My PC has been infected by ABEBOT. Would reformatng the Hard Drive cure the problem?

Question

One of the FREESERVE users in my area infected my PC with ABEBOT. From a net-surf, I read this affects the REGISTRY of the PC. and so is difficult to fix. Reformating the Hard Drive MAY be an option but I would like to have this move confirmed before losing all the data on the PC.
As an alternative I could do a FULL-install of the XP OS again losing infoirmation, but would this eliminate the virus?
Running AVG and Spybot leaves the problem uncleared so someone, somewhere wants really wants to see what I get up to!!
One story, (I read) is that a concern named PC- Spyware "offers" it's services for free but then reqests payment after one has downloaded it's particular application (The usual nonsense) after which it's "footprint" remains even when the application is uninstalled but leaves sufficient of of itself behind to ATTRACT the ABEBOT virus!! The concern then "offers" itself as a solution with endless popups to cure the problem. Can this be true?)

Answer 1

formatting for a virus sounds a bit OTT,,,try downloading CCleaner(free) and clear issues,,,

you could if havent already download yahoos searchbar which has a free scanner namely antispy...

either may solve the problem

i once had a similar virus which wouldnt leave and doing a system "restore"solved the problem....good luck

Answer 2

This is what you've got!



Malware type: Worm



Aliases: W32/Sdbot.worm.gen.e (McAfee), Backdoor.Abebot (Symantec), TR/Crypt.ULPM.Gen (Avira), Mal/IRCBot-B (Sophos),



In the wild: No

Overall risk rating:

Low

Description:





WORM_SDBOT.ADU is a worm, a malware that is designed to propagate and spread across networks. Worms are known to propagate using one or several of different transmission vectors like email, IRC, network shares, instant messengers (IM), and peer-to-peer (P2P) networks.



Worms do not infect files, but may carry one or more payloads, such as computer security compromise and information theft.



Worms typically modify system settings to automatically start. Users may need to terminate worms before they can be deleted. Also, restoring affected systems may require procedures other than scanning with an antivirus program.



You maybe looking at a complete reformat and reloading your C:\ drive

Answer 3

Abebot is a dangerous backdoor trojan that was designed to promote rogue anti-spyware products (Pc-Antispyware and other). After installation Abebot will bombard your desktop with fake spyware detection reports, false positives and error messages. Abebot may damage your computer and steal personal data. We strongly recomend to remove this scamware from your copmputer.

---

try manual removal instructions

Answer 4

The free version AVG will only remove viruses but not remove the Trojan hosting them resulting the viruses will just keep on coming back.

Open RUN commands and enter..mrt..and scan for malware but its not very reliable, so, download the 30 day trial of Trojan Remover



http://www.simplysup.com/tremover/download.html

Answer 5

what ever you choose, do not pay for abebot! it infected your computer and you should pay for that? no way, don't do that. if you don't wanna buy legitimate anti spyware neither, i suggest you remove abebot manually: http://www.2-spyware.com/remove-abebot.html

reformating hard drive will help, but i would keep that option as the last resort.

Answer 6

Other people have answered this question, so I wont. But why haven't you got adequate protection? That's your problem.

Answer 7

This will remove it.

http://www.abebot-removal.com.removal-instructions.com/removeAbebot.html

Answer 8

Try this before resorting to reformatting.



http://housecall.trendmicro.com/