Malicious software problem

[Garden Manager]

On my PC I have what i believe to be very sound Antivirus (Norton IS 2006)and anti spyware software (AOL). However this morning my computer sems to have come under attack from malicious software. I have run the protective software's scans, but although the software is up to date it has apparently failed to detect anything. Nonetheless i still keep getting virus/spyware alerts, and from time to time rather 'dodgy' webpages keep popping up (did not do so before).

When the alerts appear and i click on them to fix the problem they keep on coming up with webpages for various sites where you can download antivirus software and anti spyware software. Most of these I have never heard of and i am suspicious of them, as my gut reaction tells me this could be a way of downloading yet more malware onto my PC (disguised as antivirus software), - my current software registers it as malicious.  Yet I clearly have a problem, and my current software apparently cannot deal with it. I need advice/help.

How can i tell for sure that I genuinely do have a 'bug' on my system, and how can I tell if apparent 'fixes' offered are genuine and wont do more harm to the PC. Most importantly how can i fix the problem and get rid of whatever is causing all of this.

Thanks.

[Garden Manager]

[silly billy]

My computer knowledge is limited to say the least but it sounds to me like you have some form of spyware on your pc which as far as I know won't be picked up by Norton.I use adaware this will scan your pc and remove the spyware.You will probaly find it finds all kinds of spyware.

[Barnowl]

Are you sure the alerts are from Norton?

Some websites have popups that look like a virus alert just to get you to click on them and link to a sales pitch.

[Garden Manager]

My computer knowledge is limited to say the least but it sounds to me like you have some form of spyware on your pc which as far as I know won't be picked up by Norton.I use adaware this will scan your pc and remove the spyware.You will probaly find it finds all kinds of spyware.

I realise what i have thanks. I also have an anti spyware software supplied by my ISP (AOL), which usualy picks things up. It hasnt with what ever this is. I will try adaware though in case my current software isnt thorough enough.

[Garden Manager]

Are you sure the alerts are from Norton?

Some websites have popups that look like a virus alert just to get you to click on them and link to a sales pitch.

Thats the problem I think. the popups looked so like norton alerts it was hard to tell it from the real thing. As a result I now keep on being told i have spyware an i should download software from an unknown site, which i am suspicious of. In fact it happened again while i typed this posting.

its starting to become worrying as I dont know if i have a serious problem or just something thats a nuisance.

[Garden Manager]

Is this correct?

Adaware: Download free spyware software, scan the PC then have to pay through the nose to get rid of the spy ware!

Whats the point!??

[Curryandchips]

You want Adaware SE personal ...

[Garden Manager]

You want Adaware SE personal ...

Just got it now.

Good bit of software that!

Thanks

[farmer giles]

Have you been on windows update lately,when I updated my pc last week there was a malicious software removal tool on it.

[Garden Manager]

Have you been on windows update lately,when I updated my pc last week there was a malicious software removal tool on it.

I get updates automaticaly. I cant recall a spyware tool being downloades and installed recently. That said i dont have much faith in windows updates.

[cowpie]

We had the same problem. You’re right to ignore the popups. You’ve basically got a virus which tries to sell you antivirus software.

A bit like someone putting a brick through your window, and then asking if you’d like to buy some double glazing off him.

The only way we found to get rid of it was to switch to the Firefox web browser, as the virus only seems to affect Internet Explorer.

[silly billy]

If you are only on ths site and you get these pop ups it sounds like you've got either spyware, adware, trojan, keylogger, spybots running the adaware should sort it for you.I get the pop ups youve described but only on a file sharing site and I dont ever click them.

[Garden Manager]

I think the  problem started when i tried to veiw a video on a webpage. It told me I was lacking a bit of software to run it. I clicked to install the software. The virus or whatever came in then. This opened to e door as it were to other malware.

I now have adaware personal, which has found and destroyed (i hope) the offending malware. As well as detecting and removing about 40 other bits of spyware that had not been picked up by the AOL spyware program.