so i had this spyware... not sure of the name. it wouldnt let any programs open saying they were infected, and to click here to clean them

so i rebooted in safe mode and used SuperAntiSpyware and ran that a few times

seems to have gotten everything

but now only a handful of programs can connect to the internet.

digsby wont connect anymore
chrome wont connect
itunes wont connect

firefox does connect
utorrent connects

i am running windows vista

any ideas how to get the programs up and running again?

Have you tried reinstalling the programs that won't connect?

The other option would be to try a system restore to an earlier point. But not sure whether that's gonna bring back the spyware.

have you tried entering in 4 8 15 16 23 42 ?

Get Malwarebytes, update the definitions and run a full scan. http://www.malwarebytes.org/ Hopefully this should kill any possible remaining beasties.

Check the proxy settings on the things that aren't connecting. Sometimes malware resets them to run through their servers. Make sure that the Windows firewall settings weren't reset to block the things that aren't connecting anymore.

i'm not sure how to change the proxy settings on those programs

malwarebytes picked up a few things that SAS did not

and my windows firewall isnt even turned on

thanks all for the help so far!!

The proxy settings should be under the preferences somewhere. For instance, Firefox's is under Advanced/Network, and the rest will probably be buried too. Just make sure the settings are all set to mirror a program that is working (it'll probably be System Settings, or Default unless you have a specific proxy setup)

If you can't find them, I'd try uninstalling them, and make wipe the Program Files directory for both of them and then reinstall. If that didn't work, I'd uninstall again and go registry hunting to wipe out everything that has to do with the programs. However that is getting pretty advanced, and you can do a lot of harm mucking about in the registry if you don't know what you are doing.

uninstalling hasnt worked either

i just tried to install spybot and it cant connect to the internet

superantispyware cant connect to get the latest updates either

See if your Windows DNS settings have changed for some reason. I can't remember exactly where it is in Vista (Control Panel, Network?), but in XP you need to go to Control Panel, open up Network Connections, right click on the connection you are connecting to the Internet with and go to properties. Click on Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and choose Properties. Make sure both Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server automatically are set (unless you are using a static IP intentionally, then it should be whatever you would have originally entered).

You can also try to reboot your cable modem and/or router (although I doubt this will work, especially since some programs are able to get out to the internet. Just unplug them both for a few minutes, and then back in. You might also want to call your cable/DSL company and tell them you can't connect to the internet at all (a little white lie), and to have them remotely check your modem.

If nothing works, you honestly might be better off just backing up your data and re-installing Windows from scratch. It's drastic, but I've cleaned up hundreds of PCs with spyware on them, and there comes a point where you are looking at diminishing returns for the amount of time you spend trying to fix the issue (never knowing if it is truly fixed), and the amount of time it would take to back your files up and start from scratch.

had very same problems, maybe same "virus".
drove me mad, wanted to throw pc out of window.

"viris" was called: desktop security 2010

using firefox as well, didnt work.
only could enter internet with internet explorer.

following uninstall info from the link helped me:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-r ... urity-2010

as pd said its malwarebytes and also rkill.com,
but following instructions is important as virus manipulates these as well.

good luck!

Save your files...reinstall and run Free AVG as that seems to pick everything up and cleans the PC

OK thank you everyone for the help i think i have finally figured out my problem

it was the proxy thing. the spyware had indeed turned ON a proxy setting and OFF a setting for windows to automatically configure settings or something like that in my Windows Internet Options.

when i unchecked the proxy checkbox, everything seemed to start connecting again

Control Panel > Internet Properties > Connections tab
click on the LAN settings button




i checked Automatically Detect Settings
and unchecked Use proxy server

You need to tell your computer to "let go"...
Oh shit, I'm in the wrong thread....

Hooray! I thought it might be something like that, I just wasn't sure exactly how to get there in Vista. I'm glad it's up and working again.

I recommend

1. spybot search and destroy
2. www.trendmicro.com Housecall
3. Ad-aware
4. Hijack This

I had a similar experience. Some bogus spyware was installed and put an icon in the desk tray tool lower left. If you did a "cntrl/alt delete" you got a denied message.

I cleaned up everything (I think). I had to install Windows XP service pack 3. Then I had to delete my network connection and reinstall the driver - Intel Pro/100 VE Network Connection.

This is good stuff too

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

it found lots of stuff the others did not.