Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

mikau · 2007-08-19 20:24:34

i just got 273 viruses out of nowhere! I'm trying to find some free antivirus software but i can't seem to find any. Some of them say they're free, but really just scan for viruses and don't remove them until you pay.

Any suggestions?

Identity · 2007-08-19 20:40:10

Try Spybot - Search and Destroy
http://www.download-spybot.org/search_destroy.htm

MathsIsFun · 2007-08-19 21:44:17

AVG Free Edition: http://free.grisoft.com/

And if you have XP, make sure it is brought up-to-date.

Ricky · 2007-08-20 00:05:26

ewido

Ricky · 2007-08-20 00:07:20

Wait a minute, how do you know you got 273 viruses?

MathsIsFun · 2007-08-20 00:37:56

Ricky wrote:

Wait a minute, how do you know you got 273 viruses?

I once had a virus that my then antivirus told me about ... but couldn't fix! That encouraged me to get another antivirus that COULD. In a hurry. Maybe the same but 273 times worse?

Ricky · 2007-08-20 05:56:52

Most of the time what you will see is 273 infected files. I'm also afriad the Mikau may have gone to an online "scanner", which also happens to be a site that sells and antivirus product. They will often report you have N viruses, then offer to sell you their product. One rather efficient one that I forgot the name was hostage ware. You could download it for free, but it would act as a virus and infect your computer unless you payed the company to get it off.

There is nasty stuff out there, but I doubt Mikau has 273 different viruses.

Identity · 2007-08-20 06:09:16

It's possible to have that much adware/spyware, but not viruses, it just makes your computer real slow and u get spam.

JaneFairfax · 2007-08-20 09:36:44

The process wuaclt.exe on my computer seems to be unstable; it occeasionally terminates itself. (I get a popup notice about it when it happens.) Yet I gather that this is an essential process and should not be terminated. Should I be suspicious that there is a virus or trojan or worm that is causing this behaviour?

I have scanned my computer for threats but no threat has been detected.

MathsIsFun · 2007-08-20 09:41:28

Ricky wrote:

I'm also afriad the Mikau may have gone to an online "scanner", which also happens to be a site that sells and antivirus product.

But on the positive side he asked us for recommendations. Let's hope all has worked out OK.

MathsIsFun · 2007-08-20 09:45:25

JaneFairfax wrote:

The process wuaclt.exe on my computer seems to be unstable

I don't have it running on my XP system. A quick google on it gives lots of different opinions with suspect authority.

Google also suggest the name "wuauclt.exe" - are you sure on the spelling?

JaneFairfax · 2007-08-20 10:16:59

MathsIsFun wrote:

Google also suggest the name "wuauclt.exe" - are you sure on the spelling?

Yes. It is wuaclt.exe. I have it running now, and I can see it in Windows Task Manager.

mikau · 2007-08-20 10:24:05

well i downloaded AVG free and it managed to find and delete 11 viruses, but it doesn't check for spyware.

I downloaded SpyBot as Identity suggested, it ran a scan and detected over 2,000 parasites, but once again it informed me after the scan that i had to purchase the full product in order to remove them.

So does anyone know of any free anit spyware services?

MathsIsFun · 2007-08-20 10:52:47

Jane: My *inexpert* advice: you can try killing it, and seeing if it returns. Also try to find WHY it starts up: Start|Run|msconfig is a good place to start looking. Also a file search for wuaclt.exe, so you know where it is (maybe rename it?)

Mikau: AdAware by Lavasoft. Review here: http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html

John E. Franklin · 2007-08-20 11:16:12

mikau, check out your " Start | All Programs | Startup " for any unwanted things too.
That's the Start button in lower left of xp. "All programs---> find "Startup"".

Identity · 2007-08-20 18:28:12

mikau wrote:

well i downloaded AVG free and it managed to find and delete 11 viruses, but it doesn't check for spyware.
I downloaded SpyBot as Identity suggested, it ran a scan and detected over 2,000 parasites, but once again it informed me after the scan that i had to purchase the full product in order to remove them.
So does anyone know of any free anit spyware services?

That's odd! My one fixes the bugs, perhaps I downloaded one of its older versions or something...

George,Y · 2007-08-26 10:08:29

AVG is great, I am currently using it.

ewido is the former name of AVG

Spybot-hmm, it can be an alternative

mikau · 2007-08-26 15:14:38

AVG works fine but i gave up trying to find a free spyware remover. Unless anyone else knows of one.

Devantè · 2007-08-30 20:52:12

Download the following free programs (most of the time they are free, anyway ... you'll see what I mean);

AVG Free Edition, as many people such as MathsIsFun and George,Y clearly suggested above. Does regular virus scans by itself (well, you can set it to do that).
McAfee ... very good piece of software, very reliable.
System Mechanic 3.0 ... user-friendly, clear interface, very strong virus-scanner, very reliable.
Registry Mechanic ... also useful. A great tool to have.
Norton Anti-Virus if you really need it. 2003 or 2004 or 2005 are good versions of Norton AntiVirus.

Monox D. I-Fly · 2017-02-17 16:08:47

Identity wrote:

It's possible to have that much adware/spyware, but not viruses, it just makes your computer real slow and u get spam.

I think the number 273 isn't in the literal sense. Your computer is going to get real slow to the point that it freezes, and the absolute zero (the coldest temperature possible) is -273 degree Celcius. I think the number 273 represents that.

bobbym · 2017-02-17 16:48:14

Make the switch to Linux...

Monox D. I-Fly · 2017-02-19 14:38:19

bobbym wrote:

Make the switch to Linux...

Does Linux use other temperature units?

bobbym · 2017-02-19 16:02:10

No, it just gets less viruses. At one time I needed to run 6 antivirus programs to keep my machine safe. The rest of the world was infected and did not know it. As the patterns grew in size the antivirus programs became larger and slower, bogging the machine down. So, I had to go with one antivirus and one firewall. Was I infected? I never will know.

Math Is Fun Forum

#1 2007-08-19 20:24:34

Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#2 2007-08-19 20:40:10

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#3 2007-08-19 21:44:17

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#4 2007-08-20 00:05:26

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#5 2007-08-20 00:07:20

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#6 2007-08-20 00:37:56

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#7 2007-08-20 05:56:52

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#8 2007-08-20 06:09:16

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#9 2007-08-20 09:36:44

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#10 2007-08-20 09:41:28

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#11 2007-08-20 09:45:25

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#12 2007-08-20 10:16:59

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#13 2007-08-20 10:24:05

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#14 2007-08-20 10:52:47

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#15 2007-08-20 11:16:12

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#16 2007-08-20 18:28:12

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#17 2007-08-26 10:08:29

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#18 2007-08-26 15:14:38

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#19 2007-08-30 20:52:12

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#20 2017-02-17 16:08:47

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#21 2017-02-17 16:48:14

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#22 2017-02-19 14:38:19

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

#23 2017-02-19 16:02:10

Re: Oh no, I've got like 273 viruses!

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