Is this the sign of a computer virus?

15 years ago

Download the free copy of AVG and run it. It's very thorough and should find the problem if a virus or spy program is involved.

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FJB

15 years ago

Thanks, Kay. I'll give that a try.
I formerly used AVG and but was advised by a Geek Squad member at Best Buy that I should use Spy Sweeper instead. He said I should not have two anti-virus programs on my HD and that Spy Sweeper was the better of the two.
I'll download AVG, turn SS off and see what happens. --FJB

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KimW

15 years ago

Originally Posted by FJB

Thanks, Kay. I'll give that a try.
I formerly used AVG and but was advised by a Geek Squad member at Best Buy that I should use Spy Sweeper instead. He said I should not have two anti-virus programs on my HD and that Spy Sweeper was the better of the two.
I'll download AVG, turn SS off and see what happens. --FJB

I tell people to use AVG when they don't want to spend the money on an anti virus program. Personally I recommend Panda.
As fas as Spysweeper goes, I'm willing to bet the Geek Sqad member had a copy to sell you?
One of my customers called them when he couldn't reach me ( I was in the hospital) and they told him so much crap he should have called a plumber.
And his bill from them was about $400 when mine would have been about $100.
With 3 FREE programs you should be able to keep your system pretty clean:
Spybot Search and Destroy
Lavasoft's Personal version of Adaware
and
Malwarebytes Anti Malware.

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FJB 15 years ago

KimW
Thanks for your suggestions on free virus and malware protection software.
And you're absolutely right. The Geek Squad dude just happened to have a copy of Spy Sweeper available for sale. Isn't that amazing.
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HeySal

15 years ago

Yes - you have a virus. What to do is below
I just posted this in another thread so I'll just copy and paste it here so you can find it.

You might have the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\wdmaud.sys virus.

It's a new one and extremely vile - a root kit variety of invasion. It redirects you from google - what you get are unrelated search results. Thank You to the Russians for this one.

You can get rid of it but make sure you are not removing C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\wdmaud.sys

Just type the file in your windows search:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\wdmaud.sys

And delete it. Just leave it in your trash if you don't feel comfortable about getting rid of it right away to make sure everything is working okay before you dump it off. If you removed the one with the word "drivers" in it, you will have problems.

In another day or two anti-virus systems will pick it up. I believe Avast is already on top of it but not sure if they can stop it yet.

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Sal
When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
Beyond the Path

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FJB 15 years ago

HeySal,

Thanks for your help. I followed your direction and sent the problem file to my recycling bin. Sure hope this does the trick.

Thanks also for the advice on no-cost anti-virus and anti-spyware programs. I wonder why Spy Sweeper didn't block the nefarious Russian virus in the first place. I check for upgrades and run sweeps on a daily basis.

I haven't spent much time on the Warrior's Forum but it looks like a great site especially for Internet Marketing. I appreciate the tech help you and KimW provided. Are there any other sites, focusing in tech problems, that you would suggest?
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HeySal

15 years ago

FJB --

You don't want 2 anti-virus programs. But there is a difference between an anti-spyware and an anti-virus program. You want one of each of those and there are some great free ones. Just make sure you have some good recommendations for whatever you decide to use.

AGV and AVAST are, I believe the best choices for anti-virus and they are both free.

There are many for spyware, I just use Spybot search and destroy. It's free, too and along with my Crap Cleaner and I just don't have problems so never looked for better.

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Sal
When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
Beyond the Path

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HeySal

15 years ago

Nothing stopped this virus for awhile, FJB. Avast finally got a handle on it - others will follow.

People constructing these things are just getting smarter, I guess. It was a root kit variety and Sophos didn't get it either and that is especially made for root kits. Just a nasty one that was well scripted. That happens sometimes. This one was probably tested against everything out there before it was released.

It helps if you turn your dcom off, too. There is not one function that dcom serves, but it leaves a nice security hole for things to come in the back door.
Just get the dcombobalator (google "turn off dcom" and you'll find it). I also have XPanti-spy working on my computer so that microsoft can't use their own built in spy programs on me. It's all free. I'm cheap but don't like people invading or tracking me. LOL.

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Sal
When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
Beyond the Path

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Thomas Wilkinson

15 years ago

Nice work Sal. Ever get your sound fixed?

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When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.

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Kay King 15 years ago

If you are running XP Service Pack 2 the dcom should be disabled...but...

Some good info on removing/fixing at

Search Engine Redirect caused by virus, plz help me!
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Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
***
Dear April: I don't want any trouble from you.
January was long, February was iffy, March was a freaking dumpster fire.
So sit down, be quiet, and don't touch anything.
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- Karen Blundell 15 years ago
  
  KimW posted about this software:
  Malwarebytes Anti Malware.
  
  it is fantastic...I had a virus similar to FJB's where all my browsers were hijacked. Finally I was able to use an old Version 8 of Netscape that wasn't hijacked in order to go and download the above software from Malwarebytes.org
  
  after almost a week of trying to get rid of the virus it did the trick along with ComboFix
  
  Thanks
  
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HeySal 15 years ago

Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson

Nice work Sal. Ever get your sound fixed?

Yeah Thomas, I actually did - Just in time for everyone to quit posting all those juicy YouTubes. LOL. Someday someone will post a vid that will actually make me go get my speakers and plug them in. :rolleyes:

Kay - Microsoft is the offender as far as dcom goes. But, just in case, the dcomabobalator allows you to run a check first to see if it's running or not. It also allows you to switch it off or back on with just a click - a lot easier than messing with codes.

Okay -- this is just getting a little too close to IM for me. See ya.
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Sal
When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
Beyond the Path
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- GB2008 15 years ago
  
  Knew there was a reason I liked Avast! I didn't even know this was out there - but I have Avast on all our Windows machines, with Spyware Search & Destroy and Spyware Blaster - all free and between them I have never had a spyware or virus problem in 6 years...
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  Gary Bailey
  
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KimW

15 years ago

The dcomabobalator that Sal refers to is located here along with lots of othere freebies.

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Mike Wright 15 years ago

Avast Free version works fine for me and does much more than
other more feature-limited free AVs. If Avast has any downsides
they are that it is very thorough ... even requiring a reboot and
scan to remove stubborn infections at bootup time. Also it often
updates a couple of times a day and talks to you when it has
updated .... so don't be surprised when it does

Avast
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Is this the sign of a computer virus?

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