MetaChat - XP Security 2011: the aftermath

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

14 April 2011

XP Security 2011: the aftermath I think I managed to get rid of the XP Security 2011 virus that attacked my computer last week. However, my computer still isn't completely back up to speed.
→[More:]
To wit, I still am having to open my internet broswer by clicking on the "add-ons disabled". My internet use is also problematic as I have a lot of trouble viewing some things - it takes several tries to get a site to open or to navigate to a new page within a site and I haven't been able to view my work email at all, though I can technically get in to it.

And I can't get into my programs by clicking on their desktop icons or picking them out of the list of programs. I have to use a back-door approach and open one of the program files via My Computer, then I'm in and can do what I want within the program.

How do I fix these things?

Bonus question: Oh, and if you can suggest ways for me to get back at the COMPLETE SHITHEADS who came up with this idiot scam and caused me much frustration and the waste of hours of my time (while on vacation, no less!!!), please do.

post by: Orange Swan at: 22:12 | 5 comments

Have you been using the support boards for the malware software you used to clean it? Those people are amazing and will often walk you through the processes you need to do, step by step.

Also, what browser are you using?

posted by Miko 14 April | 22:40

Do everything Deezil suggests here. Combofix in particular nuked nasties other malware removers couldn't get.

posted by Senyar 15 April | 01:36

Download rougueKiller.exe, rename it rogueKiller.com and run it. http://www.sur-la-toile.com/RogueKiller/
(And then you need to turn on your firewall and automatic updates, but first run rogueKiller.)

posted by Obscure Reference 15 April | 11:45

More: Choose option 2 for RogueKiller. J'aime bien le rogue killeur. What this particular malware does is change your registry to disable .exe files (which is why you need to rename rogueKiller.exe to rogueKiller.com before it will run.)

My wife gets this virus regularly (and I have learned to delete it in under 5 minutes.) I never get it and we have no idea where she gets it from. Probably washing a car. (This is a joke from the 50s which may need explanation if it has been lost to antiquity.)

If you have any idea where you got it from, I'd love to know.

posted by Obscure Reference 15 April | 15:09

The virus seems to have been dealt with. I deleted some files using Task Manager to find and shut them down first, and then Deezil on Metafilter directed me to a web site containing files I downloaded onto a disk using my work computer and then ran at home. My computer works better now than it has for months!

OR, I *think* I got it when I was dumb enough to run something purporting to be a Microsoft update. I thought it was odd because Microsoft doesn't prompt updates like that, and I should have been more suspicious. Well, live and learn.

posted by Orange Swan 04 May | 22:29

← When you think of mashing up two decades-long-running pop-cultural entities, || Photo Friday: Movies →

HOME || REGISTER || LOGIN