wantalearn
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Post by wantalearn on Dec 12, 2017 11:37:36 GMT -5
I am trying to download and install Avast. I used the link given in the Essential Tools thread. I save it to my downloads and when I click on it I get the "Do you want to open this file" box I then get this box that says Choose the program you want to open this file with. Can someone please tell me what program to use? I've never had to do this before, choose the program like this.
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Post by jholland1964 on Dec 12, 2017 12:54:03 GMT -5
More information is needed:
What operating system are you using?
The link in the Essential Tools thread is correct. What you should be receiving is an executable file, meaning all you should have to do is double click on it or right click and choose Open and then you'll get a box asking if you are sure and you say yes. Then the program should install. EXE files do Not require a 3rd party program to open because the Windows knows how to handle this by default.
Have you had other problems with your computer recently?
Is the program avast_free_antivirus_setup_offline.exe
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wantalearn
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Post by wantalearn on Dec 12, 2017 15:34:08 GMT -5
I'm sorry Judy, I knew better about telling what operating system I had, I just plain wasn't thinking. That's how I normally open "files" is just how you said, was to double click on it then I'd get the open box and when I got the box that asked with what program I wanted to open the file with I just plain got flustered and didn't think. I'm sorry.
I have Windows 7. I downloaded the file again from the link given and this time I was able to open it like I normally do. The first file I downloaded, the one where when I double clicked on it I'd get the box asking what program I wanted to use to open it, maybe that was a bad file as once it was downloaded it never had the Avast icon on it like the one I just now downloaded again and was able to double click and open it like normal. The other file was only a white rectangle and underneath it were the words "avast_free_antivirus_setup_offline" and when I would put my cursor on the file icon I would get this
Type: File
Size 233 MB
Date Modified 12/12/2017 10:31AM
On the Avast file icon I was able to actually open and run, when I would put my cursor on that icon I got this
File Description: Avast Antivirus Installer
Company: Avast Software
File Version 17.8.3705.0
Date Created 12/12/2017 1:45 PM
Size 233 MB
You asked if I had other problems with my computer recently. I never did have any problems until FireFox updated to Quantum that's when my problems started. First it was with Pinterest, I just now checked and I see that's working like it used to now. Before when I'd be on Pinterest and click on a picture, normally I would then get taken to another picture which I would click on and get taken to the website for the recipe or pattern, whatever it was I was interested in, but after Quantum was installed instead of being taken to the website where the pattern was is all I'd get was a white page and in the tab at the top it would show I was on that web site but nothing ever came up.
I'm still having problems tho with both my desk top and laptop doing the same things. I talked to my son this morning and he said he is having the same issues with his computer as I am. He's running Windows 10 and has a brand new laptop.
I can be surfing the web and then all a sudden it's just like everything freezes, I can't use the red X at the top to close my browser, I can't go back, I can't do anything. I will open the task manager and that takes forever to open when I have this problem. Once everything does close when I try to open a browser it takes forever to come up. Once it gets all that out of it's system things run fine ... until it happens again, which might not be that same day.
This used to just happen on the desk top but last night it did that to me on my lap top also. It doens't make any difference if I'm using Firefox or Internet Explorer.
Thank you for the help with the Avast download Judy.
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Post by jholland1964 on Dec 12, 2017 15:58:46 GMT -5
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Post by budgall on Dec 12, 2017 18:35:13 GMT -5
FYI:
Junkware Removal Tool functions have now been added to Adwcleaner as of 10/26/17. MalwareBytes recommends that Adwcleaner be used instead of JRT. MalwareBytes is continuing support of JRT until 4/26/18 then all support for JRT will stop.
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Post by jholland1964 on Dec 12, 2017 18:50:27 GMT -5
FYI: Junkware Removal Tool functions have now been added to Adwcleaner as of 10/26/17. MalwareBytes recommends that Adwcleaner be used instead of JRT. MalwareBytes is continuing support of JRT until 4/26/18 then all support for JRT will stop. Thanks for that info budgall. I would recommend that nobody use it anymore. There will be no more database updates for the program. Support will be for people who have used the program and have a problem until 4/26/2018 but there will be no fixes or updates to the program. Edit: I have removed Junkware Removal Tool from the Preliminary Steps thread in Virus and Malware Help section. |
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wantalearn
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Post by wantalearn on Dec 13, 2017 10:41:40 GMT -5
I've run Malwarebytes and it didn't find anything. I don't have any of the others on my computer but will run them except for the Junkware Removal Tool. I will also try a refresh of Firefox. I changed antivirus programs beings how I had on both my computers Aviria and thought maybe by chance that had something to do with my problems beings how it was both computers doing the same thing. Thanks again Judy for the help. |
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Post by jholland1964 on Dec 13, 2017 11:03:42 GMT -5
There is no reason to presume that Avira would have caused any of the problems that you speak about, UNLESS you have also installed the extras available with the program;
Software Updater,
Password Manager,
Phantom VPN,
System Speedup,
Safe Shopping or
Safe Search Plus.
NONE of those are needed and can slow the computer. If you still have any or all of those are installed, UNINSTALL them.
What you have described would likely indicate too much running in the background or a hardware problem. But since you say two computers are doing the same thing then I would believe that too many things running at the same time would likely be the culprit.
If the change to Avast didn't make a difference then you know without a doubt that Avira was not the cause of the problem.
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wantalearn
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Post by wantalearn on Dec 13, 2017 21:25:59 GMT -5
I still have Avira on my laptop so I checked to see if any of the things you mentioned I had downloaded and none were. I don't know how to check for Safe Search Plus.
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Post by jholland1964 on Dec 13, 2017 21:54:28 GMT -5
I still have Avira on my laptop so I checked to see if any of the things you mentioned I had downloaded and none were. I don't know how to check for Safe Search Plus. The Only way to be sure what options of Avira are installed is to do it through the Avira program itself. Open the Avira Dashboard by clicking the Avira program in your System tray. When that opens then on the front page look to see if the items listed BELOW the Antivirus are listed as Installed or give the option to install. If that option is there then they are not installed. See attached: Attachments:
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wantalearn
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Post by wantalearn on Dec 15, 2017 12:03:40 GMT -5
Thanks Judy, I will go look. I downloaded and ran SUPERAntispyware and it found over sixteen hundred cookies.  Thank you again for all the help. |
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Post by jholland1964 on Dec 15, 2017 14:29:12 GMT -5
Thanks Judy, I will go look. I downloaded and ran SUPERAntispyware and it found over sixteen hundred cookies. Thank you again for all the help. That generally means that you do not have your browsers configured correctly to block 3rd party cookie...those are the ones that you Don't want, 1st party cookies you Do want because they help you surf quickly and help keep you signed in on sites like this one. To make sure Firefox is configured correctly go to Tools, Options, Privacy & Security and make sure your settings look like mine in the attachment; Attachments:
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wantalearn
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Post by wantalearn on Dec 17, 2017 11:54:17 GMT -5
I'm sorry I've didin't get back with you sooner. I did a Firefox Refresh on both computers and have configured FF like you showed in your screenshot. I will see if the refresh helps, if not I will then start running the rest of the items you suggested.
Thank you again for the help.
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Post by jholland1964 on Dec 17, 2017 12:10:43 GMT -5
Based on the findings of SUPERAntispyware I very strongly recommend that you download and run AdwCleaner. AdwCleaner will find and remove OTHER items that likely would have come in with the items found by SUPERAntispyware but not able to be found by the use of that program. One cleaner program is not enough, an arsenal of good programs is the way to keep your computers running as they should run. Malwarebytes AdwCleanerI have to say that you should only work on ONE computer at a time and once that One is clean then go onto the next. Also that the fact you have done recommended steps "piece meal" has definitely stopped any progress you may have made. The thread has gone on for five days and if you had followed all the recommendations on the day you first made your post your problems would most likely have been completely solved. By delaying things what is fixed by one step is then overridden because part of the problems remain and therefore soon you will be right back where you started. Speed in cleaning/fixing is of the essence. |
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wantalearn
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Post by wantalearn on Dec 18, 2017 14:56:40 GMT -5
I ran AdwCleaner like you suggested and it did find and remove a lot of items.
Thank you for reminding me about not doing things "piece meal", I should have remembered and known better from reading your posts from helping other people.
Thank you again for all your help and the help you give to others which in turn I also learn from.
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Post by jholland1964 on Dec 18, 2017 15:38:07 GMT -5
I ran AdwCleaner like you suggested and it did find and remove a lot of items. Can you please post the log from that run? It is possible that other tools or steps might be needed. To get the log open the AdwCleaner program and go up to Tools. Click on that and you will be shown the available logs. Please pick the most recent one and be sure the date is correct. Click on that log, it will open and then go up to Edit, Select All, Copy. Then come back here and open a post and place your cursor in the post, right click and choose Paste. Many items found by AdwCleaner DO cause a computer to run incorrectly. Once you have finished with this ONE computer then do the same cleaning steps on the other computer. |
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wantalearn
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Post by wantalearn on Dec 18, 2017 16:32:09 GMT -5
# AdwCleaner 7.0.5.0 - Logfile created on Sun Dec 17 20:42:58 2017 # Updated on 2017/29/11 by Malwarebytes # Database: 12-15-2017.1 # Running on Windows 7 Professional (X64) # Mode: scan # Support: www.malwarebytes.com/support***** [ Services ] ***** No malicious services found. ***** [ Folders ] ***** Adware.LoadMoney, C:\ProgramData\Partner Adware.LoadMoney, C:\ProgramData\Application Data\Partner Adware.LoadMoney, C:\Users\All Users\Partner ***** [ Files ] ***** No malicious files found. ***** [ DLL ] ***** No malicious DLLs found. ***** [ WMI ] ***** No malicious WMI found. ***** [ Shortcuts ] ***** No malicious shortcuts found. ***** [ Tasks ] ***** No malicious tasks found. ***** [ Registry ] ***** PUP.Optional.Legacy, [Key] - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\DOMStorage\cloudfront.net PUP.Optional.Legacy, [Key] - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\DOMStorage\d160accw6snlyf.cloudfront.net PUP.Optional.Legacy, [Key] - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\DOMStorage\staticimgfarm.com PUP.Optional.Legacy, [Key] - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\DOMStorage\ttdetect.staticimgfarm.com ***** [ Firefox (and derivatives) ] ***** No malicious Firefox entries. ***** [ Chromium (and derivatives) ] ***** No malicious Chromium entries. ************************* ########## EOF - C:\AdwCleaner\AdwCleaner[S0].txt ########## I think this is what you are asking for. I don't understand much if anything of what I just posted, but it dosen't look like it found much of anything. I'm sure I had to delete and it removed a lot of things. Maybe I was thinking of CCCleaner that found and it asked if I wanted those things deleted. I'm sorry, I wish I could remember for sure now, I know ... I should have wrote the steps I had to take for each. I know to run my antivirus once a week and Malwarebytes and CCCleaner will let me know when it needs to run again how often do I run AdwCleaner? |
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Post by jholland1964 on Dec 18, 2017 16:47:38 GMT -5
That is exactly what I asked for and the items found both will do the following when on a system:
PUP.Optional.Legacy
Advertising banners are injected with the web pages that you are visiting.
Random web page text is turned into hyperlinks.
Browser popups appear which recommend fake updates or other software.
Other unwanted adware programs might get installed without the user’s knowledge.
Changing the web browser’s default home page
Changing the browser’s search provider and built-in search box
install adware, browser hijackers, and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs).
Adware.LoadMoney
Detection for a family of bundlers that are known to install adware, browser hijackers, and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs).
Your antivirus program should be set to AUTOMATICALLY run a full scan each week.
Neither Malwarebytes' nor CCleaner will let you know when they need to be run. YOU must manually run each one once a week along with SUPERAntispyware.
AdwCleaner only needs to be run if something has been found by either Malwarebytes' or SUPERAntispyware.
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wantalearn
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Post by wantalearn on Dec 18, 2017 20:38:28 GMT -5
Thank you Judy for the explanation of the items found.
Also thank you for letting me know when to run the antivirus, Malwarebytes, CCleaner, SUPERAntispyware and AdwCleaner.
Thanks again for all your help with this thread and all the help you give to others in this group. It is VERY much appreciated.
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Post by jholland1964 on Dec 18, 2017 21:01:40 GMT -5
Very happy to be of help. Hope your computers are both running well now.
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wantalearn
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Post by wantalearn on Dec 19, 2017 21:27:40 GMT -5
Maybe it's just my imagination but I think the desk top is a lot faster then it used to be and I haven't noticed it freezing up when I've been on the Internet like it used to. I haven't used the lap top enough to be able to say either way about it yet.
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Post by jholland1964 on Dec 19, 2017 21:33:33 GMT -5
Maybe it's just my imagination but I think the desk top is a lot faster then it used to be and I haven't noticed it freezing up when I've been on the Internet like it used to. I haven't used the lap top enough to be able to say either way about it yet. It was the desktop that you did the cleanup....correct? All the malware that was removed WOULD cause everything that you described, including slowing down the computer. Avira would NOT have caused any of that by the way. Have you done the clean up of the laptop yet....CCleaner, Malwarebytes', SUPERAntispyware and AdwCleaner (only if either of the other scanners found something). |
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wantalearn
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Post by wantalearn on Dec 20, 2017 14:22:35 GMT -5
Yes it was the desktop I did the clean up on. I ran the clean up on the lap top yesterday and they all found things. I haven't been on the laptop all that much yet but I think it is faster also.
Is it possible that a website can make a computer act like I described in my reply #2 with the freezing up etc.? The reason I ask is I'm beginning to wonder and I will have to pay more attention, if my problem happens if I go on the Internet but not to that certain website. It's a knitting group I belong to and I know it's a safe site
I just happened to think about that as I was answering your question and thought I'd ask.
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Post by jholland1964 on Dec 20, 2017 14:43:44 GMT -5
Yes it was the desktop I did the clean up on. I ran the clean up on the lap top yesterday and they all found things. I haven't been on the laptop all that much yet but I think it is faster also. Is it possible that a website can make a computer act like I described in my reply #2 with the freezing up etc.? The reason I ask is I'm beginning to wonder and I will have to pay more attention, if my problem happens if I go on the Internet but not to that certain website. It's a knitting group I belong to and I know it's a safe site I just happened to think about that as I was answering your question and thought I'd ask. Yes a single website can cause problems, even if the site is safe. This is usually due to bad programming of the site itself and there is absolutely nothing individual visitors to the site can do, the programmers of the site have to fix the site. If you have malware as you have found on both of your computers this of course will also cause the problems you have described. Why are you getting this malware? Generally because you do not surf safely, quite often bad downloads cause these problems. By downloads I just don't mean programs, I mean things like videos also. Some are just packed with malware. Some ads also lead you to malware. Do you use AdBlockPlus? If not then you should. |
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wantalearn
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Post by wantalearn on Dec 20, 2017 15:03:13 GMT -5
No I have never used AdBlockPlus but I just put it on my laptop and will also do the same for the desktop.
Thank you again for all the help and telling me about a single website can cause problems.
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Post by jholland1964 on Dec 20, 2017 15:16:13 GMT -5
You're welcome
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