Discussion
Guys, I'm at my Mum's and when I logged onto her computer it became clear that she has a virus on her computer- when I click on google results instead of going to the results I get redirected to sites such as monstermarketplace.com and netster.com. So I bought Norton Internet security and downloaded it- did a full scan and it did not alter the problem. I phoned Norton and they said that I have to pay £35 consultancy fee for them to provide remote support- this seems a bit rubbish as their product should sort it out- this is why I bought it. Anyone had similar problems or could make a recommendation that does not involve spending any more cash?
You need to find out the name of the virus, and remove it manually. Products like norton are not great at preventing virus infection, and even worse at removing them. Its normal/expected that you'd have to remove the virus yourself, manually and/or with a custom virus removal tool written for that virus, start your search with google if possible.
Edited by UKBob on Tuesday 10th April 16:44
www.zonelabs.com
download the 14 day trial of internet security suite.
Demand a refund from Norton - useless crap IME (though to be fair it's been 10 years since I used Norton, primarily because it was so crap)
download the 14 day trial of internet security suite.
Demand a refund from Norton - useless crap IME (though to be fair it's been 10 years since I used Norton, primarily because it was so crap)
REMOVE NORTON THIS INSTANT. IT IS WORSE THAN A VIRUS!
seriously, it is ineffective, expensive and a resource hog.
AVG is free and pretty effective, or there are various anti-viruses that beat norton hands down (kasperkey (sp?) for one, have a look at some reviews)
secondly it sounds more like an ad-ware/spy-ware problem than a virus, so make sure the program you get deals with that as well.
other tips to try:
restart in safe mode (hold down F8 while your computer boots up and a menu should appear) then try running your virus and ad-ware scans. safe mode should mean they aren't running, and hence are much easier for your security programs to remove.
system restore click start>run then type in "msconfig" (no speach marks) and press enter. then click "launch system restore" and then next, and then pick a date before the problem started to occur (if it will go back far enough). windows will then turn all the settings back to the date you have chosen, which will remove any programs that have been installed in that time (including viruses etc) it will not affect any files you have created/downloaded, so you will not lose anything.
if that fails let me know and i will make a few more suggestions!
- Will
seriously, it is ineffective, expensive and a resource hog.
AVG is free and pretty effective, or there are various anti-viruses that beat norton hands down (kasperkey (sp?) for one, have a look at some reviews)
secondly it sounds more like an ad-ware/spy-ware problem than a virus, so make sure the program you get deals with that as well.
other tips to try:
restart in safe mode (hold down F8 while your computer boots up and a menu should appear) then try running your virus and ad-ware scans. safe mode should mean they aren't running, and hence are much easier for your security programs to remove.
system restore click start>run then type in "msconfig" (no speach marks) and press enter. then click "launch system restore" and then next, and then pick a date before the problem started to occur (if it will go back far enough). windows will then turn all the settings back to the date you have chosen, which will remove any programs that have been installed in that time (including viruses etc) it will not affect any files you have created/downloaded, so you will not lose anything.
if that fails let me know and i will make a few more suggestions!
- Will
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/d
AVG free do a scan
FREE
www.spybot.info/en/download/index.html
spy bot search and destroy
FREE
www.topshareware.com/PC-Doctor-Pro-download-36198.htm
PC Doctor
TRIAL must have about 14 days free but is great
DO THESE NOW!
AVG free do a scan
FREE
www.spybot.info/en/download/index.html
spy bot search and destroy
FREE
www.topshareware.com/PC-Doctor-Pro-download-36198.htm
PC Doctor
TRIAL must have about 14 days free but is great
DO THESE NOW!
You wasted your money on Norton.
I used Avast! which works fine, my brother has Zone Alarm and finds that works fine as well, or like others said there's AVG.
Basically, anything is better than Norton. We used to have it, used it to run a virus scan once a week, came up clean every time. Then my Dad read an article about how bad it was so he deleted it and got McAfee, not only did the processor suddenly speed up but the first scan found 5 viruses, which Norton had missed.
I used Avast! which works fine, my brother has Zone Alarm and finds that works fine as well, or like others said there's AVG.
Basically, anything is better than Norton. We used to have it, used it to run a virus scan once a week, came up clean every time. Then my Dad read an article about how bad it was so he deleted it and got McAfee, not only did the processor suddenly speed up but the first scan found 5 viruses, which Norton had missed.
It does sound like spyware/adware rather than a virus. Download Windows Defender as a first stop.
As an aside, I've just ditched the Norton resource-hog that came with my laptop and installed NOD32. It's probably just my imagination, but the machine seems to boot in half the time, run more smoothly and generally behaves better.
As an aside, I've just ditched the Norton resource-hog that came with my laptop and installed NOD32. It's probably just my imagination, but the machine seems to boot in half the time, run more smoothly and generally behaves better.
Tuna said:
It does sound like spyware/adware rather than a virus. Download Windows Defender as a first stop.
As an aside, I've just ditched the Norton resource-hog that came with my laptop and installed NOD32. It's probably just my imagination, but the machine seems to boot in half the time, run more smoothly and generally behaves better.
As an aside, I've just ditched the Norton resource-hog that came with my laptop and installed NOD32. It's probably just my imagination, but the machine seems to boot in half the time, run more smoothly and generally behaves better.
Agreed
Then AVG for free G Man said:
Tuna said:
It does sound like spyware/adware rather than a virus. Download Windows Defender as a first stop.
As an aside, I've just ditched the Norton resource-hog that came with my laptop and installed NOD32. It's probably just my imagination, but the machine seems to boot in half the time, run more smoothly and generally behaves better.
As an aside, I've just ditched the Norton resource-hog that came with my laptop and installed NOD32. It's probably just my imagination, but the machine seems to boot in half the time, run more smoothly and generally behaves better.
Agreed
Then AVG for free I looked at AVG, but in reviews it performed rather poorly for actually preventing viruses. All things are relative of course, but it does appear you get what you pay for.
Tuna said:
G Man said:
Tuna said:
It does sound like spyware/adware rather than a virus. Download Windows Defender as a first stop.
As an aside, I've just ditched the Norton resource-hog that came with my laptop and installed NOD32. It's probably just my imagination, but the machine seems to boot in half the time, run more smoothly and generally behaves better.
As an aside, I've just ditched the Norton resource-hog that came with my laptop and installed NOD32. It's probably just my imagination, but the machine seems to boot in half the time, run more smoothly and generally behaves better.
Agreed
Then AVG for free I looked at AVG, but in reviews it performed rather poorly for actually preventing viruses. All things are relative of course, but it does appear you get what you pay for.
Well we have run it on approx 10 computers for 7 years without attack, we also dropped it onto a Norton protected computer and found 2 viruses which it got rid of ... 1 happy non paying customer
will2425 said:
the reviews of AVG that i have read showed that it is average at prevention, excellent at detection but is weak at removal. Surely detection is the most important of the three! still better than norton in all areas!
A wet hanky wrapped around your mouse would be better than Norton
I usually end up having to install a new anti-virus program when I've got a box that has a suspected virus, so being good at removal is important. Prevention is better than cure though.
On the other hand for numpty users (read: parents) it's easiest to make them use Firefox & Thunderbird, and a decent firewall - that alone significantly reduces the chances of them getting anything to worry about in the first place.
but if you have google then you can manually remove anything that AVG (or any other anti-virus) can't handle, as long as the antivirus will tell you what it is!
ETA: and i have yet to find anything AVG can't remove in years of tech support for friends and family, i'm only basing my previous comments on weaknesses on what reviews have said. i am 100% happy with AVG
ETA: and i have yet to find anything AVG can't remove in years of tech support for friends and family, i'm only basing my previous comments on weaknesses on what reviews have said. i am 100% happy with AVG
Edited by will2425 on Tuesday 10th April 17:22
will2425 said:
but if you have google then you can manually remove anything that AVG (or any other anti-virus) can't handle, as long as the antivirus will tell you what it is!
ETA: and i have yet to find anything AVG can't remove in years of tech support for friends and family, i'm only basing my previous comments on weaknesses on what reviews have said. i am 100% happy with AVG
ETA: and i have yet to find anything AVG can't remove in years of tech support for friends and family, i'm only basing my previous comments on weaknesses on what reviews have said. i am 100% happy with AVG
Edited by will2425 on Tuesday 10th April 17:22
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure AVG is fine. I'm happy to pay though and NOD32 seems to be better - I'm certainly impressed by it.
NickFRP said:
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/d
AVG free do a scan
FREE
www.spybot.info/en/download/index.html
spy bot search and destroy
FREE
www.topshareware.com/PC-Doctor-Pro-download-36198.htm
PC Doctor
TRIAL must have about 14 days free but is great
DO THESE NOW!
AVG free do a scan
FREE
www.spybot.info/en/download/index.html
spy bot search and destroy
FREE
www.topshareware.com/PC-Doctor-Pro-download-36198.htm
PC Doctor
TRIAL must have about 14 days free but is great
DO THESE NOW!
OK- got a refund from Norton, installed WIN DOC and installing spybot now. Will let you know how it goes!! Thanks for the advice fellas.
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