[trl259]

There is a lot of information about what to do in the event of a computer virus or trojan getting on your computer. It gets confusing after awhile and I was wondering what the first actions should be if you find a virus or trojan?

Just in general, what actions (and what order) should be taken if your security pkg alerts you to a virus or trojan?

Should you shut down the computer?
Should you start back in safe mode?
Should you run a virus scan?
Should you let the security program fix anything it finds?
Should you go to another computer and change passwords?
If the security package says a trojan is fixed, should you trust it or check further to see if it was removed?

After a recent alert that there is a trojan on my computer, my friend thinks I should run a full virus scan. I'm a little concerned since this may take a couple of hours or more.

Thank you for any help.

[blitzkreig]

run a complete scan as your friends says.

[trl259]

When I started my computer this morning, I had a warning about corrupt files. I had recently downloaded Picasa and I understand that Kaspersky can see this as foreign. It also showed a file dated 5/23 that said trojan and listed the site as gmccharlotte. I shut the computer down and posted on here at that point. I had randomly gotten a blue screen the night before and had to reboot. Never really had that happen before.

After posting here, I ran a full scan and it showed some very dangerous elements with quicktime and music match. It did not show the previous message about a trojan or about Picasa. I updated Windows. I left the computer on and without being on it, it went to a blue screen and shut down.

I have Windows XP, IE 7 (I recently downloaded IE 8 but it made the computer slow to a crawl so I deleted it), and Kaspersky security 2009.

What should I do next? Any help is appreciated.

[blitzkreig]

Back up important data. Format your hard disk and re-install windows.
If you don't wish to do so, please post in the hijack this logs and malware removal forum.

[mmsmaan]

if ur windows are geniune , run an online scan from the site of microsoft...or use system restore and restore ur pc to an earlier date

[sdikevin]

First off, it is very very very...VERY imporant that your Anti-Virus program is always up to date. Most anti-virus also have a "shield" so to speak where it is always scanning and stops a possible virus before it can install on your system and cause damage. If your Anti-virus doesn't do this, or if your not getting a database update for new virus atleast once a week or so (you should be able to set the program so that it checks for updates everyday)... then it's time to switch anti-virus programs

Backup any important data, scan it for viruses, format your harddrive and reinstall windows. If you still have your CDs for you hardware go ahead and install the drivers on those CD. install your anti-virus program. connect the pc to the internet, download the lastest updates for your anti-virus, get the updates from windows updates, update all your drivers. Then connect the device you saved your data on, and scan it again, and again. Move your backed up data back to your PC.