What is this computer virus, and why is it preventing me from getting Windows updates?!?

Question

I am using Firefox, and every time I click a link from Google search results it redirects to some random aggregator site. Firefox has even opened automatically, when neither it or any other browser are open, and links to some aggregator. A few times, tabs open within Firefox for no reason, and have linked to "STOPzilla."

I have run scans with the following programs with no avail: MalwareBytes, CCleaner, ATF-Cleaner, and AVG. I have recently tried downloading Adaware, but either AVG says that it contains a virus and won't allow it to to open (citing "Trojan Horse FalseAlert.SV" as having been sent to the virus-vault), or the program supposedly won't run because my Vista OS needs an update for the C+++ platform...

And so then, I try to go to the Windows Update website (windowsupdate.microsoft.com/) and the page will never load! It seems as if whatever virus is on my maching is blocking access to this site, and maybe to downloading Adaware as well (though I am still able to surf the internet otherwise).

What is this virus, malware, adware or whatever it is, and how do I remove it?!

Answer 1

It sounds like you have a "rootkit" type of malware.

Firstly, you should not run "HiJackThis" as the previous person suggested. It is not a program for removing malware, it is a tool to show you what is running in your computer and to allow professionals to tell you what should or should not be removed. If you rely on his answer and remove everything that it shows in the list, your computer would not run anymore.



I would recommend that you open a case with the forum at www.bleepingcomputer.com and let a professional help you with this.

Answer 2

I’ve had multiple issues in the past with viruses and Trojans. Based on reading other Yahoo answers this is what has worked for me.



Boot the computer into safe mode (press f8 while it boots)



Then use all of these from safe mode. Be sure to download them to a flash drive from a computer that is not infected.



No one program covers all malware and when you have one virus or Trojan there are likely others hidden as well.



http://www.malwarebytes.org



http://www.superantispyware.com



http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/combofix/how-to-use-combofix



http://www.personalvpn.org/malware_removal.htm

Answer 3

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Answer 4

The rootkits I've seen with those symptoms also run in safe mode. If Hitman Pro doesn't kill it, you may use a rootkit remover program like tdsskiller (http://www.google.com/search?q=+tdskiller&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=rbN&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&&sa=X&ei=2N_pTP-hEMT7lwejxOmeCQ&ved=0CBIQBSgA&q=tdsskiller&spell=1&fp=240c6721121f4cc3)

If you are more technically skilled, you can slave your hard drive into another PC and scan with Webroot Spyware Sweeper, SpyBot S&D, and Malwarebytes Antimalware to remove. I've had to do that many times in the past. A few times I just 'punted' as I call it. I formatted and reinstalled Windows.

Answer 5

You definitely have a rootkit. Use Hitman Pro. You may have to boot to a bootable CD / DVD in order to run an antivirus scanner on the hard drive.

Answer 6

sounds like you got more then one. hijacker and some malware. boot into safemode networking, update your scanners and run them there. you can try a program called hijack this, but once you remove something in it's scan, it's gone forever, so research each one you don't know and there will be a lot

Answer 7

Check out hitman pro it will clean it for free.