Expert: Lorry - 5/8/2007

Question
I think that my computer has a virus or spyware. My homepage has changed to a website offering security and it shows a Windows "help" icon in the corner with a red circle over it. My computer is also running a little slower. I have Norton Internet Security but it doesn't detect it. I don't know what to do and was wondering if you could help me. I would really appreciate it. Thanks

Answer
Follow-up 5-10-2007
Hi Bill,  

You are correct, it is the same answer used to answer other questions that I have ansewred. Did you try going to the SARC site or downloading Spybot?

You might be surprised, who knows? It's worth trying.

Regards,
Lorry


Hi Bill,

Even though you have NIS installed, using Internet Explorer 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.

I would also suggest downloading Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.4, a program that removes spyware, available from:

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,22262,00.asp

Check for updates before running. If you have trouble getting the updates, near the top of the Update Window, click the little arrow next See-Cure  #1(Europe), highlight the next one on the list, See-Cure #2 and try to download the updates. If that doesn't work, try the next one the list. until you get one you can download from. Being a free program, if too many people are using the same site to download the updates, some people will not get them.

Make sure that you update NIS once a week and then run a virus scan afterwards.

Hope this helps!
Lorry