Red x in Task Bar "Your Computer is Infected..."

Fiddlerpig · 03-06-2008, 02:12 PM

I've gone through the 5 steps listed; there were no programs in add-remove programs that were on the list, but I was unable to complete the Panda scan, as my computer kept freezing before it could finish; I was able to dl and install spyware blaster.

In addition to the red x in my task bar, this virus (or viruses) keeps creating desktop shortcuts on my desktop: one that says "Help and Support Center" and "Windows Update". I try to delete them, but they keep reappearing. It also won't let me run my anti-virus/spyware programs, such as AVG, Spybot, Ad Aware, Hijackthis, etc, it just kills them immediately; they also won't run in safe-mode.

I've been battling this thing for 2 days, needless to say its frustrating; any help you can give me is welcomed.

tetonbob · 03-06-2008, 03:13 PM

As it states in the 5 steps, if you have troubles with any of the steps, move on to the next, and post that information, along with the requested logs, in your thread in the HijackThis Log Help forum.

Please do this:

Download Deckard's System Scanner (DSS) to your Desktop. Note: You must be logged onto an account with administrator privileges.

Close all applications and windows.
Double-click on dss.exe to run it, and follow the prompts.
When the scan is complete, two text files will open - main.txt <- this one will be maximized and extra.txt <-this one will be minimized
Copy (Ctrl+A then Ctrl+C) and paste (Ctrl+V) the contents of main.txt in your thread in the HijackThis Log Help Forum. Not Here
Please attach extra.txt to your post.

To attach a file to a new post, simply

Click the[Manage Attachments] button under Additional Options > Attach Files on the post composition page, and
copy and paste the following into the "Upload File from your Computer" box:
C:\Deckard\System Scanner\extra.txt
Click Upload.

What DSS will do:

create a new System Restore point in Windows XP and Vista.
clean your Temporary Files, Downloaded Program Files, and Internet Cache Files, and also empty the Recycle Bin on all drives.
check some important areas of your system and produce a report for your analyst to review. DSS automatically runs HijackThis for you, but it will also install and place a shortcut to HijackThis on your desktop if you do not already have HijackThis installed.

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Please note that the HijackThis Log Help forum is extremely busy, and it may take a while to receive a reply.

We do not do log analysis in this section of the forum.

Fiddlerpig · 03-06-2008, 03:24 PM

The virus(s) won't let me run dss.

tetonbob · 03-06-2008, 03:39 PM

DSS is a scanning tool only, and not typically targeted by malware.

Will it not run at all, or does it run, but error out? If it errors, out, at what point does it do so?

Fiddlerpig · 03-06-2008, 03:48 PM

It wouldn't even start at first. I tried renaming it, and for some reason that worked. Scanned fine.

Thanks.

tetonbob · 03-06-2008, 03:50 PM

Great, that was going to be my next suggestion, good work. Sounds like you have a nasty. Be sure to back up any valued data now.

Fiddlerpig · 03-06-2008, 04:04 PM

I will, thanks.

03-06-2008, 02:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
Fiddlerpig Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 26 OS: xp	Red x in Task Bar "Your Computer is Infected..." I've gone through the 5 steps listed; there were no programs in add-remove programs that were on the list, but I was unable to complete the Panda scan, as my computer kept freezing before it could finish; I was able to dl and install spyware blaster. In addition to the red x in my task bar, this virus (or viruses) keeps creating desktop shortcuts on my desktop: one that says "Help and Support Center" and "Windows Update". I try to delete them, but they keep reappearing. It also won't let me run my anti-virus/spyware programs, such as AVG, Spybot, Ad Aware, Hijackthis, etc, it just kills them immediately; they also won't run in safe-mode. I've been battling this thing for 2 days, needless to say its frustrating; any help you can give me is welcomed. Last edited by Fiddlerpig; 03-06-2008 at 02:34 PM.

03-06-2008, 03:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
tetonbob Manager, Security Center, TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina, USA Posts: 35,580 OS: 2000 Pro; XP Pro; XP Home	Re: Red x in Task Bar "Your Computer is Infected..." As it states in the 5 steps, if you have troubles with any of the steps, move on to the next, and post that information, along with the requested logs, in your thread in the HijackThis Log Help forum. Please do this: Download Deckard's System Scanner (DSS) to your Desktop. Note: You must be logged onto an account with administrator privileges. Close all applications and windows. Double-click on dss.exe to run it, and follow the prompts. When the scan is complete, two text files will open - main.txt <- this one will be maximized and extra.txt <-this one will be minimized Copy (Ctrl+A then Ctrl+C) and paste (Ctrl+V) the contents of main.txt in your thread in the HijackThis Log Help Forum. Not Here Please attach extra.txt to your post. To attach a file to a new post, simply Click the[Manage Attachments] button under Additional Options > Attach Files on the post composition page, and copy and paste the following into the "Upload File from your Computer" box: C:\Deckard\System Scanner\extra.txt Click Upload. What DSS will do: create a new System Restore point in Windows XP and Vista. clean your Temporary Files, Downloaded Program Files, and Internet Cache Files, and also empty the Recycle Bin on all drives. check some important areas of your system and produce a report for your analyst to review. DSS automatically runs HijackThis for you, but it will also install and place a shortcut to HijackThis on your desktop if you do not already have HijackThis installed. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note that the HijackThis Log Help forum is extremely busy, and it may take a while to receive a reply. We do not do log analysis in this section of the forum. __________________ Practice Safe Surfing PC Safety and Security--What Do I Need? Because what you don't know, CAN hurt you. Proud Member of ASAP since 2005 Proud Member of UNITE since 2006 Microsoft MVP - Consumer Security 2009

03-06-2008, 03:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Fiddlerpig Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 26 OS: xp	Re: Red x in Task Bar "Your Computer is Infected..." The virus(s) won't let me run dss.

03-06-2008, 03:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
tetonbob Manager, Security Center, TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina, USA Posts: 35,580 OS: 2000 Pro; XP Pro; XP Home	Re: Red x in Task Bar "Your Computer is Infected..." DSS is a scanning tool only, and not typically targeted by malware. Will it not run at all, or does it run, but error out? If it errors, out, at what point does it do so? __________________ Practice Safe Surfing PC Safety and Security--What Do I Need? Because what you don't know, CAN hurt you. Proud Member of ASAP since 2005 Proud Member of UNITE since 2006 Microsoft MVP - Consumer Security 2009

03-06-2008, 03:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
Fiddlerpig Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 26 OS: xp	Re: Red x in Task Bar "Your Computer is Infected..." It wouldn't even start at first. I tried renaming it, and for some reason that worked. Scanned fine. Thanks.

03-06-2008, 03:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
tetonbob Manager, Security Center, TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina, USA Posts: 35,580 OS: 2000 Pro; XP Pro; XP Home	Re: Red x in Task Bar "Your Computer is Infected..." Great, that was going to be my next suggestion, good work. Sounds like you have a nasty. Be sure to back up any valued data now. __________________ Practice Safe Surfing PC Safety and Security--What Do I Need? Because what you don't know, CAN hurt you. Proud Member of ASAP since 2005 Proud Member of UNITE since 2006 Microsoft MVP - Consumer Security 2009

03-06-2008, 04:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
Fiddlerpig Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 26 OS: xp	Re: Red x in Task Bar "Your Computer is Infected..." I will, thanks.