The past 3 or 4 times I've gotten a virus, they've always been those ones that block the user from using anything helpful such as anti-virus software, System Restore, sometimes even the internet.
Well, I figured out that I could just start my computer in safe mode that way it wouldn't load the virus upon boot, and that I could also gain access to the stem restore feature. So, I system restore to a few days prior to getting the virus and it's completely gone.
It isn't picked up by my antivirus and it doesn't pop back up so i figure it's a decent way to get rid of such viruses. Typically after I use this method, I use Advanced System Care to clean up my registry where such viruses like to attach themselves so I believe no traces are left.
My question is: Are there any problems with getting rid of a virus that way? Like will it permanently damage my comp or something?
?2011-04-17T21:48:20Z
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System restores are save states of your PC data, when you revert to one most of the core data is reconfigured back to how it was, unless the malware is attached to a root file that doesn't change during a restore then you're fine.
The only damage it may cause is if the malware actively corrupts the restore points, some are designed to intentionally do this while disabling other recovery methods causing you to effective wreck your own PC trying to remedy it.
My suggestion to you is, if you don't use it already, grab MBAM (Malware Bytes Anti Malware). I have experienced thus far that it is generally immune most of the 'blocker' style malware which try to prevent their own removal by disabling security features.
My other unrelated suggestion to you is be extremely wary of registry cleaning tools, they can do more harm to your PC than malware as they can detect registry changes as bad things and wreck your PC's processes the same way anti-malware can detect false positives.
With that said, it works, but I'd recommend setting up a strong anti-malware system so you don't get them in the first place.
A strong firewall such as ZoneAlarm, anti-virus such as Avast and a detailed malware scanner like MBAM together with weekly check-ups will keep your system clean. Best part is all of them are free!
I don't recommend this either. You could have the source code for this virus lurking back before the restore point you go to, so you restore it, and then get reinfected because the infection relaunches when that file is accessed again. This becomes a cycle that never ends. You can also end up causing bad/missing registry links by repeatedly running a registry cleaner too often. You can end up with corrupted links and remove them, causing program problems, because of the virus problems, and cause even more issues, and not have adequate restore ability due to excessive alteration of the system restore facility.
You should just boot to safe mode, run malwarebytes or stinger or microsoft's malicious software removal tool and properly clean the system.
Then you need to have a reliable antivirus program installed, either something free like Microsoft Security Essentials, AVG, Avast, Kapersky, any of which are free to download and use. Or if you want a paid subscription, you could go for Kapersky, Avast, BitDefender, Mcafee, for example. Norton's a resource hog, I don't care for it, but many like it.
Note that no one else mentioned... Do not install more than one antivirus program, or they butt heads and cause problems of their own. An antivirus program, like avg, and and antispyware program like spybot wouldn't conflict, for example, but having avg and kapersky both would be trouble. some people try to skirt this by having two and manually cycling between them, but I'd rather not play with fire.
There's no problem doing it that way, however, you might not have had a virus, but malware instead. Sometimes accessing your system in the Safe Mode is the only way to deal with malware, viruses or spyware. Some vicious malware will even block access to the Safe Mode and also block all access to the Internet as well. Rootkits are known to do this, and are very difficult to remove. Some antivirus software will not catch some malware. Remember, you can have a virus, spyware, and malware...and one program probably won't catch all three. That's why you should have a good antivirus program like Avast or one of the paid ones like ESET NOD 32, a good anti-malware program like Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, a good anti-spyware program like SuperAntispyware, and a cleaner like CCleaner, which will keep your system, files, and browser temp Internet files clean. Check out the links below to download them. All are free except NOD 32, and can be downloaded from Filehippo.com.
System Restore as I say is a (or can be) a tool to help remove the virus (if you PC will not boot correctly, it can help you bootup (maybe) so you can run an AV) BUT System restore doesn't get rid of Viruses at all.
I suggest one of the following free program to help detect and remove viruses .. It sounds to me like the one you are using now is really not doing a good job at all. Virus software not only removes viruses, but (what the good ones do) protect you from getting infected in the first place. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some people say, free AV and/or Malware scanners are not any good and do not remove infections. THIS IS NOT TRUE. The key to whats in the Pro version you pay for is the "real time" or "background" scanning running all the time ... This can be "bypassed" by running scans from time to time with the free versions and USING common sense on the web.
Both of these top two scanners have similar (Great) detection rates and are “neck and neck” as the best Free anti-virus if you ask me. Some sites say Avira is difficult to use, but I disagree.
some will artwork nicely, yet some would not, in basic terms like the anti-virus application, for distributors would desire to strengthen virus pattern of their database to dodge the specific trojans. I consistently use iTopsoft Anti-secret agent ware, and it works nicely for me.