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Geek Culture / Virus Problems on Friend's Laptop - Advice? (Privacy Components)

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Seppuku Arts
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Joined: 18th Aug 2004
Location: Cambridgeshire, England
Posted: 11th Feb 2009 01:24
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Hey guys,

A friend's laptop seems to have a virus of some sort on his computer, a quick look on google seems to show that it is a fairly well spread one. It's basically something called 'Privacy Components', which pretends to be an anti-spyware software that scans his computer through a list of websites and other data.

I've installed Kaspersky onto his computer, it hasn't detected anything and I've looked for guides through google, they seem plentiful, but all of the ones I've looked at require downloading different software that I've never heard of, so you can see why I'm posting, I'm not just going to download random software that might just be junk ware or worse.

So far I've been praised for being a geek, so please excuse me if I take the credit for any solutions as I want my hug from the guy...just kidding, but I'm no expert, so if anybody knows any solutions that don't involve downloading a bunch of software or simply knowing 100% which one won't put any rubbish on his computer.


Cheers dudes.

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NeX the Fairly Fast Ferret
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Location: The Fifth Plane of Oblivion
Posted: 11th Feb 2009 01:27
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Try NOD32 and Spybot Search And Destroy. If they can't kill it, little else can.

What good is knowledge without a degree of understanding?
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Omega gamer 89
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Joined: 10th Sep 2007
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posted: 11th Feb 2009 01:42
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Avast = best antivirus ever.
Its free, it works great, and it updates its virus database and definitions literally more than twice a day.
Avast saved my computer from complete and total destruction. It was crashing, freezing, popping up windows I didn't want... All kinds of crazy crap.
I installed Avast, rebooted, and it scans the entire computer on start up.
You can also run it on demand and set things like where to search, how thoroughly to search, and a bunch of other stuff.
Eventually, you WILL have to get a license, but its free. All you have to do is register.
USE AVAST.


If the good lord had intended us to go outside or have a social life, he wouldn't have invented the internet.
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Jimpo
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Posted: 11th Feb 2009 02:55 Edited at: 11th Feb 2009 02:55
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I had the same problem with some stubborn adware. I tried all the classics: Spybot, Ad-aware, AVG. None of these solved the problem!

The only reliable free software I found was: http://safety.live.com
It runs straight from the browser (well, it has to be internet explorer...)

Dego
SFO
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Jeku
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Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Posted: 11th Feb 2009 02:57
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I too recommend NOD32 which consistently beats most (all?) of the competition. It costs money but the yearly subscription is worth it.


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SunnyKatt
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Location: USA
Posted: 11th Feb 2009 12:00
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According to most of the internet reviews, NOD32 is always in the top ten, but BitDefender seems to lurk around the top 5.

So I would go with that one, I have it and it works great. Doesn't slow down your computer like that blasted norton.

Join team [logo] - The most epic logo creation team out there! Click below...

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Roxas
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Posted: 11th Feb 2009 14:01 Edited at: 11th Feb 2009 14:01
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Avast! and NOD32 are the ONLY good solutions to Windows.

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bitJericho
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Location: United States
Posted: 11th Feb 2009 21:30
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Antivir gets top marks too. I like NOD32 myself. Check the comparisons here:

http://www.av-comparatives.org/

"I acctually quite like this site. And noone will know because this is a secret..." - Anonymous
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Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 12th Feb 2009 10:13
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Hey guys, Kaspersky found it, it just didn't seem to remove it straight away - when he turned on his computer yesterday and it was gone, so it did its job.


As for the NOD32 recommendations, I'll buy myself a copy when my Kaspersky license runs out (as I've paid a year's worth for 3 users) though Kaspersky I find is very reliable, but if NOD32 is the top recommended, then I'll grab it.

I've also forbidden him from using Internet Explorer now and downloaded him Firefox.

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Yodaman Jer
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Posted: 13th Feb 2009 21:22
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Quote: "I've also forbidden him from using Internet Explorer now and downloaded him Firefox."





Good show man!



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Indiana Jones
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Posted: 16th Feb 2009 17:08
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If it comes back, follow these steps to remove it

The Program should be called Anti Virus 2009 and it pretends to scan just to release malware and viruses into your computer.

Steps:

[href]null[/href]

http://www.2-spyware.com/remove-antivirus-2009.html

These links are not a scam and they work.

I love making games but I like searching for artifacts more.
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flickenmaste
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Posted: 17th Feb 2009 02:31
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lol get him chrome and avast...and ur good to go!


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Quirkyjim
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Posted: 17th Feb 2009 02:55
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Quote: "get him chrome"

I think the point is to AVOID virusses, not attract them.

p.s. "Virusses", "Viri?", "Viruses" idk

~QJ
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flickenmaste
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Posted: 17th Feb 2009 04:30
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Quote: "I think the point is to AVOID virusses, not attract them.

p.s. "Virusses", "Viri?", "Viruses" id"


lol chrome doesnt attract viruses


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Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 17th Feb 2009 08:13
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Cheers Indie, it's not the exact same virus but very similar, but I'll bookmark this just in case somebody else finds the problem, after all I can't keep installing Kaspersky on other computers when my subscription will only cover 3.


As for Chrome and Avast, well Kaspersky and Firefox I think suffice more than enough, at least then he doesn't have too much trouble adapting to a new interface.

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