I am using Windows ME/128 RAM…Avast installed and DAILY updated and run (version: 0624-0). Avast alerted me to a :WIN32: Trojan-gen (UPX) today with a path name of c:\restore\temp\A0014296.CPY. Could not delete, move or repair the virus. Computer slow and getting ybrowser (not a surprise…installed SBC package…I hear this is a common problem). When I disabled “system restore” and rebooted…Avast detected no virus. I want to be sure it is not on my computer because things are still sluggish. Can you give me a quick link to beginning to solve this? I use Spybot, but do not have a firewall. Wondering what products to buy, etc.
The windows restore points are a protected area and the only true way to clear it is to do as you have done, disable system restore and reboot. This should clear ALL restore points, infected or otherwise, if after a second scan you are clear enable system restore again.
A firewall is an absolutely essential security tool, many are free and fine for use with avast.
Zone Alarm free http://www.zonelabs.com works fine with avast and has a reasonably friendly user interface. There are others, Comodo, Jetico, Sunbelt Kerio, etc.
See some firewall tests for comparison, some are freeware but many are paid for versions http://www.firewallleaktester.com/tests.php. Also see http://www.thefreecountry.com/security/firewalls.shtml
Any malware that manages to get past your defences will have free reign to connect to the internet to either download more of the same, pass your personal data (user names, passwords, keylogger retrieved data, etc.) or open a backdoor to your computer, so outbound protection is essential.
Thanks, David!! Scans are showing no virus, but large areas that are unscanable…is that acceptable? I am heading to the store and am aware of certain virus programs not “meshing”. What virus (+) firewall do you recommend if I were to purchase one??? Heading out soon…
Glad that I could help, welcome to the forums.
What is unscanable ?
Many programs (usually security based ones) password protect their files for legitimate reasons such as AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy, there are others (and avast doesn’t know the password or have any way of using it even if it did know it).
When you run scans with the above programs and you delete harmful entries that they detect, a copy is kept (in quarantine/restore/backup) in case you need to reverse what you did. These are usually password protected, you should do some housekeeping and delete old backup/recovery/quarantine entries (older than two weeks or so), this will reduce the numbers of files that can’t be scanned.
By examining 1) the reason given by avast! for not being able to scan the files, 2) the location of the files, you can get an idea of what program they relate to. You may need to expand the column headings to see all the text.
Files that can’t be scanned are just that, not an indication they are suspicious/infected, just unable to be scanned.