Filed under: Computer Diagnostic Software
Is $100 a good price for someone to remove a virus from my computer?
August 1, 2010
10 thoughts on “Is $100 a good price for someone to remove a virus from my computer?”
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Clean Registry and Optimize PC
Learn how to Remove virus from your computer here:
<http://anti-virus-download-online.com
Good luck!
If you already tried the online software, it’s likely a virtumonde or variant or other similar malware that CANNOT be removed with the operating system online. Yes, you now need a professional to remove it. The tools to remove it properly cost real money, are not available for free.
Frankly, the people who think that everything can be removed by free scanners are really behind the times. In 2000, running Ad-Aware or Spybot S&D would have cleaned up a system on its own, coupled with a basic virus scan. In 2004, take those two and a free trial of Webroot Spy Sweeper, coupled with a basic virus scanner. Today, to get a system fully clean can require 4-8 different scanners run in cut down custom safe mode enviroments and a virus scan or two in WinPE. Most infected computers today are running an up to date anti malware software. And many of the new ones can just disable your anti malware software and make it seem as though it’s still active. Scarry, huh? Even a Trend Micro executive said recently that the security software companies have truly failed.
If and only if that local place has those tools available would I trust them. If they don’t, then don’t even bother going there (and most don’t have them). A malware removal should cost the same or more as reformatting your system – as a reformat is far less work than a proper malware removal, which can take 10-14 hours on a bench, and more if they do a proper hardware diagnostic first (at least a few more hours). On-site, it can be done in a few hours of concentrated effort, but this is generally slightly less thorough (a bench removal will usually remove every trace, an on-site will leave inactive remenants behind). On the upside, it is far more convenient to have it done on site.
wow $100 whew.
Before telling them to clean up try these two software.
First try this:
http://www.download.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2239_4-10019223.html
Then this one:
http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html?hhTest
If the malware is still there probably you will have to reinstall.
Reinstalling windows is really easy. There are many step-by-step guides on the internet with screenshots that guide you through the process. You just gotta have your install CD.
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp
(scroll down where it says clean install windows)
My advice would be not to give your money to someone who will rip you off for a single task…so a direct answer is no, it’s not a good price…
Generally I never feel safe once I’ve been infected by a virus so I would reccommend to back up your data while your system is still running and do a clean format… I know it can be a pain but removing a virus is not as easy as it sounds as it might have spreaded, downloaded additional files etc…
Formatting is not hard if you have a windows cd…just put in in the cd drive, press any key to start from CD and follow the instructions…maybe a friend can help?
Hope this helped and I repeat…dont give your money away…it won’t cost them anything to remove the virus and their charges are ridiculous. Fix it yourself or ask a friend to fix it for u…
Depends on your level of computing.
Before starting backup any important files to a thumb drive or cd/dvd
If you have the disc its pretty straight forward process.
Boot to disc. (f12 while computer is turning on sometimes f10)
Delete old partition.
Create new partition (leave size automatically entered)
Install (Format NTFS)
Then just follow the simple on screen prompts. all the default values will be fine.
I would give it a try yourself and if you can’t do it then pay the 150. Your not going to harm your computer. Good luck
Thats a rip off…go to spybot search and destory (link below) and download their free software. Also, try downloading Adaware. (These are two very good software programs that have found viruses after other scans missed them.)
**Adaware takes forever, so stick to Spybot. You don’t need all that cuz you can buy a new computer for that price. d*mn.**
Good Luck…
No theres free virus removers you can download. Dont do it you will regret it.
Depending on the type of infection (virus, malware, trojan horse, backdoor, rootkit), removal could take anywhere from 30 seconds to many hours (where you’d be better off formatting and doing a clean install of Windows). If you’re unsure as to the source of infection, it can’t hurt to pay $100 to fix it, as long as they know what they’re doing.
You can download your own free antivirus that will detect and remove the virus from your computer. You can also reformat your harddrive on your own, free – that will also fix the problem.
Give this a try first.
Update your anti-virus, remember to only have one anti-virus installed on your PC
http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html [Free, if you do not have one]
Download SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html [free home edition]
Restart your PC in safe mode, and run a full scan with both.
http://www.pchell.com/support/safemode.shtml
While in safe mode, you may also want to have a look at your start up items by using msconfig.
http://www.netsquirrel.com/msconfig/
Be careful with the items you uncheck, you can have a look here to see if they are necessary
http://www.greatis.com/appdata/index.html
You should also have a look at your IE Add-ons while in safe mode.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/web/sp2_addonmanager.mspx
Disable any you do not use.
After you reboot back to normal mode, download and install ccleaner to fix any registry problems and clean up old temp files.
http://www.ccleaner.com [Free]