[demllequ]

so i had an offline message from my friend on msn, it was a link. i clicked on it and it took me to some website where it asked me to log into my msn with my email and password.
i did, but then nothing happened - stupid me.
anyway i dont know what happened next but when i signed out of msn my friends tell me they got an offline message from me with the link pasted in the conversation >.<
i have changed my msn password and i hope it will stop sending things to people on my contact list.

does anybody know how i can get rid of it? I'm in big trouble!!

[Xiaoba1tu]

I did that too. (I really shouldn't have clicked on the folder)
It eventuated into a really messed up msn so I did a 'System Restore' and set the computer to the day before I got the virus.
I think it worked.
Well I told my friend about that solution, she said it worked for her and her other friends who also got the virus.

[VindictusDame]

yeh same here! i received a message that sounds almost like this:

hey! take a look at our picture! "link"

and i clicked it... and at that instance, my entire computer freeze and i know it's virus. and for a couple of weeks later , no matter how many times i've scanned my computer, the virus is still there. it says "virus in loop" or something.

[LunaDiviner]

Try downloading AVG and CCleaner and cleaning/scanning your computer. If this doesn't work and you're comfortable with using your computer, I can try walk you through a way to help find the evil file. Usually viruses that Anti-virus programs can't permanently delete have a file deep in your computer that acts like a backup for the virus.
If you're not comfortable just do what b1gb4ng1rl did.

[D_K]

Dont ever, ever, click on links from MSN Messenger, even if they're from friends you trust.

[skyllo]

if a friend gives you a link on msn, i guess it's really safe to ask your friend first rather than to click it right away. typing "what is this link for?" doesn't hurt.

[demllequ]

i used avast anti virus. but then it didnt say anything about a trojan or a virus. cuz usually when i download a file and theres a virus the avast pops up and theres a warning siren. it never said anything about this..

so how do i do this system restore on windows vista? - well i opened the back up and restore centre and went through the instructions...
but i dont usually have save any backup or restore files... should I?

[Xiaoba1tu]

I don't know anything about Vista, but for Windows XP, system restore doesn't require you to do back-ups or anything. All your files are still there.

This is from the 'spyware' pinned thread.

Now you have spyware... good job.

Lets try to salvage whats loss and fix it.

System Restore
One of the many features that Microsoft included with Windows XP that is actually useful!
So, when you know you did something stupid or your computer did the stupid thing on its own, run system restore and restore to the most recent point.
Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools-> System Restore
Click restore my computer to an earlier point, hit next, choose the date, let the computer restart itself and eventually work again.
Note: System restore fixes .exe .dll and some other files that were changed between that point and now. Your pictures, documents, media are not restored or touched... so if its a fun spyware that screwed it up, it wont fix it.

ADaware
Somewhere on this site you will find a download link http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/ even if you don't think you have spyware its always good to scan occasionaly. I like it... its free can't beat that.

Spybot Search and Destroy
http://beam.to/spybotsd as recomended by floppy. It has a nice scanning and spyware removal features that sometimes work better than Adaware... so try both if you have stubborn spyware.

Hijackthis
Some people don't really like it, I find it very useful. http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html Run it, scan, look at the list. What you don't understand go >_<.
Okay, im not that cruel lol. Seriously its nice to scan when you don't have a problem, that way you know what won't belong on the list. A lot of times you can just scan, check off the things that don't belong and have it "fix" it. After you restart if it comes back, google it. If you got the spyware there is at least a few other people out there who got the same thing...

AIM Fix and IE Fix
Two utilities I read about here is AIM Fix, a fixer for those stupid AIM viruses and IE fix a set everything back to default fix for Internet Exploder. I have never tried these programs but if they do what they are supposed to O_O hell ya! http://jayloden.com/software.htm

The BEST thing to do is AVOID the spyware.
Firefox
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
I seriously dont know WHY so many people don't like it. If you don't, thats okay... Perhaps you like
Opera
http://www.opera.com/
Some people just like Opera, I don't really like it but its now add free and as close to freeware as you get.

And if you like IE, some antiviruses will stop some... Firewalls can't really help because spyware comes in as regular web data... like opening soompi.

Spyware Blaster
http://www.spywareblaster.org/downloads.html as recomended by femaki84 is good at blocking out spyware and preventing them from installing.

Spyware guard http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html looks like a very good simple anti-spyware utility, but I have not tried it and I don't intend to try it by going to a spyware infested site to test it. Looks very similar to Spyware Blaster, its actually from the same company but they are both free, why not try them.

Google Toolbar
http://toolbar.google.com/firefox/index.html HyunJoonzGirl~* recomends the use of Google Toolbar for blocking popups. I have this installed but don't use it much anymore because I prefer Firefox. Either way, it adds a nice and useful google box to your IE and blocks out popups. If you have those Anti-Spyware utilities running, it might be bring up a red flag as a BHO (browser helper object) except its okay because this type of software was the original intent of Browser Helper Objects... not Browser Objects that direct you to an advertisement site.

IE-Spyads
https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/resource.htm also recomended by floppy. Will help try to stop spyware from installing for those dedicated IE users.

Also, take a look at http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=768776 it is called the "Rampant Paranoia" thread. You can follow that and even make your prescious IE spyware resistant.

The last thing I want to add that most people don't often think about is Windows Updates. Windows is FULL of bugs and known exploits. Did you know a computer connected to the internet with Windows XP or Windows 2000 freshly installed will be full of viruses within a few hours? You dont even need to touch your mouse or keyboard, the viruses will do it for you.


I think thats it, anyone that can do better do it wink.gif happy.gif

Winfixer
There are so many people that seem to be getting this that I think its worth my time editing this.
http://www.spyware-removal-guideline.com/winfixer-removal
similar but looks more logical look at post #2.
http://discussions.virtualdr.com/showthread.php?t=194625
Both essentially does the same thing. They both use Vundo and involve removing the entries from the startup, then the program finishes off the spyware in safemode.
Luly recomends this guide
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/How-to-remo...rib-t91765.html
Winfixer http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=81771

Maybe you could try those links?

[demllequ]

^ thanks for that
but i already have scanned my computer with spy ware and adware.
i guess all i can do now is format my computer.

thanks everyone for trying to help

[awdark]

O_o system restore wasnt able to stop it?! Thats very odd

[x0_saturn_0x]

ughh that happened to me too =(
i scanned my computer for the virus, located it and deleted it >__<
it worked for me that way...
make sure you change all your passwords too just in case

[mishybear]

you guys,

spyware softwares dont necessarily catch it.

just do the system restore thing. it definitely works.

System Restore
One of the many features that Microsoft included with Windows XP that is actually useful!
So, when you know you did something stupid or your computer did the stupid thing on its own, run system restore and restore to the most recent point.
Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools-> System Restore
Click restore my computer to an earlier point, hit next, choose the date, let the computer restart itself and eventually work again.
Note: System restore fixes .exe .dll and some other files that were changed between that point and now. Your pictures, documents, media are not restored or touched... so if its a fun spyware that screwed it up, it wont fix it.

[w4termelon]

next time beware =D i ALMOST fell for the "look at my pix" virus =/