[topastop]

SAVE YOUR PC

Contents:

I - Introduction;
II - Staying safe;
III - Removing malware;
IV - Common errors;

I - Introduction
Hello everyone!
I decided to create a thread to help you to remove malware from your PC and to keep you safe from it...
In this guide I will focus 2 basic aspects: "Stay clean" and "Clean yourself".
The first one is related to people who have their PC's without malware, and the second to help people to clean malware from their PC's...
I will also make a reference to the most common errors that result in a lower protection...

II - Staying safe aka Stay clean

The basic protection for a PC is simple: An updated antivirus...
Ex: -Kaspersky;
-Comodo;
-MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials);
-BitDefender;
-Avast;
-Etc...

If you are someone that uses the computer just for Word or Powerpoint and you do not download anything from the Internet and you do not have any online account, etc... I belive an antivirus is enough, but I would recomend you to perform the EICAR test:

Copy this into a notepad and save it with any extension... (this is not a real virus, don't worry)

Code

X5O!P%@AP[4\PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*

If your antivirus detects it as a virus then your antivirus is working...
NOTE: Some antivirus can detect this file even if it does have a few changes, does are the best antivirus... Try to swamp the word FILE in the text above to any other word and check it if your antivirus detects it...

If you use your PC for more than this... then you will need some REAL protection...

Let's get started from which files can be dangerous for your computer...
BE CAREFULL WITH THESE EXTENSIONS:

- .bat (Batch files)
- .exe (Executable file)
- .vbs (Visual basic script files)
- .js (Java script files)
- .com (Command-line files)
- .scr (Screen savers files)

Here is a bigger list: http://pastebin.com/2xszG5v1

NOTE: Hackers will often use extension spoofers in order to hide the real files extention...

Before open anyone of these files, upload them into https://www.virustotal.com/ and take a look at the results to know if they are viruses or not...
NOTE: Sometimes viruses are crypted and even the best antiviruses can't detect them...

Be carefull with your emails... Hackers normally hack your friends emails accounts and will send you virus... if you notice some suspecious files as an attachment, pick up your cellphone and call your friends, asking if they had sent you that email...

It is also important that you use a firewall... or check if windows firewall is active...

You must also be carefull about where you access your accounts... public places are dangerous, you never know when there is someone spoofing information and getting access to your accounts... and if you are not in or PC, you never know if others PC's have viruses or not...
NOTE:Be VERY carefull with the information you post in social networks... sometimes a simple post with "all my family was born in NY" can anwser a security question like "Where have your mother born?" that are used to get access to your email password, for exemple... so always give a fake information on those passwords, so you don't take the risk like: "Where have your mother born?" give it an anwser like: "ThESk$iSBlu3&"...

Another very important aspect a about online security are passwords...
Never, but NEVER use passwords like: "abc123" or the same as the username, etc... ALWAYS chose strong passwords, with capitals, numbers, and non-alphanomerical characters... here are some good examples: "H4ck$rsAr3N00Bs!)(" or even "S7r0n&On1P4sS"0rD$"
NOTE: While hackers using a BruteForce attack can get a weak passwords in a few hours, strong passwords can take years to get... so always remember... USE STRONG PASSWORDS!!!

Be carefull with java on browsers... sometimes it can be used to download viruses into your computer...
NOTE:Some hackers don't even need java to upload their viruses to your computer... sometimes a simple javascript/visual basic script, makes the trick... so the best way to keep safe is not to visit dangerous websites...

One last thing... whenever you are downloading something, make sure that you take a look at the comments... sometimes, if it is a virus, people will often warn others to not download...
NOTE: If you're downloading torrents, give always a look at the places where you are downloading... and give preference do direct downloads than torrents...

AND REMEMBER: THE BEST WAY TO STAY CLEAN IS TO NOT DOWNLOAD ILLEGAL STUFF!!!

III - Removing malware aka Clean yourself

You can't install/unistall any program? Your accounts have been stolen?
Your computer is slow and freezes all the time? Ads everywhere?

CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU HAVE PROBABLY BEEN INFECTED!!!

So now it is time to clean your PC!

Ok... lets get started... download the following applications, install, update them and perform a full scan... (1 at the time)... if you can't install any software on your computer, then try to get a portable version of these applications...
Once you are performing scans, shutdown your internet connection...
If the virus had disabled your internet connection, then skip this step...

http://www.superantispyware.com/
http://www.malwarebytes.org/
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

Then run CCleaner and restart your PC... Are you clean already?

If not do the same thing but with this program (use the trial):
If the trial had expired skip this step...
If the virus had disabled your internet connection, then skip this step...

http://www.surfright.nl/en/hitmanpro/

Then run CCleaner and restart your PC... Are you clean already?

If not you will need a second computer with internet connection right now... and do this:

PERFORM THESE ACTIONS ON THE OTHER COMPUTER:
-1st download this: https://support.kaspersky.com/4162

-Now pick up a pen;

-Format that pen;

-Download this: http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msst...vd_dwnTool

-Now install that program and "burn" the iso into the pen;

NOW DO THIS ON THE INFECTED COMPUTER:

-Shutdown your PC;

-Insert the pen;

-Turn on your PC

-Once your PC is starting press the key to go to the boot settings normally is F*something* but it depends of your board... take a look at the bottom of the page screen once your PC is starting... (not your windows...);

-Now select your PC to boot from the pen;

-Restart your PC;

-Start as grafic mode;

-Do not forgot to update the kaspersky program...

-Perform a full scan to your computer and wait... (It will take a LOT of time... normally it stays for 0% or 1% for some hours...).

If even after this you still have viruses...
NOTE: I would recommend you to format your PC... But if you can't lose anyfile on your computer...
You can try use HiJackThis (only if your on a 32 bits PC...).
Download a portable version of HiJackThis and place it on a pen...

http://www.hijackthis.de/en

Start your PC as safe mode ...

Run Hijackthis, and save the log...
I wouldn't recomend you to use the online analyzer... I recommend you to join a HiJackThis forum and ask someone to analise it...
NOTE: I am not a good person to analise those logs... I would if I could... if someone is wants to teach me to analise them then PM me :)

If not even this have had help you... I am sorry... but I don't know what to do and I recommend you to format your computer...

IV - Common errors

In my 16 years of life... I have done a LOT of mistakes... Some of them, related with computer security...

So... here comes some common errors that you should avoid:
NOTE:No, I haven't done all the errors below...

- Use 2 (or more) antivirus; --> NEVER DO THIS! They can get in conflict which each other and it will probably result in none of them working... I have done this one...

- Use 2 (or more) firewalls; --> Same thing as he antiviruses...

- Do not use weak passwords; --> Some weak passwords examples are: "robin123" or "ace135", etc... always use long passwords with capitals, numbers and non-alphanumeric characters like ($/"#&/) here are some exemples of nice passwords: "J5N(394/naNS8#" or even "Ks28%bTh#5s&"

- Do not use windows safe mode like it is the normal mode; --> Safe mode is safe because you havent used it... if you use it you might infect it as well...

- Download illegal applications that have a bad review; --> If they have a bad review, they probably are viruses... I have done this one as well...(I know, I am stupid, but those 5 likes Vs the 20 dislikes seem so inocent...)

- If you are on this forum and you notice someone with less than 50 posts making guides about computer security, DO NOT BELIVE HIM, HE IS PROBABLY TRICKING YOU! --> This one is a joke 😝 but if someone with less than 150 posts, or with a bad reputation giving hacktools without a virustotal scan, ask for the virustotal scan before downloding ;)

- And if someone says clean your PC, it doesn't means you must make it take a shower... it means delete does viruses; --> I know 2 persons that have done this 🤦‍♂ (I didn't)...

So I guess that's all folks :)
Happy new year :D

EDIT: Damn... I even failed the grammar at the poll...

[Truth]

I can tell you put some time into this. Nice tutorial!

[Wafflemonger]

Honestly, the guide is okay, but it could use some pictures or other forms of imagery. It just seems kind of plain and difficult to read. Sorry, but that's my opinion. The content is there, just the formatting is a bit lacking.

[NinjaDuh]

Thanks, this is a good post will really help

[ballzyx]

Nice tutorial mate,useful things here!

[Aura]

Nice tutorial mate,useful things here!

Please, don't gravedig a two years old dead thread, even if it's a guide it's not that good compared to the stickied threads we have in this section.