computer crashing

[sue@godfrey2]

Can anyone please help us?? Everytime we go on the internet we have a message to say the computer is in serious risk of problems. We keep on getting "Winfixer 2005" is it really necessary to pay the fee of �29.95 to clear our computer of viruses etc. Or is there anything else we can do.. The computer keeps on crashing and freezing, so we can't shut it down properly.. Plz help

[qapmoc]

You have adware on your PC, this is what is making the pop-up adverts appear, suggest that the first thing to do is use system restore to go back to a previous time when the system was OK, Go to Help and support and choose system restore and then select a date when you know the system was correct.
Then install a antivirus and a firewall and something like ad-aware to scan for and remove all that rubbish which is causing you problems.

[AussieGeoff]

G'Day Sue

First off: Pay them absolutely NOTHING, you have been infected with a trojan (a form of spyware).

There are several sites, such as SpywareInfo, Castlecops, TomCoyote, etc that can help you get rid of it, but, no offence, you sound as though you are a novice so I advise you to go to http://temerc.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=12&sid=73c3554613730517174f5552aec638fc as there are more tutorials available.

Read the topic called "Read before asking for help or offering help" then read and download the software on the topic called "Things to do before posting your HJT log". Now the Topic called "How to install HiJackThis", HJT, the link is there to download HJT.

Now click the Register link (near the top right hand corner of the screen), it's free and your details will NOT be distributed. Now click the "New Topic" button - give your post a unique name that is relevant (HJT log is pretty useless), then tell them what operating system you have, what you have run (Spybot and Ad-Aware), tell them if you need very detailed instructions and post your log (just copy and paste it into the post). You will get a reply within 24 hours. Whatever instructions you get, follow them exactly, and remember to reply if they do not work. Probably your best bet would be to print them out.

Good luck.

Geoff

[AussieGeoff]

G'Day Sue (again)

A couple of things I forgot.

Go into Add/Remove Programs and look for Winfixer, if it is there remove it - you might get lucky.

When you go the site I mentioned dont forget to tell them what you think you have (winfixer).

I agree with qapmoc, if you dont have an anti-virus and firewall - get them. There are free versions of both. Leave Spybot and Ad-Aware installed and update everything - Spybot, Ad-Aware and your Anti-virus and run scans regularly.

Geoff

[Bob A Job]

sounds like you have a trojan spyware installed,

Maybe 'spyaxe' or similar, download 'Ad-aware' and 'Spybot S&D' they should weed out your problems!

After clearing your computer of spyware, make sure your windows is up to date and your firewall is switched on. And have a free virus scanner (Avast home 4, or AVG) running to stop further infections.

[stevie21]

I'd use HijackThis as a last resort. One of the main security holes that allows spyware on in the first place is closed by installing Microsoft's Antispyware program. I'd also install Spybot S&D and also Adaware. Update all 3 then run them.

Finally, make sure you have a firewall installed and in use (several are free such as Sygate or Zonealarm), also an antivirus prog (also free) and also, if you're using Windows, go to their Windows Update site and download and install all the latest gubbins.

Unless you later click "yes" to install something dodgy on your PC, the above should go a long way to keeping your computer problem free.