What is this, a Virus?

[Bigcypresshunter]

I need some help. My computer seems to accumulate hundreds of Adware Tracking cookies in only a few minutes. It will accumulate over 500 in about 15 minutes until my laptop freezes up. I keep running my SuperAntiSpyware and it removes them but they keep coming back. I have never had this many tracking cookies in so short of a time period.



Is this a Virus? What can I do to fix it?

I tried to restore but it says Restoration Incomplete Your computer cannot be restored.




Can anybody help? Any suggestions? I am not the best with computers but I have restored in the past to an earlier date and removed viruses in the past by searching the virus name on another laptop but I dont know what to search for. Why cant I restore? thanks.

I have Windows XP.

 

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Try ghostery,it blocks all tracking cookies https://www.ghostery.com/en/ Ive used it for years no problems.
Its also free.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Try ghostery,it blocks all tracking cookies https://www.ghostery.com/en/ Ive used it for years no problems.
Its also free.

Ok I guess I could block them in real time. thanks. But do I have a virus? I never accumulated so many tracking cookies in such a short period.

 

[mcl]

I need some help. My computer seems to accumulate hundreds of Adware Tracking cookies in only a few minutes. It will accumulate over 500 in about 15 minutes until my laptop freezes up. I keep running my SuperAntiSpyware and it removes them but they keep coming back. I have never had this many tracking cookies in so short of a time period.

View attachment 1202192

Is this a Virus? What can I do to fix it?

I tried to restore but it says Restoration Incomplete Your computer cannot be restored.

View attachment 1202193


Can anybody help? Any suggestions? I am not the best with computers but I have restored in the past to an earlier date and removed viruses in the past by searching the virus name on another laptop but I dont know what to search for. Why cant I restore? thanks.

I have Windows XP.

From Wikipedia:

"SUPERAntiSpyware received a "DISMAL" rating from PC Magazine, which complained that it had no real-time protection and the lowest detection rate and lowest score in a malware removal test."

My recommendation is to get a better protection software. AVG, MalwareBytes, and others perform reasonably well.

Also, as I'm sure you know, Windows XP has been deprecated for over a year and a half, and vulnerabilities are no longer being addressed and have not since then. You should consider upgrading your operating system or computer if possible.

Edit: Oh and to answer your question, yes, you have malware.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

From Wikipedia:

"SUPERAntiSpyware received a "DISMAL" rating from PC Magazine, which complained that it had no real-time protection and the lowest detection rate and lowest score in a malware removal test."

My recommendation is to get a better protection software. AVG, MalwareBytes, and others perform reasonably well.

Also, as I'm sure you know, Windows XP has been deprecated for over a year and a half, and vulnerabilities are no longer being addressed and have not since then. You should consider upgrading your operating system or computer if possible.

Edit: Oh and to answer your question, yes, you have malware.

I also have AVG. I have the free version for each one. I could upgrade to real time protection I think. But the problem isnt just blocking or removing them as SuperAntiSpyware will remove them but why am all of a sudden accumulating so many in such a short period?? What has changed?

Yea I know I have Malware but could so much malware actually be a virus?

Yea I may buy a new computer but it was working fine until now.

 

[mcl]

In the meantime, consider the fact that a tracking cookie takes up a minuscule amount of space on your hard drive. While obviously they are accruing at a rate that undoubtedly points to malware, it probably isn't the cookies themselves which are bogging down your computer. If you haven't already, open the task manager and look at the processes tab. Sort by CPU and check for any processes hogging the processor. If there is nothing (e.g., no process is greater than say 30%), sort by memory usage (RAM). You may find the culprit there. If you find something in either category, try to end it, then report back with the name of the process.

 

[mcl]

I also have AVG. I have the free version for each one. I could upgrade to real time protection I think. But the problem isnt removing them as SuperAntiSpyware will remove them but why am all of a sudden accumulating so many in such a short period. What has changed?

Yea I know I have Malware but could so much malware actually be a virus?

A "virus" vs. "malware" is basically a moot point. A virus is "infectious" and malware means "bad-ware". They're essentially one in the same. There are various kinds of viruses, e.g., "rootkit" and "trojan", but yes, you have a virus/malware/problem.

Edit: having a virus doesn't mean PANIC SHUT OFF THE COMPUTER NOW. But don't go entering your credit card number until you have resolved the issue.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

A "virus" vs. "malware" is basically a moot point. A virus is "infectious" and malware means "bad-ware". They're essentially one in the same. There are various kinds of viruses, e.g., "rootkit" and "trojan", but yes, you have a virus/malware/problem.

Edit: having a virus doesn't mean PANIC SHUT OFF THE COMPUTER NOW. But don't go entering your credit card number until you have resolved the issue.

Oh OK I thought malware was spyware and I thought virus was different

 

[mcl]

Oh OK I thought malware was spyware and I thought virus was different

Tomato, tomato. A virus is a subtype of malware.

Did the task manager reveal anything?

If not, you might try performing the system restore from safe mode. I hate to give boilerplate "sir, did you try restarting your PC" type of advice, but I haven't used XP in a fortnight (a lie, I used it today on a computer in the lab, but I haven't owned an XP computer in over a decade).

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

If its a virus, then why cant I just remove it? This is how I have done it in the past. Is it blocking my restore?

How can I find the name of this virus to search for download to remove it? Excuse me if I sound stupid but my computer skills are self taught and very limited. But I have always found a way to repair my own stuff myself by trying different things. I never had to pay anybody for this.


BTW SuperAntiSpyware always worked for me along with AVG and they now have real time protection but I would have to pay.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Tomato, tomato. A virus is a subtype of malware.

Did the task manager reveal anything?

If not, you might try performing the system restore from safe mode. I hate to give boilerplate "sir, did you try restarting your PC" type of advice, but I haven't used XP in a fortnight (a lie, I used it today on a computer in the lab, but I haven't owned an XP computer in over a decade).

I have no idea what a task manager is or where to find it but I can search. I dont know how to go to safe mode but I disconnected the WIFI to attempt the restore and it didnt work.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

If I upgrade AVG to real time to block the tracking cookies/spyware dont I still have a virus?

 

[FreeBirdTim]

I use the free version of Malwarebytes to get rid of annoying stuff. There are some things you can never seem to completely remove, but you can keep them under control. Your SuperAntispyware isn't keeping your problem in check.

 

[mcl]

If its a virus, then why cant I just remove it? This is how I have done it in the past. Is it blocking my restore?

How can I find the name of this virus to search for download to remove it? Excuse me if I sound stupid but my computer skills are self taught.


BTW SuperAntiSpyware always worked for me along with AVG and they now have real time protection but I would have to pay.

View attachment 1202215

Absolutely do not pay at this point because real-time protection is for stopping problems BEFORE they happen, and it is very unlikely to do you any good at this point.

I can't tell you exactly why system restore isn't working, BUT, here is the opinion of a user on the "tom's hardware" website (decent computer help site):

"System Restore typically fails because of virus infections or because restoring a particular restore point would cause your machine to become unstable."

The way to find the name of the virus is through a virus scanner. You can open AVG and run a scan manually, if you've not done so already (make sure the virus definitions are up to date). Manually searching for the malware (i.e., opening a folder and looking at filenames) is probably not going to work.

Did you check the task manager? If so, go ahead and run a manual scan with AVG. If it doesn't find anything, you'll need to boot into safe mode to try the system restore.

I know this problem is irritating for you and I completely understand, but it's fixable. Just have to hunt for the solution.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

I also use the free version of AVG 2015 and it seems to work fine. I doubt if upgrading to the paid version of AVG will make any difference.

 

[mcl]

I have no idea what a task manager is or where to find it but I can search. I dont know how to go to safe mode but I disconnected the WIFI to attempt the restore and it didnt work.

Task manager is what pops up when you press "ctrl alt delete" and, as far as I remember in XP, you click "open task manager". To boot in safe mode, hold down F8 as soon as your screen comes on when you turn on the computer.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Absolutely do not pay at this point because real-time protection is for stopping problems BEFORE they happen, and it is very unlikely to do you any good at this point.

I can't tell you exactly why system restore isn't working, BUT, here is the opinion of a user on the "tom's hardware" website (decent computer help site):

"System Restore typically fails because of virus infections or because restoring a particular restore point would cause your machine to become unstable."

The way to find the name of the virus is through a virus scanner. You can open AVG and run a scan manually, if you've not done so already (make sure the virus definitions are up to date). Manually searching for the malware (i.e., opening a folder and looking at filenames) is probably not going to work.

Did you check the task manager? If so, go ahead and run a manual scan with AVG. If it doesn't find anything, you'll need to boot into safe mode to try the system restore.

I know this problem is irritating for you and I completely understand, but it's fixable. Just have to hunt for the solution.

I have run the AVG and SuperAntiSpyware many times and it removes EVERY tracking cookie/spyware. No where does it say I have a virus but I was just guessing that maybe I do.

The scan removes every one but 500 come back in 10 minutes when I open Chrome..

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Where and what is task manager?

 

[mcl]

If I upgrade AVG to real time to block the tracking cookies/spyware dont I still have a virus?

Yes, this is correct. Don't pay for the full version -- see my recent post.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Yes I agree system restore often doesnt work with a virus. I repeat that AVG nor Superantispyware ever said I have a virus and a scan will remove every tracking cookie..

But i think its a virus and you confirmed it.