Computers & Networking

[Elwin]

Recently i scanned my computer and it seems as if i actived some trojans, My computer was doing fine until that scan.

Since then my computer has been running slower than usual and my current protection (if it is protection im not exactly sure) a friend installed for me can't do anything about the viruses. Can anyone help me out or point me in the direction of a better anti-virus? 

[RealGeorgeW Emerging Expert]

Without knowing which one you currently have...

In the store I peronsally recommend either Kaspersky or Webroot w/AntiVirus. I run the later personally on all 4 of my machines without any slowing down or resource hogging.

With that said, installing a different AV program may or may not remove the current threats already on your system, if you're looking for GeekSquad services, you can take your machine into your local precint and have them run FACE, our proprietary virus scan on it to see if you do indeed have viruses/other threats. With that information they can recommend the best course of action, which in your case may be simply getting, as you said a better AV program. However, if you have extremely pesky threats, an ADR might be needed.

I will STRONGLY advise you against anything related to McAfee. I've had nothing but problems with that software along with many others. No one in my precinct likes, or uses it. Norton used to be on my blacklist, but from what I have heard, they worked alongside with some GeekSquad agents to improve it's resource imprint.

[hockeycanuckjc Trusted Contributor]

You all might want to give this a read or two, I found it helpful

http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2007/05/19/how-to-clean-or-remove-virusspywaretrojan-when-you-cant-boot-in-windows/

[Elwin]

Agent the one i have is called Syamantec Endpoint Protection

[RealGeorgeW Emerging Expert]

That's not a bad one.

Of course you should make sure your virus definitions are up to date using LiveUpdate. You should check out the link posted by the Canuck though I haven't used it, I will say it looks like it should catch anything you may have.

Another thing I thought of is to make sure you run DiscCleanup to get rid of any temporary files you may have on your hard drive. To do this:

1: Open My Computer

2. Right click on your hard drive and select Properties

3. Click Run Disc Cleanup

Pretty much anything it finds is safe to remove.

Also make sure you uninstall any unwanted/needed programs.

Those two things can make an improvement in performance as well.

[Elwin]

Ok i found out where the trojans are and what they came from.. Limewire.. im thinking of just deleting them, but would that be a bad idea or what?

[RealGeorgeW Emerging Expert]

The problem with trojans or any threat, is that some are self sustaining. You can delete one, but it may just reinstall itself.

Limewire = bad, basically, but it's the same with any open file sharing program. There's no safeguards.

It's worth a shot just to delete the problem files though. Make sure you run a full scan to verify you're in the clear.

If that doesn't work then you're in for some fun.