Is there a virus that does this?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kev
  • Start date Start date
K

Kev

Hello,

Im working on cleaning out a friends computer that I had maybe a year ago
(more or less) installed AV, Kerio, Adware, Spybot S&D, and probably a
couple other things. And all set to run periodically automatically, and as
for the firewall catch any unknown programs trying to run or get out onto
the net. All the usual stuff.

Im guessing that all this stuff was bypassed as it became a nucience when
trying to download or install programs that did so. And now? All of that
has disappeared without a trace. No spyware catchers, no firewall, and
worst of all no AV.

It would not be fair for me to automatically assume that it was all
removed. So another possibility... is there a virus out there that will
actually remove all these things? Not just prevent them from working?

Cheers
 
From: "Kev" <[email protected]>

| Hello,
|
| Im working on cleaning out a friends computer that I had maybe a year ago
| (more or less) installed AV, Kerio, Adware, Spybot S&D, and probably a
| couple other things. And all set to run periodically automatically, and as
| for the firewall catch any unknown programs trying to run or get out onto
| the net. All the usual stuff.
|
| Im guessing that all this stuff was bypassed as it became a nucience when
| trying to download or install programs that did so. And now? All of that
| has disappeared without a trace. No spyware catchers, no firewall, and
| worst of all no AV.
|
| It would not be fair for me to automatically assume that it was all
| removed. So another possibility... is there a virus out there that will
| actually remove all these things? Not just prevent them from working?
|
| Cheers

Disable and/or corrupt AV software and FireWall software but not remove them.
 
Kev said:
Hello,

Im working on cleaning out a friends computer that I had maybe a year ago
(more or less) installed AV, Kerio, Adware, Spybot S&D, and probably a
couple other things. And all set to run periodically automatically, and as
for the firewall catch any unknown programs trying to run or get out onto
the net. All the usual stuff.

Im guessing that all this stuff was bypassed as it became a nucience when
trying to download or install programs that did so. And now? All of that
has disappeared without a trace. No spyware catchers, no firewall, and
worst of all no AV.

It would not be fair for me to automatically assume that it was all
removed. So another possibility... is there a virus out there that will
actually remove all these things? Not just prevent them from working?

Cheers
Click to expand...

Perhaps someone used System Restore?
 
Hello,

Im working on cleaning out a friends computer that I had maybe a
year ago (more or less) installed AV, Kerio, Adware, Spybot S&D,
and probably a couple other things. And all set to run
periodically automatically, and as for the firewall catch any
unknown programs trying to run or get out onto the net. All the
usual stuff.

Im guessing that all this stuff was bypassed as it became a
nucience when trying to download or install programs that did so.
And now? All of that has disappeared without a trace. No spyware
catchers, no firewall, and worst of all no AV.

It would not be fair for me to automatically assume that it was
all removed. So another possibility... is there a virus out there
that will actually remove all these things? Not just prevent them
from working?

Cheers
Click to expand...

Well since he is not my friend(but could be inlaw) it is fair for me
to say that your first guess is correct. All the protection you
installed did not "magically" dissappear,it was intentionally
removed. You will have to sit down with him and explain why he should
leave the protection in place and if he fails to do so you will be
charging him next time(or if you are,it will be double for the sake
of stupidity)
-max
 
Perhaps someone used System Restore?
Click to expand...

Another of the things I did before... when I put all the protection on it
the last time after _that_ cleaning job. Deleted all restore points.
Cleaned it out. Then made a new one after all was done and installed.

Ah well. Guess the best I can do is put it all back and tell him to leave
it there for his own good. Either that or keep all the admin privilages and
only allow him limited access. That will go over well ;o)
 
You will have to sit down with him and explain why he should
leave the protection in place and if he fails to do so you will be
charging him next time(or if you are,it will be double for the sake
of stupidity)
Click to expand...

I have a neighbour exactly like that...and he used to sell main frame
computers, duh. I have taken Blaster, multi trojans, 127 pieces of spyware,
etc....off his XP machine. He took off Zone Alarm coz he said it *slowed
his computer down*. He never updated Norton (no big loss there, grin). So
I sorted it all out and added all the appropriate
avg/firewall/adaware/spywareblaster stuff and spent quite some time cleaning
it up.

THEN....I threatened to *break his fingers* (or other body parts) if he took
any of it off again and/or didn't update all the stuff I put on there.
Works better than charging a fee!! (VBG) OTOH, he is notoriously
cheap....maybe I should charge him.

Cheers...Heather
 
THEN....I threatened to *break his fingers* (or other body parts)
if he took any of it off again and/or didn't update all the stuff
I put on there. Works better than charging a fee!! (VBG) OTOH,
he is notoriously cheap....maybe I should charge him.

Cheers...Heather
Click to expand...

Ya,tell him you will give him a "bobbit briss".
-max
 
Hello,

Im working on cleaning out a friends computer that I had maybe a year ago
(more or less) installed AV, Kerio, Adware, Spybot S&D, and probably a
couple other things. And all set to run periodically automatically, and as
for the firewall catch any unknown programs trying to run or get out onto
the net. All the usual stuff.

Im guessing that all this stuff was bypassed as it became a nucience when
trying to download or install programs that did so. And now? All of that
has disappeared without a trace. No spyware catchers, no firewall, and
worst of all no AV.

It would not be fair for me to automatically assume that it was all
removed. So another possibility... is there a virus out there that will
actually remove all these things? Not just prevent them from working?

Cheers
Click to expand...
Longshot:
Has a new user been created, and they were all installed in
some other user's area?
 
Has a new user been created, and they were all installed in
some other user's area?
Click to expand...

Nope. There has always only been one. Not including the admin one when in
safe mode. But then.... maybe the user acount was deleted while in safe
mode, and recreated. So there was still only one.

Im not sure tho as several things were still there that arent part of the
standard XP install... such as some games and other apps. Unless... they
were reinstalled but the protection software wasnt.

But as posted above by Heather, I am tending to lean in the direction that
they interfered with the games. And instead of simply disabling AV and
such... or asking me how to (of course something I would strongly have
advised against)... they were removed. If so there is some serious problems
with priorities, lol.


oh... on a side note... the last time I cleaned it out there were alot of
porn trojans. I wont assume how they got there as there was alot being
spread around then. But there werent any this time ;o)
 
oh... on a side note... the last time I cleaned it out there were alot of
porn trojans. I wont assume how they got there as there was alot being
spread around then. But there werent any this time ;o)
Click to expand...
I sometimes see a lot of porn diallers on machines brought in
for cleanup, and I have no reason to disbelieve the people who
say they knew nothing about it.

Well, most of them.
 
Colin O'Scopy said:
I sometimes see a lot of porn diallers on machines brought in
for cleanup, and I have no reason to disbelieve the people who
say they knew nothing about it.

Well, most of them.
Click to expand...

Sometimes that can be embarrassing, grin. I was showing a friend how to
clean out her computer and when I hit the Recycle Bin, there were a ton of
porn-related cookies. She was going to have a few words with her
husband.....and probably not ones I will repeat on here.

Heather
 
Sometimes that can be embarrassing, grin. I was showing a friend
how to clean out her computer and when I hit the Recycle Bin,
there were a ton of porn-related cookies. She was going to have a
few words with her husband.....and probably not ones I will repeat
on here.

Heather
Click to expand...
guns don't kill people-husbands(or wives)that come home early do.
-max
 
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