(Contra Virus) Anyone have the cure??

[Steve P.]

I am having a problem with a FAKE virus called CONTRA VIRUS. I Googled it and found out this has been going around since 2005.  I expected to find a quick Anti-virus but instead have spent the better part of 6 hours trying to get rid of it.. I have downloaded 4 different anti-virus programs and nothing is working.. Does anyone have the fix for this?? If so please post it up. This is driving me nuts......

[71ChallengeHer]

I'm sick but the doc gave me some antibiotics.

[Steve P.]

Sorry to hear your sick. Hope you feel better soon..  You just have to find someone to pass it on to.....


Running McAfee right now and it is not finding a damn thing..

[70charger_boy]

 

[71ChallengeHer]

Thanks, Shelby gave it to me. Now I have to share.

[Forza]

Have you tried AVG yet? Thats the program I use, they seem to be able to get rid of anything.

[last426]

It is an easy fix.  http://www.spyware-removal-guideline.com/contravirus-removal  Kim

[Steve P.]

I did the SPY SWEEPER and after downloading it and it scanning for 1 hour and 4 minutes it wanted $30.00...

This damn FAKE virus was made so that the same assholes could SELL everyone infected with it the REMOVAL /fix for $30.00...  I don't think any of them should win.. Many hackers out there find and post fixes for this kind of crap for free.   

$30.00 is a set of gaskets!!!!   

[70charger_boy]

Thanks, Shelby gave it to me. Now I have to share.

  I'm not even gonna ask

[Charger74]

Hey STeve,

Check out this site and give it a try:  http://www.spyware-removal-guideline.com/contravirus-removal .  It looks like the tool is free.  Hopefully you can understand it's instructions.   I figure the only other way to remove it is to (scary thought) go through the registry and manually remove it. 

If this doesnt work, then do a google search on it and there are a lot of ways to remove, some free, some cost....   Good luck

*Edit*  Hey I found this site that has a another removal tool but also list everything contra installs and registers.   Also what registry keys it installs:  http://www.contra-virus-removal.com.removal-instructions.com/removeContra_Virus.html

[Ponch ®]

It is an easy fix.  http://www.spyware-removal-guideline.com/contravirus-removal  Kim

and for goodnes's sake....switch to another browser other than IE.

[Steve P.]

OK, here's the skinny.  I started out with GOOGLing the so called virus. I found very many pages of SO CALLED (FREE) removal links. For all of them I tried I could not find ONE that was free.. Many hours spent looking, downloading, searching, scanning and all of them want from $29.95 up to $60.00... 

What this (VIRUS) is truly is nothing more than an enormous pain in the aZZ.. This is some program that some son of a bitch made and found a way to make it attach itself to SOMETHING and it pops up often telling you your computer has a virus. Of course everyone is going to do a Google search to find out how to get rid of it and the first thing that pops up is a $30.00 fix. Well, this fix comes to you from the same son of a bitch that made it to begin with...

Yes, I want to get rid of it. NO, I don't want to pay for it. If I pay, HE WINS.............. 

I am asking here as I know we have some very computer savvy people here and I figure someone else may have had this problem also. It has been around since 2005'....   

quote]

What do you suggest??

[Troy]

What do you suggest??

Firefox! http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

Troy

[Charger74]

OK, here's the skinny.  I started out with GOOGLing the so called virus. I found very many pages of SO CALLED (FREE) removal links. For all of them I tried I could not find ONE that was free.. Many hours spent looking, downloading, searching, scanning and all of them want from $29.95 up to $60.00... 

What this (VIRUS) is truly is nothing more than an enormous pain in the aZZ.. This is some program that some son of a bitch made and found a way to make it attach itself to SOMETHING and it pops up often telling you your computer has a virus. Of course everyone is going to do a Google search to find out how to get rid of it and the first thing that pops up is a $30.00 fix. Well, this fix comes to you from the same son of a bitch that made it to begin with...

Yes, I want to get rid of it. NO, I don't want to pay for it. If I pay, HE WINS.............. 

I am asking here as I know we have some very computer savvy people here and I figure someone else may have had this problem also. It has been around since 2005'....   

quote]

What do you suggest??

Steve, this one is free:  http://www.spyware-removal-guideline.com/contravirus-removal .  I checked it.  Also the other one I listed shows you exactly what files this pos uses, which dll's to un-register and what registry entries to delete.    If you're not comfortable doing this things, then I would try to removal tool I listed first. 

[472 R/T SE]

Just like radar and laser detectors, the same people who make them build the actual laser and radar device.

I know it's besides the point but I use the Firefox browser and the free AVG virus detector.  I pay for Spyware Doctor & Registry Mechanic.  The computer stays clean when my evil twin wants to surf "those" nasty sites. 

[Steve P.]

Ok, this may be retarded, but I do use Mozilla Firefox. I have been for a year or so. Only I double click on IE on my desk top and it opens Firefox when I go to any web sites. When I sign on to the CB I am going through firefox.. Is this the same? Should I do something to remove IE??


I can fix a car or a watch, but that is because I can SEE what the hell happens when (I DO THIS).. I have no idea what the hell is going on inside a computer...  When was the last time you pushed a few buttons to fix your refrigerator?? Or your A/C unit??    I'm sure I could be schooled in computer geekism, but I just don't look at my computer the way I do my cars....     Ya know what I mean??

[Charger74]

Ok, this may be retarded, but I do use Mozilla Firefox. I have been for a year or so. Only I double click on IE on my desk top and it opens Firefox when I go to any web sites. When I sign on to the CB I am going through firefox.. Is this the same? Should I do something to remove IE??


I can fix a car or a watch, but that is because I can SEE what the hell happens when (I DO THIS).. I have no idea what the hell is going on inside a computer...  When was the last time you pushed a few buttons to fix your refrigerator?? Or your A/C unit??    I'm sure I could be schooled in computer geekism, but I just don't look at my computer the way I do my cars....     Ya know what I mean??

Yeah, I understand.  If you want to try to use the one I suggested above, I can tell you how to get into safe mode to run the cleaner.  It's really simple...

[70charger_boy]

This virus lives in Cardomain

[Steve P.]

This virus lives in Cardomain

I was just there a few days ago... 

[70charger_boy]

This virus lives in Cardomain

I was just there a few days ago... 

If you click on a cardomain link.  There will be a pop up that comes up.  It looks similar to a windows message.  If you click ok then you're screwed.  I subscribed to mcafee virus and it's gone now.  I think Mcafee does a free sweep, too

[Troy]

Some of the newer "drive by" installers do work in Firefox so it isn't bulletproof either. You need scripting and/or Java enabled for any of these installers to work though (and they're much simpler to turn off in Firefox if you think you'll be surfing an "untrustworthy" site). The new IE (version 7) isn't too bad but I'm so used to Firefox now that it's difficult to switch back. My sister had a similar virus/adware and I was amazed at how many places it managed to wiggle into. It took probably 4-5 hours to clean it out and then she got it again a week later. I found a removal tool from somewhere and fixed it in a few minutes.

Troy

[70charger_boy]

What do you suggest??

Firefox! http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

Troy

wow Troy!!!!  Mozilla is awesome!!!

[Steve P.]

Some of the newer "drive by" installers do work in Firefox so it isn't bulletproof either. You need scripting and/or Java enabled for any of these installers to work though (and they're much simpler to turn off in Firefox if you think you'll be surfing an "untrustworthy" site). The new IE (version 7) isn't too bad but I'm so used to Firefox now that it's difficult to switch back. My sister had a similar virus/adware and I was amazed at how many places it managed to wiggle into. It took probably 4-5 hours to clean it out and then she got it again a week later. I found a removal tool from somewhere and fixed it in a few minutes.

Troy

You didn't happen to hold onto that fix, did ya??

[Silver R/T]

You can get Ad Aware and Spybot Search and destroy for free. Run those both and then run Registry fix, I found it for free. And also using Mozilla Firefox as its less prone to virus attacks.

[70charger_boy]

I just noticed when you use the Mozilla browser the animated smileys are faster

[Silver R/T]

everything loads up faster on Mozilla, I was sceptical using it but when I tried I like it over IE.

[70charger_boy]

everything loads up faster on Mozilla, I was sceptical using it but when I tried I like it over IE.

I just downloaded it an hour ago and feel like a loser for using IE for all these years

[Troy]

Some of the newer "drive by" installers do work in Firefox so it isn't bulletproof either. You need scripting and/or Java enabled for any of these installers to work though (and they're much simpler to turn off in Firefox if you think you'll be surfing an "untrustworthy" site). The new IE (version 7) isn't too bad but I'm so used to Firefox now that it's difficult to switch back. My sister had a similar virus/adware and I was amazed at how many places it managed to wiggle into. It took probably 4-5 hours to clean it out and then she got it again a week later. I found a removal tool from somewhere and fixed it in a few minutes.

Troy

You didn't happen to hold onto that fix, did ya??

I said she had something "similar" so, even though I still have it, it won't work for you. You need a fix for the specific piece of malware that you are infected with. AdAware and Spybot are both usually very good at detecting and removing these things so try them first. When I get back later today I'll see if I can find something else. Did you try any of the things listed above?

Troy

[Steve P.]

Hey Troy, yeah, I tried Spybot SD, SD12, Spyware blaster, and a few others. I downloaded McAfee and PCDoctor spyware also. One of them has it contained. Since they were run it has not popped up, but,,,, both of them show 2 viruses and loads of other spyware.  The crappy thing is I don't know which will get rid of it and both are PAY FOR tools. I have not been able to find one thing that says it will destroy this BS. (Other than the one the MF that made the virus sells)... That is just the same as ransom to me.. My computer is being held hostage...

I would love to find the MFr that puts this crap out there. I have a vise and a sledge hammer with his name on it...... 

[Troy]

Do NOT install the one that is recommended by the virus. If they attacked your computer in the first place then why would you pay them money and install the junk for them?

The way these things work is that they keep one part in memory so that you can't delete it (Windows won't allow you to delete items that are in use). They also add entries to your start up process to download new versions and/or repair themselves every time you restart. Usually there are multiple programs (including virus/adware/spyware scanner disablers, keyloggers, etc.) and they all work together to keep all of them updated and running. You need to remove/disable all of them, delete the start-up entries, fix any browser settings that were changed, repair all of your affected utilities and then restart. Run a virus scan and an adware scan on boot up before Windows loads because once Windows is running it all starts over again. It's a royal pain and sometimes requires a few tries to get it right.

The only programs I recommend are the ones I listed along with AVG (there are some other good anti-virus programs of course but I don't use them all). It would not hurt to have a software firewall like ZoneAlarm to catch these things when they try to connect to the internet to get their initial payload. Then they can never install. Obviously you need to know what's happening for this to work though and most people just click the "allow" button and get infected any way. As long as there are smart people making these things there will be another group of smart people trying to figure out how to combat them. You just need to find the right group and you'll be all set.

By the way, I shouldn't have to tell you this but DO NOT log into your email or online banking until you get this fixed. When you do get it fixed then change all of your passwords ASAP.

Troy

[Steve P.]

Wow, what an incredible pain in the ass....  I am a total stooge when it comes to the computer. Maybe I need a pro to do this..

Everything I read about this damn thing is that the best way to remove it is manually removing every single file on the list. That is hundreds of files...   Where is that gun to the head icon??

[Troy]

Congrats! Your thread made it into the top 25 on Google when searching for "Contra Virus Removal". I guess that's one way to get more attention to the site...

This looks promising (but a lot of "work"):
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=130763
I bet it fixes a lot of other things though. They have an entire board dedicated to removing this junk. They say to "do this first":
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407

Lots of good info here (and maybe something "easier" to try first):
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070616184558AALnI5f

My sister had "WinAntiSpam" which is also a major pain.

Something I noticed today - Contra-virus.com is owned by ESTDOMAINS INC which is responsible for over 1,000 spam domains that I've had to block from the server. We are under attack daily from servers belonging to these morons.

Troy

[The70RT]

Wow, what an incredible pain in the ass....  I am a total stooge when it comes to the computer. Maybe I need a pro to do this..

Everything I read about this damn thing is that the best way to remove it is manually removing every single file on the list. That is hundreds of files...   Where is that gun to the head icon??

I hear ya. If is wasn't for my kids  ............but then I know a I.T person where I work at and where my wife works. A little  and I am back in bizz.

[Steve P.]

2 things to report.

1). I hope the attention it brings is NOT bad..

2). I have one of those IT buddy's also. I just got off the phone with him and he is coming over Monday night. I just hate to bother him with this crap all the time. Although it has been a long time... 

I am on my way to Staples for more RAM so that I can keep an anti-virus running at all times without putting a kink in the computer hose. I have 512 mb now. How's 1000 sound??

I am going to stop using IE all together and do everything  through Firefox.

Lastly I am going to have to move to Virginia if this ever happens again as my buddy is leaving town soon.. DAMN IT....

[Steve P.]

UPDATE: for those interested.. I purchased (Kaspersky internet security with virus killer). Dumped everything that I had previously tried and installed it. All my troubles are gone. Well, on the computer anyway... I also added 1 meg of ram to help speed things up a bit. Now I use the Kaspersky all the time and listen for it to eat unwanted guests...

Thanks to all for your help.   

[70charger_boy]

Congrats, I never heard of the Kaspersky program.  I was afraid that you would have to dump your hard drive.  That must suck.  Hopefully, you won't have this problem again

[Steve P.]

Yup, it's taking some getting used to, but I feel better about the system now.. I may be a false feeling, but it's better than KNOWING you HAVE something...