OT: Malware help

[CL82]

I run Norton 360 but I occasionally get a sense that I may have malware on my computer. It's little things searches occasionally get redirected (well that's not a little thing), longer load times, my hard drive spinning up at random times. Any suggestions how to resolve that issue.

 

[jleves]

The easiest and most secure way is to copy your data (docs, jpgs, mp3s etc) off your drive, format it and start a new installation from scratch. You might want to run a fix on the MBR (master boot record) at the same time. I've heard of malware getting into the MBR and surviving a regular format.

I like to re-install my OS every year or so just because it's the easiest way to clean up all the crap I may have installed and never used and it generally makes things run better.

p.s. This is a great time to install an SSD if you don't have one.

 

[uconnfan68]

I run Norton 360 but I occasionally get a sense that I may have malware on my computer. It's little things searches occasionally get redirected (well that's not a little thing), longer load times, my hard drive spinning up at random times. Any suggestions how to resolve that issue.

I prefer an anti-virus that you don't need to pay for. I have been using AVG for a few years. Zone Alarm free firewall. Have some other stuff that I don't use often, spybot, and ad-aware. Sometimes they don't all play well together. I use CCleaner also. All freeware. Still on XPpro.

 

[CL82]

The easiest and most secure way is to copy your data (docs, jpgs, mp3s etc) off your drive, format it and start a new installation from scratch. You might want to run a fix on the MBR (master boot record) at the same time. I've heard of malware getting into the MBR and surviving a regular format.

I like to re-install my OS every year or so just because it's the easiest way to clean up all the crap I may have installed and never used and it generally makes things run better.

p.s. This is a great time to install an SSD if you don't have one.

SSD?

I prefer an anti-virus that you don't need to pay for. I have been using AVG for a few years. Zone Alarm free firewall. Have some other stuff that I don't use often, spybot, and ad-aware. Sometimes they don't all play well together. I use CCleaner also. All freeware. Still on XPpro.

I used to run AVG, but I found that it slowed over time. I'm not sure where to download CCleaner.com or other freeware. How do you know which site is okay?

 

[jleves]

SSD - Solid State Drive. About a billion times faster than your old mechanical drive. Is this a regular PC or a laptop? You can add an SSD as your primary drive if you're doing a new install and just keep the other one for holding your media and other data files as a D: drive. In a laptop, you might have to swap it out and only use the SSD (but it will increase your battery life noticeably and still be tons faster).

I would suggest either of these:
Best value - good performance - less than power user - Samsung 840 256GB
For best performance if you have SATA III connectors - Samsung 840 Pro 256GB

For the first drive, what I mean by less than power user is that SSDs do wear out over time. The first one has a shorter life than the second (I won't go into specifics, just trust me). But if you're just doing web browsing and doing some office type stuff, it will last for a long long time (10+ years no problem). If you are pounding your harddrive with all kinds of media manipulation, database access etc, it may only go 3 to 5 years. Based on your response so far, the first will be fine for you. I don't over exercise my drive and the first would be fine for me, but I like high end stuff and went with the second.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

SSD - Solid State Drive. About a billion times faster than your old mechanical drive. Is this a regular PC or a laptop? You can add an SSD as your primary drive if you're doing a new install and just keep the other one for holding your media and other data files as a D: drive. In a laptop, you might have to swap it out and only use the SSD (but it will increase your battery life noticeably and still be tons faster).

I would suggest either of these:
Best value - good performance - less than power user - Samsung 840 256GB
For best performance if you have SATA III connectors - Samsung 840 Pro 256GB

For the first drive, what I mean by less than power user is that SSDs do wear out over time. The first one has a shorter life than the second (I won't go into specifics, just trust me). But if you're just doing web browsing and doing some office type stuff, it will last for a long long time (10+ years no problem). If you are pounding your harddrive with all kinds of media manipulation, database access etc, it may only go 3 to 5 years. Based on your response so far, the first will be fine for you. I don't over exercise my drive and the first would be fine for me, but I like high end stuff and went with the second.

If your not going to use the SSD drive alone, what advantage is 256GB over a smaller size? Is it because you want the software to continue to be loaded on the C: drive?

 

[intlzncster]

firstly, uninstall Norton.
Download CCleaner and analyze/clean.
download, install, update definitions, and run malwarebytes.
download, install, run MS Essentials.
Reevaluate after this.

All are free. Use these sites for good free DLs:

filehippo.com
piriform.com
bleepingcomputer.om

 

[jleves]

If your not going to use the SSD drive alone, what advantage is 256GB over a smaller size? Is it because you want the software to continue to be loaded on the C: drive?

SSD performance can suffer if you get over 80% of capacity and the larger drives are a bit faster. 256GB is the sweet spot imo.

 

[IMind]

firstly, uninstall Norton.
Download CCleaner and analyze/clean.
download, install, update definitions, and run malwarebytes.
download, install, run MS Essentials.
Reevaluate after this.

All are free. Use these sites for good free DLs:

filehippo.com
piriform.com
bleepingcomputer.om

What he said. It's VERY rare that I've ever had to reinstall a computer because it got a virus. I've hit nasty ones that are hard to clean... the other than you can do is boot from a flash drive and run these or other anti-virus software then you avoid a boot record based virus. AVG has a free bootable repair kit: http://www.avg.com/us-en/avg-rescue-cd

 

[jleves]

I started to write a geeky reply to this to explain SSDs in some detail in somewhat non geeky terms so you would understand what you are buying, how it works, life expectancy and performance. Then I realized if nobody cares, it's worthless to write. So let me know if you would like to see this. I'm happy to do it if there is interest.

 

[joober jones]

I started to write a geeky reply to this to explain SSDs in some detail in somewhat non geeky terms so you would understand what you are buying, how it works, life expectancy and performance. Then I realized if nobody cares, it's worthless to write. So let me know if you would like to see this. I'm happy to do it if there is interest.

Your screen name makes me think of Jane Leeves and gives me Niles Crane syndrome.

 

[jleves]

Your screen name makes me think of Jane Leeves and gives me Niles Crane syndrome.

Never heard that one before. It's my first initial and the first 5 characters of my last name and has been the basis of my userid on systems since 1983.

 

[Dogbreath2U]

I have interest in asking some specific questions....perhaps I should send a PM if no other interest.

 

[intlzncster]

Never heard that one before. It's my first initial and the first 5 characters of my last name and has been the basis of my userid on systems since 1983.

you don't look that old.

 

[jleves]

you don't look that old.

Did you not see the gray in my beard/mustache? How old did I look? If you think I don't look that old, you'll probably be shocked at my wife's age.

 

[jleves]

I have interest in asking some specific questions....perhaps I should send a PM if no other interest.

I decided it's something I want to write - possibly for publication online. So when I'm done (it will probably take me a week or so to get it to my liking) I'll let you know it's available. If there is interest here, maybe I'll write it as a draft.

 

[CL82]

firstly, uninstall Norton.
Download CCleaner and analyze/clean.
download, install, update definitions, and run malwarebytes.
download, install, run MS Essentials.
Reevaluate after this.

All are free. Use these sites for good free DLs:

filehippo.com
piriform.com
bleepingcomputer.om

Thanks! Why uninstall Norton? Does it interfere with these programs? Do I reinstall after doing the steps you mentioned. Again, I appreciate the help.

 

[uconnfan68]

Thanks! Why uninstall Norton? Does it interfere with these programs? Do I reinstall after doing the steps you mentioned. Again, I appreciate the help.

The anti-viruses are territorial. They each think the other anti-virus is a virus. Based on the other programs that were suggested, I'd just uninstall forever.

 

[intlzncster]

Thanks! Why uninstall Norton? Does it interfere with these programs? Do I reinstall after doing the steps you mentioned. Again, I appreciate the help.

to add to U68 above. MS Essentials will take Norton's place. It's lighter weight, free, and does just as good a job (if not better).

 

[temery]

The anti-viruses are territorial. They each think the other anti-virus is a virus. Based on the other programs that were suggested, I'd just uninstall forever.

Bingo. When my pc came to a crawl, it was the anti virus (Norton, and then Mcafee) causing, not identifying the problem.

 

[huskyhaven]

firstly, uninstall Norton.
Download CCleaner and analyze/clean.
download, install, update definitions, and run malwarebytes.
download, install, run MS Essentials.
Reevaluate after this.

All are free. Use these sites for good free DLs:

filehippo.com
piriform.com
bleepingcomputer.om

I was having problems also and my IT guy at work suggested MS Essentials and malwarebytes, He also recommended Spybots,
I didn't find CCleaner that helpful for me. They were a help.