Genealogy Chat

BRIAN - YOU WERE RIGHT I have just read that it can stop anti Virus Software from working. I have noticed that My Norton Antivirus (Little Yellow Flag) does not operate as a default when I start up any longer.Each time I turn on I have to reset it manually as it comes up with the red cross over it. Having reset it (and asked it to operate as a default) it is ok until I close down, but then it reverts back to Red Cross mode again. So I have learnt the reason for that now, thank you Maurice

Hi Maurice, Have you updated your Nortons virus definitions or is your Norton set to update automatically? If your Norton is not up to date then it is practically useless. Or it may be that the scanning engine on your Norton is old and can't deal with this. Is your Norton new or old? The fact that you are calling it Norton System Works makes me uneasy. If you don't mind paying a bit of money there is a programme called A² that might remove your trojan. http://www(.)emsisoft(.)com/en/software/free/ You could try the FREE edition first and if that doesn't get rid of your trojan you could try the Personal Edition (have to pay for it) might get rid of it Cheers, Horatia

Thank you all for the advice , I have a friend coming over in a couple of days who has a few more marbles than me when it comes to computers, I will let him read your comments, before we get the hammers out. I cannot detect any problems with the computer, since the virus hit on 23 Dec 05. Just annoying that I keep being warned of its presence by Norton and that Norton cannot stop it. regards Maurice

We also had this wee 'Downloader' and used spy sweeper to get rid of it . The virus would block web pages saying this page is unavailable.Even after it was blocked we had to reset the computer back to before the downloader infected us.

I had exactly the same one yesterday, but Norton had stopped and deleted it. A message came up telling me that it had done so. I have used Norton for years and it always seems to work for me. Nicky

If you Google 'Downloader + virus' there is some information. The risk assessment to your computer is low, so the virus shoudn't cause any damage.

Thank you Heather, I will try that, Regards Maurice

I had this one in 5 places yesterday - avg7 reported it to me. I think it was actually called Downloader. avg7 put the infected files (downloaded by teenage son - do you have one in the house?) in the virus vault and then I deleted them. Why dont you go to grisoft.com and run the free avg7 to see if it can get rid of the trojan for you. I dumped my paid for mcafee two years back when I had several trojans and viruses that it either didnt detect or couldnt remove. avg7 found and removed them all. The other thing is, when you have deleted the infected files, go back and switch off your system restore and run the anti virus program through again as the trojans can apparently hide in the restore system. Remember to put the restore program back on afterwards.

I have had a Norton warning that my computer has been infected with' hda.exe Trojan Download' Norton System works ect. cannot remove it. I have tried Trojan remover, but it is still on my C drive and Norton warnings keep coming on saying that it can still detect it. I have searched the web, it seems I am not the only one to get it so far no one seems to know how to lose it. Maurice