malware - Viruses, Adware, and Spyware
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How to remove computer viruses and prevent infections

You probably arrived here because you think you might be infected with some sort of malicious malware. Symptoms of a rogue virus on a computer may include: Unwanted pop-ups (such as those telling you to download Winfixer), general computer / internet slowness, inability to connect to the internet, unknown processes running, etc...

New virus's and virus variants seem to come along almost everyday, so no matter what virus software you use, and how often you update it, your software may not be able to cure or even detect your problem.

Fortunately, virus problems are almost always curable. You will most likely need to download some new software and take a multi-step approach to remove a virus, but if you follow these instructions step-by-step, you will be back to a clean machine.

First Steps in Virus Removal and protection:

Here is a list of free software you should download and install. Many spyware, adware and viruses can be cured automatically with these programs.

1) Preparation for Virus Removal:
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If you are unable to connect to the internet use this utility (WinSockXPFix) first:

WinsockXPFix for Windows

Next, you should clean your computers temporary files. This will make virus scanners work much quicker, and can get rid of a lot of unneeded files on your computers.

CleanUp! - Download Page
How to use CleanUp! :
- Download, Install, and Run
- After it finishes, follow the instructions to reboot

Clean your Internet Explorer Cache:
With a browser window open click: Tools > Internet Properties
Under "Temporarily Internet Files" click: Delete Files
This could take a few minutes, when finished, click OK.

Important:

Check your computer for Rogue / Malicious "Anti-Spyware" products and software.

Now is also a good time to go to Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs, and get rid of any installed programs you no longer use. (remember to run CleanUp! again after this).

2) Scan for Adware and Spyware
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Ad-aware SE - Download Ad-Aware Free
How to use Ad-ware:
- Download, Install and Run
- In main window, choose option to Check for Updates, then download these files.
- Perform full scan
- When finished, mark everything for removal and remove the offending files.

Spybot S&D - Download and DSO Exploit Fix
How to Use:
- Download and Install Spybot S&D and DSO Exploit Fix
- Run Spybot S&D, click Update > Search For Updates > check each update box > download updates.
- Next choose Search and Destroy > Check for problems. After scanning has completed: choose Fix Selected Problems.
- Last choose Immunize > then immunize button to protect your computer from common spyware from installing.

CWShredder - Download Page
How to use:
- Download, Install, and Run.
- Allow program to fix any malicious files it finds.

Reboot, Take a Deep Breath, and Continue to the Next Step:

3) Scan for Viruses and Trojans
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Even if you already have an up-to-date antivirus program installed, one program can never catch every possible threat.

Panda Active Scan - Online Virus Scan
How to use:
Follow online instructions, allowing software to install and run.

TrojanHunter - Download Free Version
How to use:
Download, Install & Run.

Reboot, and Test your system to see if your symptoms have gone away, in not Continue to the Next Step:

4) Hijack This & Posting your Log:
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Hijack This - Download Page
How to use:
Download, Install, and run.
Click> Scan. Then >Save Log.

You can paste your log file to one of these forums, and the folks there can help you remove any viruses the above steps where unable to:

http://www.geekstogo.com

http://castlecops.com

http://www.atribune.org

5) Virus & Spyware Protection and Prevention:
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Now that you have a clean system, let's keep it that way. Follow these steps to prevent future infections:

1) Have good anti-virus software installed, and keep it updated. A very good free program is AVG Anti-Virus. Other reputable software includes: Norton, and KAV.

2) Keep windows updated.

3) Use a firewall such as Zonealarm, Sygate, or Kerio.

4) Run Ad-aware and Spybot S&D weekly.

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Special Notes for those with Winfixer problems:

Lately, I have noticed a dramatic increase in folks requesting how to remove Winfixer 2005 pop-ups from there computer. Please follow the above steps completely, and by the end, you will have rid your self of Winfixer along with other malware.

Also on Blifaloo:

Speed up Windows XP
Easy tweaks you can do to speed up the performance of your PC.

Return to top | Useless & Useful Info Home Page | More Blifaloo!

All comments

By: doug - January 24th 2006   I am amazed at the other posts on WinFixer. What a bunch of criminals. Software legal eagles - Any class action? I am SOO in. I have wasted so much time!! By: Jenna - January 10th 2006   Thank you so much for this site...I finally think I am getting rid of that winfixer and I am in on any lawsuit!! I had all the protection, but with two teens, it's hard to stop stuff. By: Amy - January 07th 2006   I forgot that I also had to restart with the system restore function disabled, after removing winfixer in safe mode. Otherwise it will keep coming back. It was a nightmare! By: Amy - January 07th 2006   I had winfixer. I finally succeeded in removing it by running spybot and adaware info here but in SAFE MODE; do it a couple of times back to back & then return to normal mode. It should be gone. By: Amy - January 07th 2006   I had winfixer. I finally succeeded in removing it by running spybot and adaware info here but in SAFE MODE; do it a couple of times back to back & then return to normal mode. It should be gone. By: JHON - January 04th 2006   WINFIXER HAS 2 DAYS TO GET OFF MY COMPUTER. TODAY IS JAN 04. GET A HINT By: Lisa - December 24th 2005   arrgh I have winfix variant for the 3rd time, my husband usually removes it, but doesnt have time as of late. The instructions to remove manually are over my head?? Help! any prog's to fix? By: Krusts - December 18th 2005   If there is a lawsuit...IM SO IN! this damn thing wont blimmin leave me alone! it constantly pops up, (bout every5-10 secs, and ive tried ad aware, AVG PRO, an th rest, hope ur better off...*sigh* By: Yvonne - December 17th 2005   I have the winfixer virus as well. If there is a classaction suit, I'll gladly join in. If winfixer pops up on your screen, do not click the x to close it out, that's how it gets there. By: Mats - December 15th 2005   Brendan: re-read this whole article and follow the instructions completely step-by-step. This WILL remove winfixer. By: Brendan - December 13th 2005   I have tried everything to get rid of winfix. nothing seems to work. Is there not any anti-virus software out there that specifically targets winfixer? Can anyone help me? By: Yolya - December 11th 2005   Good resources, I removed over 10 trojans off my PC with this info! By: b-d-f - December 11th 2005   Great tips. worked perfectly By: Rob - December 11th 2005   I've tried every single one of the programmes listed here and still winfixer pops up every now and again when i open the internet - can anyone plz help!! By: mark - December 05th 2005   i know how to get rid of winfixer. down load the latest version of adaware and scan ur pc. then restat the pc and have adaware scan ur pc at startup. "winfixer 2005" will be listed and it will be go By: Chip - December 04th 2005   Nope, the online Panda virus scan is free... you should of had an option to remove or fix the virus after it completed the scan. (or it just did so automatically). By: David - December 04th 2005   so...the Panda seemed to find something...but do I need to buy it to get rid of the nasty files? Thanks By: Susan - November 29th 2005   I'm in on the class action against Winfixer if anyone does it! It is the same as someone coming to your physical place of business and interrupting you at work! It must be illegal. By: Hijack - November 22nd 2005   i cant remove winfix By: DONOHUE - November 21st 2005   hi, im not very good on computers its all very new to me but i have got this winfixer thing and i carnt get rid of the bugger the instrutions above dont mean anything to me By: ... - November 12th 2005   Bob, get spysweeper, It removes that. Also, get the Fundovix patch, and vundofix. By: Bob - November 12th 2005   why dosen't ad-aware SE remove winfixer? aaargh!!! I f anyone starts a class action lawsuit I'll join in. By: D - November 11th 2005   Done, thanks. By: errrmmm - November 11th 2005   Please follow all the steps. They are all important. If you were trying to get rid of winfixer, but didn't use VundoFix or the forums suggested, then you are not clean. By: Danie - November 11th 2005   Sorry, but It came back, and I tried to download Hijackthis, but it turned out to be a virus. I also used Microsoft Antispyware Beta, which helped a bit, but it's still infecting. help. By: H - November 11th 2005   does anybody actually have their email address? i can't find any contact information. By: Blifaloo - November 10th 2005   Congrats on a clean system, Danie. Panda always seems to find more stuff than any other anti-virus. By: Danie - November 10th 2005   Once again, thank you. Looks like it's gone, AND After using the Panda Antivirus, I found 4 viruses on my computer. I bookmarked this site for reference. By: Danie - November 09th 2005   Ugh i HATE Winfixer. It kept popping up. Thank you SO MUCH for this page :). To everyone else, we should definitely file a complaint/lawsuit. This program/spyware installs WITHOUT your permission. By: jess - November 08th 2005   winfixer has completly screwed my computer up!!! By: Mark - November 04th 2005   Just keep emailing them..if we all send them it will be very effective!! By: Kevin - November 02nd 2005   A quick search on google, and I can't find any information about lawsuits against winfixer. By: Bob - October 31st 2005   Shouldn't legal action be taken against WinFixer? I mean, it installs itself on your computer whether you say to or not. It's totally wrong. By: kendy - October 28th 2005   godam winfixer keeps closing my internet alot By: nontech - October 25th 2005   wow... thanks for the tips. I can follow these instructions easy, clear writing style: you should write a book! By: Mel - October 25th 2005   WinFixer is a big smelly clump of crap!! Hopefully this has helped clean it out of my computer. By: toni - October 25th 2005   james - are you talking about vx2.look2me ? If you follow the above instructions, then post your hijackthis logfile at one of the suggested forums, they should be able to help you out. Good luck :) By: james - October 24th 2005   anyone know how to remove wx2.look2me? By: Amy - October 20th 2005   I feel like I hit the lottery finding this page. winfixer is from hell! By: derrrrr - October 18th 2005   Ugh, I hate Winfixer and I'm working on getting rid of it now... thanks! By: jack perkins - October 18th 2005   how about asking everyone to keep calling 1800-755909 By: Amanda - October 16th 2005   Thank you so much! I keep being infected with Winfixer popups, I keep wasting time with trying to remove it. I'm not a computer expert, so your page helped a lot! By: EDog - October 14th 2005   I ate Winfixer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By: winfixer-hater - October 12th 2005   800-755-5909 is winfixer's phone#! By: blifaloo - October 09th 2005   your welcome, karl. thanks for the compliments. I just went through the process of cleaning malware off my laptop, and thought the info might help others :) By: Karl - October 04th 2005   Thank you for this page & your time. The internet can be so useful & enjoyable, instead of the pop-up & spyware some put in my computer. By: James - October 02nd 2005   adaware and spybot SD will help, but a firewall is a must to prevent trojans and malware By: stopgo - September 29th 2005   ad-aware and spybot s&d should be installed on every PC. By: Gretchen - September 24th 2005   Winfixer needs to die... thanks for the fix! By: james - September 22nd 2005   k. got this demon called winfixer off my computer finally. thanks for the directions... but how did i get it in the first place? I have anti-virus, and don't download things that I don't know are safe By: wow - September 19th 2005   bookmarked this page! best anti-virus info I have found anywhere. By: doug - January 24th 2006   I am amazed at the other posts on WinFixer. What a bunch of criminals. Software legal eagles - Any class action? I am SOO in. I have wasted so much time!! By: Jenna - January 10th 2006   Thank you so much for this site...I finally think I am getting rid of that winfixer and I am in on any lawsuit!! I had all the protection, but with two teens, it's hard to stop stuff. By: Amy - January 07th 2006   I forgot that I also had to restart with the system restore function disabled, after removing winfixer in safe mode. Otherwise it will keep coming back. It was a nightmare! By: Amy - January 07th 2006   I had winfixer. I finally succeeded in removing it by running spybot and adaware info here but in SAFE MODE; do it a couple of times back to back & then return to normal mode. It should be gone. By: Amy - January 07th 2006   I had winfixer. I finally succeeded in removing it by running spybot and adaware info here but in SAFE MODE; do it a couple of times back to back & then return to normal mode. It should be gone. By: JHON - January 04th 2006   WINFIXER HAS 2 DAYS TO GET OFF MY COMPUTER. TODAY IS JAN 04. GET A HINT By: Lisa - December 24th 2005   arrgh I have winfix variant for the 3rd time, my husband usually removes it, but doesnt have time as of late. The instructions to remove manually are over my head?? Help! any prog's to fix? By: Krusts - December 18th 2005   If there is a lawsuit...IM SO IN! this damn thing wont blimmin leave me alone! it constantly pops up, (bout every5-10 secs, and ive tried ad aware, AVG PRO, an th rest, hope ur better off...*sigh* By: Yvonne - December 17th 2005   I have the winfixer virus as well. If there is a classaction suit, I'll gladly join in. If winfixer pops up on your screen, do not click the x to close it out, that's how it gets there. By: Mats - December 15th 2005   Brendan: re-read this whole article and follow the instructions completely step-by-step. This WILL remove winfixer. By: Brendan - December 13th 2005   I have tried everything to get rid of winfix. nothing seems to work. Is there not any anti-virus software out there that specifically targets winfixer? Can anyone help me? By: Yolya - December 11th 2005   Good resources, I removed over 10 trojans off my PC with this info! By: b-d-f - December 11th 2005   Great tips. worked perfectly By: Rob - December 11th 2005   I've tried every single one of the programmes listed here and still winfixer pops up every now and again when i open the internet - can anyone plz help!! By: mark - December 05th 2005   i know how to get rid of winfixer. down load the latest version of adaware and scan ur pc. then restat the pc and have adaware scan ur pc at startup. "winfixer 2005" will be listed and it will be go By: Chip - December 04th 2005   Nope, the online Panda virus scan is free... you should of had an option to remove or fix the virus after it completed the scan. (or it just did so automatically). By: David - December 04th 2005   so...the Panda seemed to find something...but do I need to buy it to get rid of the nasty files? Thanks By: Susan - November 29th 2005   I'm in on the class action against Winfixer if anyone does it! It is the same as someone coming to your physical place of business and interrupting you at work! It must be illegal. By: Hijack - November 22nd 2005   i cant remove winfix By: DONOHUE - November 21st 2005   hi, im not very good on computers its all very new to me but i have got this winfixer thing and i carnt get rid of the bugger the instrutions above dont mean anything to me By: ... - November 12th 2005   Bob, get spysweeper, It removes that. Also, get the Fundovix patch, and vundofix. By: Bob - November 12th 2005   why dosen't ad-aware SE remove winfixer? aaargh!!! I f anyone starts a class action lawsuit I'll join in. By: D - November 11th 2005   Done, thanks. By: errrmmm - November 11th 2005   Please follow all the steps. They are all important. If you were trying to get rid of winfixer, but didn't use VundoFix or the forums suggested, then you are not clean. By: Danie - November 11th 2005   Sorry, but It came back, and I tried to download Hijackthis, but it turned out to be a virus. I also used Microsoft Antispyware Beta, which helped a bit, but it's still infecting. help. By: H - November 11th 2005   does anybody actually have their email address? i can't find any contact information. By: Blifaloo - November 10th 2005   Congrats on a clean system, Danie. Panda always seems to find more stuff than any other anti-virus. By: Danie - November 10th 2005   Once again, thank you. Looks like it's gone, AND After using the Panda Antivirus, I found 4 viruses on my computer. I bookmarked this site for reference. By: Danie - November 09th 2005   Ugh i HATE Winfixer. It kept popping up. Thank you SO MUCH for this page :). To everyone else, we should definitely file a complaint/lawsuit. This program/spyware installs WITHOUT your permission. By: jess - November 08th 2005   winfixer has completly screwed my computer up!!! By: Mark - November 04th 2005   Just keep emailing them..if we all send them it will be very effective!! By: Kevin - November 02nd 2005   A quick search on google, and I can't find any information about lawsuits against winfixer. By: Bob - October 31st 2005   Shouldn't legal action be taken against WinFixer? I mean, it installs itself on your computer whether you say to or not. It's totally wrong. By: kendy - October 28th 2005   godam winfixer keeps closing my internet alot By: nontech - October 25th 2005   wow... thanks for the tips. I can follow these instructions easy, clear writing style: you should write a book! By: Mel - October 25th 2005   WinFixer is a big smelly clump of crap!! Hopefully this has helped clean it out of my computer. By: toni - October 25th 2005   james - are you talking about vx2.look2me ? If you follow the above instructions, then post your hijackthis logfile at one of the suggested forums, they should be able to help you out. Good luck :) By: james - October 24th 2005   anyone know how to remove wx2.look2me? By: Amy - October 20th 2005   I feel like I hit the lottery finding this page. winfixer is from hell! By: derrrrr - October 18th 2005   Ugh, I hate Winfixer and I'm working on getting rid of it now... thanks! By: jack perkins - October 18th 2005   how about asking everyone to keep calling 1800-755909 By: Amanda - October 16th 2005   Thank you so much! I keep being infected with Winfixer popups, I keep wasting time with trying to remove it. I'm not a computer expert, so your page helped a lot! By: EDog - October 14th 2005   I ate Winfixer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By: winfixer-hater - October 12th 2005   800-755-5909 is winfixer's phone#! By: blifaloo - October 09th 2005   your welcome, karl. thanks for the compliments. I just went through the process of cleaning malware off my laptop, and thought the info might help others :) By: Karl - October 04th 2005   Thank you for this page & your time. The internet can be so useful & enjoyable, instead of the pop-up & spyware some put in my computer. By: James - October 02nd 2005   adaware and spybot SD will help, but a firewall is a must to prevent trojans and malware By: stopgo - September 29th 2005   ad-aware and spybot s&d should be installed on every PC. By: Gretchen - September 24th 2005   Winfixer needs to die... thanks for the fix! By: james - September 22nd 2005   k. got this demon called winfixer off my computer finally. thanks for the directions... but how did i get it in the first place? I have anti-virus, and don't download things that I don't know are safe By: wow - September 19th 2005   bookmarked this page! best anti-virus info I have found anywhere. By: yogi - September 19th 2005   Winfixer has to be the hardest adware removal ive ever experienced... thanks for the tips. worked like a charm (after beating my head against a desk before finding this page).

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