Help! My laptop is being held hostage by a trojan virus!?

Viruses:

http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/ - Free online scan

http://www.free-av.com/ - Installable free antivirus

Spyware:

http://www.ewido.net/en/ - Free online scan

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/download-fre... - Installable free antispyware

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirro... - Installable free antispyware

http://www.superantispyware.com/ - Installable free antispyware

Firewall:

http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/company/pro...

Others:

http://www.nanoscan.com/as/index/ - Free online malware scan

http://www.prevx.com/freescan.asp - .exe scanner (not online but no install)

Try the eset online scan (if fails get the trial) and it will detect and remove all viruses. If it finds nothing, you don't have a virus but you have spyware. Try the ewido online scan and then AVG antispyware (not antivirus)

The best way to get rid of trojans is using a best anti-spyware to protect your computer.Anti-Virus is not good at removing trojans.

You must have 1 or 2 antispyware on your computer to protect your computer.

Top 5 anti-spywares reviews,comparisons and download links on

http://spywaredetectors.info/

You can download and scan your computer for free.

Hi, turn off system restore and restart is safe mode and visit:

http://onecare.live.com/ and run Microsoft's safety scanner to fix this.

Restart normally and enable system restore and update your current system protection and scan from that again.

If you are sick of Windows all the time I would advise you to try Linux.

I use openSUSE and its probably the best I have used. Here r my reasons:

1. Very stable with less bugs compared to other systems like ubuntu. In fact I haven't encountered one bug in it.

2. Its the only linux system which is as polished as Mac OS X or Windows.

3. It has excellent documentation.

4. It looks good by default

5. Its very easy to use and has a GUI for everything unlike other Linux systems.

6. Hardware support is excellent in all.

7. Great community support as well.

8. Since openSUSE started the compiz fusion project which r the desktop effects then they have the latest ones on it.

9. Novell which is openSUSE's sponsors have a deal with Microsoft so there is better compatibility of file formats and it is the only Linux system which can open .docx files and stuff.

10. All the best and latest software is on it, and its very easy to maintain.

OpenSUSE is perfect for a new user as well as old ones.

OpenSUSE main page:

http://en.opensuse.org/

Opensuse please read:

http://en.opensuse.org/Concepts

Opensuse Compiz fusion 3d effects:

http://en.opensuse.org/Compiz_Fusion

Opensuse nvidia guide:

http://en.opensuse.org/NVIDIA

The concepts page should tell u most of the differences in Windows and Linux, and it will give u a general idea about Linux.

If u want to know why Linux is better visit:

http://www.whylinuxisbetter.net/

Trust me once u use SUSE u will forget about every other operating system.

I hope this helps. You may contact me if u have any questions.

Good Luck and take care!

1. Download and run firefox to protect your from future spyware attacks and pop ups which are coming in through internet explorer (Trojan downloaders, win32 ) .Then update your windows through firefox

http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/05...

2. Run the vundo and combo fix

http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/05...

3. Run the anti spyware remove programs spybot

http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/03...

and superantispyware

http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/04...

to get rid of the nasties

finally do a thorough scan with the FREE Dr.Web CureIt! Utility

http://www.freedrweb.com/cureit/

When this happens for me the only way is to take my original microsoft software and do a reinstall of everything, making SURE to choose the option that lets you keep all your files. Then you have to usually reinstall from your webserver and printer software CDs, and then you're good.

Also, go and turn off system restore functions in "troubleshooting" it's a huge waste of disc space and almost never helps you anyway.

When I did this I freed up 9GB of space!!!

don't download or run anymore of those promising software, just download mozilla firefox,opera or safari and close internet explorer and don't use it. Why??? cause its a bug magnet, try it for 1 day and you won't see that problem again. remember don't open internet explorer anymore unless you want to get attack again

Use Avast! They have a free trial and you can put the file in quarantine. Hope it helps!

if it's being held hostage pay what there asking for to see your laptop alive...lol