PC Question HELP

glen · 17-04-2011, 10:08

We think we have had a virus

Opened lap top yesterday, we had lots of folders on the desktop and they appear to be there but they are all empty! we have restored the data and backdated it to 3 march but they have not appeared in the folders they have been on since last year so should be there? we dont use it for banking but do have some accounts paypal play.com etc. cleared all history in internet settings on thursday including user names so not sure if data has been hacked what they would get. think may be a virus got in on saturday not sure. does anyone know if the pictures, word docs etc would still be on and if so how would we find them? we run virus check and it said it found 2!

Glen

Liam · 17-04-2011, 10:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by glen

We think we have had a virus

Opened lap top yesterday, we had lots of folders on the desktop and they appear to be there but they are all empty! we have restored the data and backdated it to 3 march but they have not appeared in the folders they have been on since last year so should be there? we dont use it for banking but do have some accounts paypal play.com etc. cleared all history in internet settings on thursday including user names so not sure if data has been hacked what they would get. think may be a virus got in on saturday not sure. does anyone know if the pictures, word docs etc would still be on and if so how would we find them? we run virus check and it said it found 2!

Glen

Possibly spyware or virus. If you can download spybot and run it ,preferably in safe mode, and see what results you get. That's for a start anyway but there are some on here who work in the IT sector and may be able to offer more help. Hard to diagnose when you don't have the laptop in front of you. Sure you will get it sorted.

kbekl · 17-04-2011, 13:11

depending what antivirus you have run a boot time scan so all files are acessible to the antivirus best to repair them just in case any of the boot sector has been modded, i know avast antivirus has this and is free even if you want to just down load it for the scan and then remove it, and i would say as above run spybot first get all the crap out befor running the boot scan.

do you have a firewall ?

4x4_Gav · 17-04-2011, 13:32

Avast Anti-Virus is also a good free virus software to download and run ALONG SIDE SpyBot.

kbekl · 17-04-2011, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4x4_Gav

Avast Anti-Virus is also a good free virus software to download and run ALONG SIDE SpyBot.

i have used avast for the last 8 years and i have never had a virus yet on all the pc's i have had i find it better than most paid av's and probably the best free av

Timbo_1975 · 17-04-2011, 18:31

I'll add that if you are running XP SP2 or 3, Vista, or 7, that Microsoft's own Security Essentials is both free, does what it says on the tin and as good as Avast / Avira and the like.

17-04-2011, 10:08	#1
glen Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Shipley West yorkshire Vehicle: Terrano 2 2002 Posts: 519	PC Question HELP We think we have had a virus Opened lap top yesterday, we had lots of folders on the desktop and they appear to be there but they are all empty! we have restored the data and backdated it to 3 march but they have not appeared in the folders they have been on since last year so should be there? we dont use it for banking but do have some accounts paypal play.com etc. cleared all history in internet settings on thursday including user names so not sure if data has been hacked what they would get. think may be a virus got in on saturday not sure. does anyone know if the pictures, word docs etc would still be on and if so how would we find them? we run virus check and it said it found 2! Glen

17-04-2011, 13:11	#3
kbekl Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Manchester Vehicle: Ford Maverick 2.7 LWB GLX Posts: 1,519	depending what antivirus you have run a boot time scan so all files are acessible to the antivirus best to repair them just in case any of the boot sector has been modded, i know avast antivirus has this and is free even if you want to just down load it for the scan and then remove it, and i would say as above run spybot first get all the crap out befor running the boot scan. do you have a firewall ?

17-04-2011, 13:32	#4
4x4_Gav Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Nottinghamshire Vehicle: Nissan Terrano II 2.7 TDI Posts: 480	Avast Anti-Virus is also a good free virus software to download and run ALONG SIDE SpyBot.

17-04-2011, 18:31	#6
Timbo_1975 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: S Shropshire Vehicle: Inbetween Terrano's ! Posts: 967	I'll add that if you are running XP SP2 or 3, Vista, or 7, that Microsoft's own Security Essentials is both free, does what it says on the tin and as good as Avast / Avira and the like.