Virus from nowhere

So i had no reason to be at work seeing as I am ahead of schedule so I went home and decided to play some games on my main PC. I fired it up and tried with no luck to load a single game. Then my Microsoft security essentials said I have a virus threat. Now I don’t download stuff illegally nor go to shady sites, and before anyone asks porn is not allowed on my baby. How could this happen? And also is security essentials a good alternative to Norton and those others that always bombard you crap?

a reply to: Allaroundyou

I use only Microsoft Security Essentials (Windows 7) and have never had a problem. If a virus is detected (in the past I downloaded torrents and visited sites that tried to infect me) it detects and cleans it. Failing that, the file is in quarantine.

answers.microsoft.com... c1832d12

Microsoft Security Essentials Alert saying Viruses were found....

While browsing on MSN - 2 msgs pop up: one Microsoft Security Essential Alert saying Potential Threat Details (viruses listed) & another from Windows Internet Explorer saying Microsoft antivirus has found critical process activity & clean computer immediately to prevent systems breakage. Are these true messages from Microsoft?? i've never seen them pop up before...

I went to the Security Essentials Center and ran a (short) scan, which reported finding nothing. Do I still need to click on the messages I received? There is a "clean computer" botton on the msg from Microsoft Secuity.


Answer
LB
Le Boule

MVP

That's a fake antivirus program trying to install...do NOT click on the popup to close it.

Watch out for fake virus alerts

Rogue security software, also known as "scareware," is software that appears to be beneficial from a security perspective but provides limited or no security, generates erroneous or misleading alerts, or attempts to lure users into participating in fraudulent transactions.

How does rogue security software get on my computer?

Edit: I tried opening the link I provided and it didn't work. Go here first. www.bing.com...


answers.microsoft.com... c1832d12

a reply to: LightSpeedDriver

It detected two Trojans and they are now quarantined. I decided to do an advanced scan just to be sure. I use windows 10 but its the same program. A prompt told me I can do what ever while it does its thing. But I don’t do anything but play games on this PC. Kinda bored now.

Consider Vipre. I've been using it for years. Unlike something like Norton, Vipre has a very small footprint and won't bog your system. I use it in addition to MS Essentials.

a reply to: schuyler

After looking at the site they seem to be a good option to run along my MSE. As long as it doesn’t bog me down or give me constant updates I am good. I have no problem with updates just as long as it doesn’t brown nose me.

A virus is never from nowhere

And I would think about using different anti-virus than Microsoft versions, as well as secondary in the form of anti-malware/spyware

originally posted by: Allaroundyou
a reply to: schuyler

After looking at the site they seem to be a good option to run along my MSE. As long as it doesn’t bog me down or give me constant updates I am good. I have no problem with updates just as long as it doesn’t brown nose me.

updates definitions in the background so you'll never know it's happening unless you check. Every year or so they update the software itself, but it never takes very long.

originally posted by: Allaroundyou
So i had no reason to be at work seeing as I am ahead of schedule so I went home and decided to play some games on my main PC. I fired it up and tried with no luck to load a single game. Then my Microsoft security essentials said I have a virus threat. Now I don’t download stuff illegally nor go to shady sites, and before anyone asks porn is not allowed on my baby. How could this happen? And also is security essentials a good alternative to Norton and those others that always bombard you crap?

Nope... Got no issues. But you could have some open sites or on old games held in place for you to continue playing... Could be quite a few different searches, games, windows still open unbeknownst to you.

Fyi: Haven't used BING for anything in awhile... Looked and showed over 30 last tabs still open... and I didn't have a clue they were.

Cleared all history....Now. With your computer... SOME DAMN PLACE.... has allowed something thru...

Good luck

a reply to: Allaroundyou

Kaspersky and malwarebites (free) works very well for me and they have no noticeable footprint when scanning. You can get Kaspersky quite cheaply through direct download on Amazon. I've had it for two years and never had a problem.

It's good at blocking bad links and sites should a (ahem) third party somehow visit Pirate Bay to download audiobooks or music albums. Something I'm morally opposed to and condemn without equivocation (blushes).

Kaspersky also does zero pop-ups which is better than AVG, Avast, Avira and anything else I've used over the years.

a reply to: Kandinsky

Some how “2010 the year we make contact” ended up on my PC. Now it wasn’t me even though though no one else gets on here. Wink wink. But that was it and it possible happened over a year ago. Well anyways the problem is fixed now but I am going to run malware bites just to be safe.

a reply to: Allaroundyou

Your computer on a local network, and does anyone else have access to it

a reply to: Allaroundyou

It's frustrating when mysterious forces continue to dump episodes of Westworld in my downloads folder. One day we'll be able to thwart them...with God on our side.

Wow ATS, I’m dissapointed.
OP, you’re getting terrible advice, please consider paying for a decent av, the only 2 I’ll ever suggest is Sophos or Bitdefender.

Also, running windows 7 is a terrible idea in this day and age as it has no way of stopping ransomware, please consider windows 10. I’ve seen what the internet can do to older software, even when just reading the news...

Use google chrome as your browser (or Opera) and install the add block plus extension. Never internet explorer!
The last ratings I saw for security essentials were not good... and that was 2 years ago.

Your infection is caused by your dated browser, or through removable media that had something nasty on it, but my money is IE being the vector for the infection.

a reply to: Kandinsky
Never Kaspersky...
Malwarebytes is a joke.

I don’t mean to be rude, I just do this for a living.

a reply to: GreenGunther

Kaspersky consistently comes top 3 in tests and has for years. It's been benchmarked by people who also do it for a living. I can only go off the results.

a reply to: GreenGunther

I have both those..and I'm absolutely sure you're right. Especially Kaspersky....but, never having more than 2 instances in about 20 yrs...I prob won't change.

I trust your opinion. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance...

a reply to: GreenGunther

*dbl post

Hello...

I changed from avira to 360 total security, i know it is a chinese company but they have a massive user base and a quality product, and when configured correctly uses bitdefender engine AND antivira engine, plus loads of handy useful tools like "patch up....seriously works as a premium app, that along with zonealarm pro and free malwarebytes you should be great, obviously with the free version of malwarebytes you have to manually evoke a scan and active protection is not in the free version but does the job, if you use the standard windows firewall may i suggest "windows firewall control" it is free and offers a far more user friendly interaction with the firewall... back to your virus... try using Trend Micro Housecall, ESET Online Scanner, Bitdefender Quick Scan, any of those should help........all the best to ya

a reply to: Kandinsky

My issues with Kaspersky pertain more towards the user interface side of things as well as it's ability to break MS Office.
I believe their heuristics and signature databases are good though.