avg anti rootkit

[jtd.75]

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp, I know this is not morris related but with all the knowledge that you seem to have and answer almost immediately I cannot think of a better place to ask. My pc is so slow its like painting the fourth bridge some while ago I was recommended to downloaded AVG Anti Rootkit which I did and then did a scan all was ok, I have just done an other one and I have 1677 hidden files I tried to remove them and was advised that my pc may not work properly again and that this was on for the experienced which I am not. can anyone advise please as to what I should do.

[alanworland]

Save what you want, format drive(s) reinstall operating system and all programs. Scan/check what you are going to put back on. Should be done in an evening!

[MarkyB]

Why was the AVG Anti Rootkit suggested?

Uninstall any search tool bars that aren't from recognised companys like google or yahoo.

Try installing Firefox and use it rather than Internet Explorer.

Also try downloading and running Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.5.1 from here;
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/

Follow that up with Ad-aware from here;
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

Each scan should take a while. Be suspicious if either won't run or only take 2 seconds to finish.
If either scan says you need to restart the PC and scan again then do it, but be prepared to have to do some more work to get rid of some nasty infection.
If you go for the nuclear option as suggested by alanworland don't forget to back up your bookmarks/favourites and install Firefox.
Avoid sites that offer free ring tones games and screen savers as many of these will install spyware.
Mark

[Orkney]

Theres a pretty ugly root virus doing the rounds at the moment that is a rootkit virus - and a lot of your normal antivirus cant touch it.

NOT AN URBAN MYTH or HOAX as so many turn out to be.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7183008.stm
Link on the BBC tecno pages giving full details and worth a read !

So make sure your machines are OK - a staunch warning as to why you should keep auto updates on.

[chickenjohn]

Yes, the MBR virus is nasty, lives in the master boot record and then installs keyloggers and gets your on line banking details. I don't know if anti virus programs can reach it as they work within windows. You may have to re-create your MBR to stay safe.

My advice to stay safe- use an Apple computer, or install Linux on your PC. Or, stick with windows 98 as nobody is writing viruses for older platforms.

[ColinP]

JTD,

All the Windows system files are "hidden files" - this is normal - so don't panic!
They're marked as hidden to stop the owner from seeing them. If the owner sees them, then they could delete som, and the Windows won't work....

Slow response usually means that the PC is trying to do too much at one time (e.g. my virus checker starts up to check all the files being opened from the c:\ drive. This is overkill! it doesn't need o inspect every file on the c:\ drive every time it opens one.)

You can also find a significant improvement by using the disk tools "cleanup" and "defragment" - this tidies the hard dic.

Cheers,

Colin

Edited for spelling

[d_harris]

Use linux - easiest answer!

Sorry, I know thats no help. I'm no good with windows viruses

[biker_bits]

Anti Root kit is OK, but even the AVG Antivirus scans the PC's boot sector and registry. All files are scanned 'on access' - before they are even opened. So should do the job.
I must agree with Dan Harris - I found using Ubuntu Linux much more peaceful from a few years back. No worries about viruses, Firefox for the browser, Thunderbird Email, all media (MP3, DVD, etc) stuff works, M$ office files can be read and saved. Most of the applications are free (GNU). AVG for Linux is also available to give you 'belt and braces' for files that are likely to be transferred to a Win machine.
All-in-all, money and nerve saving.

[jtd.75]

Hi all thanks for everyones imput to my sudden panic attack because I was having so much agro I desided to to a complete install and there for removed everything ( reformatted) and start again from scratch and sofar so good. I hope