Computer Security & Viruses/Internet Spam Websites

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Expert: Lorry - 3/7/2008


Question
Not sure if I titled this one correctly...but...I have desktop PC that was given to me.  Running XP, IE explorer.  I was able to contain alot of the popup websites but still get a few.  I have loaded AVG Free Antivirus and SpyBot.  One very strang thing that I don't know what is going is is when I use google my searches get redirected to some web site us.maxfiles.com.  Can you tell me a little bit about that and what I might do to rid myself of this...plus any suggestions on stopping websites from poping?!  Thank for you thoughts!

Answer
Hi Rock,

Are you updating Spybot before running a scan?

Even though you have AVG installed, try u sing Internet Explorer and go to:

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

Computer Security & Viruses

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Lorry

Expertise

I can answer most questions regarding viruses/Trojans and help to remove them.

Experience

This happens to be of interest to me as it boggles my mind that people have nothing better to do than to write a virus. Wish these people, the ones who write viruses would put the knowledge to good use instead. My job as a local tech involves removing viruses and/or spyware.

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