Antivirus Nightmare

[Sailor Steve]

I've been using AVG Free for a couple of years now, and have had no complaints at all.

So today I found and downloaded a free downloading tool, and it immediately told me that updates were available for six programs I'm running, including AVG. So I told it to update them. But it didn't just download the updates, it uninstalled each program and then installed the updated version. This was annoying to say the least, but it worked so I didn't worry about it too much.

But AVG didn't reload. Nothing I did would get it to work. So I dumped the downloading program and Downloaded the latest AVG version directly. It downloaded fine, but when I tried to install it it got about 3/4 of the way through and then locked up. So I tried to stop the installation process, and the whole computer froze up. So I manually rebooted and dumped AVG.

I tried it again, with the same results. So I tried an earlier version. Same thing. So I finally went to AVG's website, only to find that if you want real support you have to pay for it. They have a forum, and a couple of people reported similar problems but no one had helped.

Then I looked at the FAQ, and found that after you download, but before running the install process, you're supposed to reboot your computer. So I downloaded it for the I-don't-know-how-manyeth time, and rebooted, and started the install, and voila! It worked! For about five extra minutes. It got past the point at which it had been locking up, but it locked up at about 4/5 of the way through, and I wen't through the same process I had been going through for the previous six hours.

I went online looking for other free virus programs. Tried Avast, with similar results. I'm now running Microsoft Security Essentials, which seems to be doing the job. I'm a bit worried because the download site says it doesn't have a 'Silent Mode' that keeps it from trampling on games, but we'll see how that goes.

But I've really like AVG until now.

[Task Force]

I myself use the free version of Aviria... works for me.

[heartc]

So today I found and downloaded a free downloading tool, and it immediately told me that updates were available for six programs I'm running, including AVG. So I told it to update them. But it didn't just download the updates, it uninstalled each program and then installed the updated version. This was annoying to say the least, but it worked so I didn't worry about it too much.

But AVG didn't reload. Nothing I did would get it to work. So I dumped the downloading program and Downloaded the latest AVG version directly. It downloaded fine, but when I tried to install it it got about 3/4 of the way through and then locked up.

This whole episode sounds familiar and very suspicious to me. I'd say there's a pretty good chance that this "free downloading tool" that you downloaded is in fact infected / a virus / malware. And I wouldn't be surprised if "Microsoft Security Essentials" doesn't detect it - I've never heard of that program as an effective Anti-Vir.

If you cannot install any Antivirus software, I would advise to check what background tasks are running via the task manager, and if there is any .exe that is unfamiliar to you and wasn't there before. Also, some viruses fail to block all the AntiViruses from installing. Try installing http://www.malwarebytes.org/
and run a quick scan with it (in fact, I've never had a virus that required a full system scan to kill. The vast majority of them are hidden in / activated from the same places, like Windows/System32 folder, or Documents and Settings/Application data etc., which are always investigated during a quick scan).

Also download

http://free.antivirus.com/hijackthis/

and run a system scan with it. In addition, it has a very useful option under "Open Misc Tool Section", which then allows you to show all actively running programs, like the task manager does, BUT with showing you the full path to where this program originates from, so that you might be able to identify it more easily, or confirm suspicion.
The thing is, most viruses should be identified by the Anti-Vir programs automatically and you shouldn't delete any files unless you are 100% positive they are malicious, but I've had a few nasty ones at some point which blocked any Anti-Vir from running - and FAKED being a Windows Security tool themselves, popped up and advised me to download (even more viruses...) to "reestablish security" and get rid of the infection - so I had to manually identify and kill a part of its .exe structure to properly run an actual AntiVir.

[Castout]

Go Avira won't regret it.

I've been unable to reinstall CIS as well and no one bothered to help me in their forum.

I'm finally surfing the internet relying on good faith :D or what others would call plain stupidity.

[AVGWarhawk]

Get the free version of Malewarebytes. Check your system with it.

[Fincuan]

Go Linux and you won't really need AV for another ten years or so.

W7 for gaming and Linux(mine are all Ubuntu, Xubuntu or Crunchbang) for everything else works really well.

[mookiemookie]

No complaints with avira here.

[nikimcbee]

I've got the pay version of AVG. Never had any problems, and it's caught a bunch of stuff too.

[kiwi_2005]

This whole episode sounds familiar and very suspicious to me. I'd say there's a pretty good chance that this "free downloading tool" that you downloaded is in fact infected / a virus / malware. And I wouldn't be surprised if "Microsoft Security Essentials" doesn't detect it - I've never heard of that program as an effective Anti-Vir.

If you cannot install any Antivirus software, I would advise to check what background tasks are running via the task manager, and if there is any .exe that is unfamiliar to you and wasn't there before. Also, some viruses fail to block all the AntiViruses from installing. Try installing http://www.malwarebytes.org/
and run a quick scan with it (in fact, I've never had a virus that required a full system scan to kill. The vast majority of them are hidden in / activated from the same places, like Windows/System32 folder, or Documents and Settings/Application data etc., which are always investigated during a quick scan).

Also download

http://free.antivirus.com/hijackthis/

and run a system scan with it. In addition, it has a very useful option under "Open Misc Tool Section", which then allows you to show all actively running programs, like the task manager does, BUT with showing you the full path to where this program originates from, so that you might be able to identify it more easily, or confirm suspicion.
The thing is, most viruses should be identified by the Anti-Vir programs automatically and you shouldn't delete any files unless you are 100% positive they are malicious, but I've had a few nasty ones at some point which blocked any Anti-Vir from running - and FAKED being a Windows Security tool themselves, popped up and advised me to download (even more viruses...) to "reestablish security" and get rid of the infection - so I had to manually identify and kill a part of its .exe structure to properly run an actual AntiVir.

Do this. As i think Heartc is correct. I had a similar problem with a computer i actually put up a thread here few months back. Wasn't my pc was taking a look at it for them - they had downloaded some tools claiming to be anti virus software turned out the tools were just Trojans - lots of em!.. Avasti and Malwarebytes cleaned the pc and solved it. If you dont want to use Avasti definitely try Malwarebytes.

[Gerald]

I've been using AVG Free for a couple of years now, and have had no complaints at all.

So today I found and downloaded a free downloading tool, and it immediately told me that updates were available for six programs I'm running, including AVG. So I told it to update them. But it didn't just download the updates, it uninstalled each program and then installed the updated version. This was annoying to say the least, but it worked so I didn't worry about it too much.

But AVG didn't reload. Nothing I did would get it to work. So I dumped the downloading program and Downloaded the latest AVG version directly. It downloaded fine, but when I tried to install it it got about 3/4 of the way through and then locked up. So I tried to stop the installation process, and the whole computer froze up. So I manually rebooted and dumped AVG.

I tried it again, with the same results. So I tried an earlier version. Same thing. So I finally went to AVG's website, only to find that if you want real support you have to pay for it. They have a forum, and a couple of people reported similar problems but no one had helped.

Then I looked at the FAQ, and found that after you download, but before running the install process, you're supposed to reboot your computer. So I downloaded it for the I-don't-know-how-manyeth time, and rebooted, and started the install, and voila! It worked! For about five extra minutes. It got past the point at which it had been locking up, but it locked up at about 4/5 of the way through, and I wen't through the same process I had been going through for the previous six hours.

I went online looking for other free virus programs. Tried Avast, with similar results. I'm now running Microsoft Security Essentials, which seems to be doing the job. I'm a bit worried because the download site says it doesn't have a 'Silent Mode' that keeps it from trampling on games, but we'll see how that goes.

But I've really like AVG until now. viruses which continually updates the base at least once a time every day,and then if it is possible to scan incoming Web traffic, it's just a plus :DL

[Sailor Steve]

This whole episode sounds familiar and very suspicious to me. I'd say there's a pretty good chance that this "free downloading tool" that you downloaded is in fact infected / a virus / malware. And I wouldn't be surprised if "Microsoft Security Essentials" doesn't detect it - I've never heard of that program as an effective Anti-Vir.
Thanks. I never thought of that. I'll check it out.

[Sailor Steve]

Well, heartc was right! I downloaded both of those, ran the scans, redownloaded AVG and it works perfectly! And since every comparison site I've looked at says AVG is the absolute best free anti-virus (okay, I only looked at one, but I like it so there!) I'm happy. But...

New problem: The newest version of AVG doesn't seem to like Subsim.com or Uboat.net. When I go to subsim it says it's loading, but I get a blank screen and the little timer circle goes around and around, and never seems to quite get there. Uboat.net partly loads the front page, and then the same thing happens.

So I removed AVG (no on/off switch so you can test it) and Subsim fired right up and here I am. So, why only those two sites?

I'm going to ask at AVG's website, but I always come here first.

[frau kaleun]

That's interesting, I put the free version of AVG on my computer at work just a couple months ago - supposedly our office LAN is protected somehow (via the server I guess), but it has not stopped stuff from ending up on other people's PCs, so whatever "protection" we've got I don't trust it.

Anyway I've got it on there and I have no trouble accessing Subsim from that PC.

*cough*

Not that I would ever try. :D

[Gerald]

That's interesting, I put the free version of AVG on my computer at work just a couple months ago - supposedly our office LAN is protected somehow (via the server I guess), but it has not stopped stuff from ending up on other people's PCs, so whatever "protection" we've got I don't trust it.

Anyway I've got it on there and I have no trouble accessing Subsim from that PC.

*cough*

Not that I would ever try. :D Read and say what you think