Expert: Lorry - 1/27/2008

Question
QUESTION: I got a trojen horse on my computer at work.  The computer person said he did as much as he could and wanted me to just run virus check and spy bot scan every day.  I don't understand how this could help.  he did not get rid of the problem.  He said it was in my windows explorer and installed firefox telling me not to use explorer, but it is still infected.  Is there some way i can get rid of it myself?  Like i said it is my work computer, not my personal home computer.  the "infection" changes each time i run a scan.  but "virtumonde" has showed up today when i did a spy bot scan, so thought i would write it down and check it out myself.  can you help?

ANSWER: Hi Pat,

Symantec has a removal tool available at:

http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2003-120914-4108-99&

Using Internet Explorer, go to the following site to verify that the virus has been removed:

http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym

Click the GO button, then under Virus Detection, click Start. You might be told that you need to download and install ActiveX Controls for the scan to work, answer Yes.

Write down exactly anything it finds, then go to: http://www.symantec.com/search/  and do a search for what was found. Symantec usually has a removal tool and/or directions for removing manually. Make sure that you follow the instructions for removal, step by step, especially the part regarding disabling System Restore.

Hope this helps!
Lorry

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: sorry to bother you again, do i have to subscribe to symantec (norton antivirus) to use the service?


ANSWER: Hi Pat,

Please do not feel like you are bothering me, that is why I'm here to help. No, it is a free scan that anyone can use.

Hope this helps!
Lorry

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I am such an air head, what I ment to ask was being i have AVG antivirus on my work computer would there be a conflict using another antivirus scan. (and i swear this is the last tonite)

Answer
Hi Pat,

Ask all the questions you want. You can run the free scan from Symantec without disabling AVG. If you want, you could disable AVG, run the free scan, get rid of the virus, then enable AVG.

Once you know the virus has been removed, make sure you keep AVG up to date and run a virus scan once a week.

Hope this helps!
Lorry