Explorer.EXE infected

R

RationalInsanity

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Mar 22, 2009
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For the last couple days Ive had annoying virus on my PC. It hasnt done anything serious yet, so far it just seems to mess with my windows appearance settings and randomly opens tabs in firefox to some fake antivirus.

Ive run AVG several times and it list 2 infections

C:\windows\Explorer.EXE (1092) trojan horse Adload_r.AKC

C:\windows\Explorer.EXE (1092):\memory_00010000 trojan horse Adload_r.AKC


AVG hasnt been able to remove them and my other programs (spybot search and destroy, and Malwarebyte's anti-malware) havent detect them.

Normally at this point I would just delete the infected files, but since this is something in windows I dont want to risk ruining my computer worse than it is now. So I really need some advise on what to do next.
 
try to get your hands on a free trial of a decent antivirus program (AVG is not one).

I would start with ESET Nod32.

-Blue
 
Blue Stealth said:
try to get your hands on a free trial of a decent antivirus program (AVG is not one).

I would start with ESET Nod32.

-Blue
Click to expand...

Kaperspy (or whatever it is) is the best antivirus to pay for. Else get

Avast! or Avira Antivir or Microsoft Security Essentials
Spybot Search & Destroy
Malwarebytes

Get those. Best set up ever.
 
Kaspersky (?!?) is very good... though doesn't half slow your PC down.

Avast! on the otherhand is amazing. Found numerous worms on my system which I didn't even knew I had. And takes up less CPU/RAM space than Kaspersky.
 
forgive me if i sound mean but the last hour has been nothing but frustration.
I tried Avast and all it did was make my PC crash on start up every time until I uninstalled it in safe mode.

I am NOT downloading another anti virus. I have AVG(not the free version), antimalware, and search and destroy.

If your gonna recommend another anti virus please dont post! I just want to know how to fix this with what I have or how to do it manually.
 
System Restore, perhaps? I don't think you can simple fix Windows files. Maybe you can repair the OS with the disc, if you have it.
 
sadly my PC dint come with the vista disc.

do HP computers come with a restore point? Mine came with a recovery drive but I never set up a restore point. thats one of the things Ive been punching myself over.
 
Type in System Restore in the search bar when you hit Start.
 
Ph?bus said:
System Restore, perhaps? I don't think you can simple fix Windows files. Maybe you can repair the OS with the disc, if you have it.
Click to expand...

system restore is a bad idea, you can try copying a fresh explorer.exe from a recovery disk or killing the process in safe mode and trying to repair it before it restarts. Also found this article on the threat, met with some success using AVG: http://www.brighthub.com/internet/google/articles/66090.aspx. Requires running a tool that you must download from ESET. Just a tool, not an entire AV solution.

Good luck
 
ran system restore and scanned with AVG and everything looks good now.

I know AVG sucks but my grandpa bought it for me and wants me too keep it on.
I used COMODO in the past and didnt get viruses when I used that. I might download comodo again.

Thanks for all your help
 
If you still have problems HP sells the restore disks for their computers for like $20 I believe. (Also not saying you should do this, they don't check what os came on your computer so if you wanted to upgrade cough cough).
 
If explorer is infected, it's generally a good time to reinstall the OS.

Consider switching to Linux?
 
Ph?bus said:
If he's having problems fixing Windows, what makes you think he can handle Linux?
Click to expand...

wow, lets just smack down everyone -- lately, your tone has been very sour to any and all. Take a Geritol and chill bro.

If you want to talk down to people, find another website. This is a commmunity... we are all friends here. Instead of downing the guy on perhaps his inexperience with Linux.. maybe you could give him some pointers. You know.. support the award you have.. tech help guru.

Folow the steps here : http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic58138.html

and all should be good..... follow the directions precicely. Also DL CCleaner here: www.piriform.com -- and run both portions of the program, Ccleaner is a wonderful free tool to have.
 
Last edited:
I dont know what avast is doing that to you.

Its a great program and its never let me down.

What i recommend is that you re-install it and set up a startup virus scan. This will scan your computer before its started up so the virus can't do any harm and it shouldn't crash. Try that and let us know what happens.

Also, make sure to delete the files once they have been found.
 
Darth said:
I dont know what avast is doing that to you.

Its a great program and its never let me down.

What i recommend is that you re-install it and set up a startup virus scan. This will scan your computer before its started up so the virus can't do any harm and it shouldn't crash. Try that and let us know what happens.

Also, make sure to delete the files once they have been found.
Click to expand...

He probably didn't uninstall AVG first. Have more than one antivirus installed at any given time can cause serious problems.
 
Silent_Predator said:
wow, lets just smack down everyone -- lately, your tone has been very sour to any and all. Take a Geritol and chill bro.

If you want to talk down to people, find another website. This is a commmunity... we are all friends here. Instead of downing the guy on perhaps his inexperience with Linux.. maybe you could give him some pointers. You know.. support the award you have.. tech help guru.

Folow the steps here : http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic58138.html

and all should be good..... follow the directions precicely. Also DL CCleaner here: www.piriform.com -- and run both portions of the program, Ccleaner is a wonderful free tool to have.
Click to expand...

I wasn't talking down to him. It was an innocent statement.

iiNfamous said:
He probably didn't uninstall AVG first. Have more than one antivirus installed at any given time can cause serious problems.
Click to expand...

And running more than one can cause harddrive thrashing = not good.
 
Boy do i love reformat discs to just start from square 1 again...its like a new life (kinda) then start the annoying process of getting everything -.- unless you have backup (I DO!)
 
Just did my neighbors notebook, well it was his mom's and only 3 days old. Knocked on my door totally freaking out. The program was antivirus gt, what it would do is upon booting and entering your password, you could either click yes or no to "download" the solution. If you clicked no you end up with a black screen. Nothing else and no way out without hard restarting. Clicking yes would allow you into windows but with a window permanently there trying to get you to provide credit card info. Ending the processes did nothing. So after telling him to stay away from the dirty websites or whatever he was doing, just hit F8 while booting and did a system recovery making the system as it was shipped from the factory. The notebook came with Mcafee and did nothing for him so removed that and installed AVAST! I have put Avast on about 10 machines over the past year and all machines running flawlessly.
 
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