Panic, help, what should I do

[PURPLESWAN]

OK I use windows xp and have AVG free as my security.

Computer has been getting increasingly slow with numerous things running and their memory usage seems to be higher, a few odd numbered folders have appeared too.

I was just on the internet and something called Spyware protection started and said my computer was infected - I right clicked and looked at properties and still cant decide exactly WHO this package is supplied by. I now have a firewall warning saying leak of files detected and prompting me to block and security warnings flashing up on the bar at the bottom saying malicious software detected.

SOOOO am I already infected? Or is this package trying to prompt me into infecting the machine?

Trying to run a windows one care scan at the moment.

Damn now its saying I have 49 problems on the machine. AVG isnt working as it says its infected.

This warning is a scam. Download and run malwarebytes to clean it put.

You've already been infected and chances are you won't be able to download malwarebytes and other popular scanners as the virus will actively block them.

In which case borrow a friends PC with a USB stick, download the above program then install it onto your own.

Hope that helps

I put microsofts malicious software remover onto a USB stick but its stopping me from installing it!

It says its infected with a w32/blaster worm (which obviously it isnt!)

OK - am running the virus scan in safe mode now.

Would it then be a good idea to still use the malicious software removal too?

All the info I can see say to use the malwarebtes anti malware - obviously wary of using anything now I dont know, its this OK?

Im guessing maybe not a good idea to re use the usb drive as it may now have buggered that too?

Head frazzled - you recommended the malwarebytes

Malware Bytes is both very good and very safe to use, so if you can get it running on the machine then go for it.

Well at the moment I cant get much happening as its been blocking it.

Ive been following advice on microsoft and bleepingcomputer - hopefully the scan in safe mode will pick it up and disable it?

If you can boot the machine into safe mode can you then install MalwareBytes?

What exactly are you doing the scan with? "Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner" or "Windows Live OneCare" perhaps?

MalwareBytes will be your best option so I'd put the effort into getting it onto the machine.

Im scanning it with the avg which seems to be working in safe mode. Can you install new stuff from the usb when you are in safe mode?

I'd still like to run MalwareBytes on there to be sure....

I'm not sure if you can install off of a USB in safe mode, give it a go. If you can't then boot the machine back up in "unsafe mode", copy the files onto the disk, reboot back into safe mode and then try installing.

OK ran the avg scan twice and it picked up nothing.

Then installed the malwarebytes in safe mode - it picked up 11 problems and got rid of them so in theory everything looks hunkydory at the moment.

BUT - im concerned that AVG has let me down so I need to reconsider what antivirus I am using....I really DONT want to go back to Norton we had it free on the laptop and it seems to be as annoying as ever.

I notice I seem to have TONS of processes running in the task manager and the memory usage numbers are really high...any ideas?

There is a difference between anti-virus and anti-malware. AVG is meant to be pretty good, as long as it's kept right up to date, but you should also be running malware checks with Malware Bytes and using a Firewall.

You also want to make sure that you're up to date with all the Windows Updates.

And when you've got everything right up to date, which might take a time, run Malware Bytes again on a full scan to see if anything else got through.

In Task Manager you can sort processes by memory or processor usage, if you come back with what some of the names of the high usage items are people can tell you what they are.

Thanks fo your help

I have followed a tick list of recommendations microsoft have given me - which included ensuring everything is up to date!

Will stick with the avg and the malwarebytes then and perhaps open another thread about the task manager if its still bugging me!