Beware the Z-Lob

So, I have spent the last week trying to get this backdoor trojan virus off of my computer. After a lot of research and several anti-spyware programs later, I think I've done it. I would like to share this information with my friends and family in case you ever experience this on your own computer.

Last Sunday, about 11:30, I sat down at my computer to finalize my lesson plans for the week. I wanted to look for a power point presentation online that I could use to show my kids to teach them the format of a Friendly Letter. I typed these exact words into my google search bar: "Friendly Letter Power Point." I got some promising hits, and started clicking away.

The next thing I knew, I was getting Windows Security virus alert windows popping up everywhere telling me that my computer had been infected with backdoor trojan that was a very serious security risk, so I clicked on them to see what the problem was. Well, that opened up the can of worms and before I knew it my AVG and Spybot alerts were going crazy. My computer froze because of pop-ups and I had to restart. When it booted back up, I had some pretty nasty icons on my desktop and my internet explorer pages just kept on opening themselves. in a matter of 30 minutes, I had 30 windows open that I couldn't close.

Those were my symptoms. The cause--Z-lob and Tibs. I read in one article that they are numbers 4 and 5 on the top ten worst viruses of 2007. They are the kind that montior your browsing activity and send out your information and passwords to. They are pretty serious and hard to get rid of.

If this happens to you---absolutely, do not click on those first warnings. They look like they are Windows Security, but their not. That is how the virus loads onto your computer. Just hit the back button or close your browser page and run a virus scan with your own trusted programs. AVG would detect the files, but not remove or heal them, I had to use Spybot to do that and it took several scans. Ad-Aware was able to find the files that Spybot couldn't. The infected link I clicked on was www.jc-schools.com (don't click there! I'm not even sure that is the right address). There is another program called SpyHunter that cannot be trusted. It says that you can download the software to scan your computer, but you have to pay for the Trojan removal tool. This is a scam too. When I downloaded this program, my Spybot picked it up as Malware. I read another article that companies like this will create the viruses to sell more software. I don't know if that is true or not, but don't buy any software. You can heal your computer for free.

This is what I did. I run AVG AntiVirus software from Grisoft as well as Ad-Aware and Spybot Search and Destroy on my computer all the time. I had to run several scans from each program to clear out all of the infected files, which ended up being more that 30 files in all. I found a good video clip on Youtube that walked me through the process to check for the infected files in my regristry, and end the processes they were rinning as well. I also downloaded an antivirus program called Avast! and ran another scan. The best part is that all of these programs are free.

So far, everything seems to be running normal again. I really hope the problem is fixed and that none of my important information got lost. What did I learn from this? Always back up your important files (pictures, documents, etc), use trusted programs, and don't be so eager to click on everything! Good Luck! and I really hope that this information is completely useless to you!

Have a great day!
Kerstina

ABC Tag

Thanks for the tag Rachel. I love tags!

A-Attached or Single: ATTACHED
B-Best Friend: Griffie
C-Cake or Pie: Definately pie! MMMM. . . meringue! (my mom and sisters will get that one)
D-Day: Is there such a thing as night? I don't get any sleep anymore.
E-Essential Item: My Computer. I'd be lost without it
F-Favorite Color: Green
G-Gummi bears or gummi worms: both! I love gummi everything
H-Hometown: PRICE, UTAH
I-Indulgences: Blogging, Reese's Peanut butter cups
J-January or July: JULY, I get summer vacation now!
K-Kids: The 2 cutest boys ever!! Tiger and Derek
L-Life is incomplete without: My family. All of it, not just Griffie and my boys.
M-Marriage Date: June 14, 1997
N-Number of Siblings: 4
O-Oranges or Apples: ORANGES
P-Phobias or Fears: Losing my kids in a public place.
Q-Quote: "I didn't get my letter to Hogwarts, so I'm moving to Forks to live with the Cullens." (Thanks Rae, I totally stole that one from you!)
R-Reason to Smile: When people fall down--but that usually results in uncontrollable laughter on my part! hehe
S-Season: Fall; I love the colors, the weather, the holidays, and falling back into comfortable routines.
T-Tag Three: Kelley, Annie, Rae (I don't know who has and hasn't been tagged)
U-Unknown fact about me: I like Jackie Chan movies.
V-Vegetarian or Oppressor of Meat: (in my best caveman voice) ME EAT MEAT! MEAT GOOD! VEGGIES FOR WIMPS!
W-Worst Habit: Picking my pimples in the bathroom mirror.
X-X-Rays or Ultrasounds: x-ray. Ultrasounds just look like you're watching the snowy channels on the TV.
Y-your favorite food: Tomatoes, mexican food
Z-Zodiac Sign: Leo

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