I have a damn dialer trojan on my computer...how do I get it off?

[Reverend_Smitty]

it's not doing anything to my computer except it keeps trying to access the internet but my Norton internet security keeps preventing it and then the virus scan says it has repaired the file. Just when I think I got rid of it, the internet security message pops up again. What can I do about this?

[sir_captain]

1. if you just got it recently

and are running XP, you can roll back windows to where it was a few days ago and you'll be all set. otherwise, your best bet is to google the name of the trojan for directions on manual removal.

what trojan is it--might be able to be a bit more helpful with that info

[Reverend_Smitty]

2. its called dialer.kotu

I think I got it today, how do I roll back windows?

[sir_captain]

3. To roll back windows

click on the start menu and select "run..."

type in "msconfig" and hit ok

Click on "lauch system restore" and then follow the wizard prompts. Non-OS files (word documents, etc) should be perfectly safe, but backing up important stuff before you do this is not a terrible idea, and a good idea in general since sometimes the only way to fully get rid of viruses/trojans is to format and reinstall the OS.

[Monk06]

4. Goto Accessories/System Tools/System Restore. The last restore

point will be yesterday by default. Click Yes
to restore.

You will lose all of today's files. If you're
right and everything was OK yesterday you're
clear.

[Monk06]

5. BTW if you're going to do a system restore you have till midnight

tonight PST. Otherwise you have to remove it.
Hijack This may remove it if it is not too
recent a trojan.

[sir_captain]

6. Depends on how much space is allocated to restoration

could be there's lots more restore points further back.

[Monk06]

7. Sorry I was under the impression that all previous restore points

were deleted unless the user scheduled restore.

[sir_captain]

9. Previous restore points

are deleted to maintain a certain disk-space size that is allocated for restoration. Depending on the system and how much space has been allocated for restore points, you could have (theoretically) quite a number of them.

[Reverend_Smitty]

10. when I checked restore points...

it had the largest alloted disk space allowed

[sir_captain]

12. cool

definitely give that a shot and run a norton scan to check afterwards

a quick hijackthis and/or adaware scan afterward wouldn't hurt either

[Reverend_Smitty]

13. so if I do system restore...

it will only get rid of the stuff I created on my computer in the last 24 hrs, right? on edit, I think I picked up the trojan sometime this afternoon around 2 pm

[sir_captain]

14. It'll clear out anything in your system folders

restoring the system to the state just prior to the timestamp on the restore point. So if you got it this past afternoon, going back 24 hours ought to do the trick.

[Reverend_Smitty]

15. well I just did the restore to Friday night...

and praise Jeebus nothing has popped up yet so I think I'm in the clear! Thanks sooooooo much to everyone in this thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is a prime example why DU is the best place on the net, I can get virus help at 2:30 in the morning!

[sir_captain]

16. heh....no problem

run those scans to be sure it worked...i'll keep my fingers crossed

now if only i knew just as much about post-translational proteolytic peptide processing, i'd be all set :scared:

[Reverend_Smitty]

17. I wish I could be more helpful on the post-transitional blah-ditty-blah

but I can't even pronounce it let alone figure out what the hell it means :P ...although I know what peptides are, I guess you are doing something with proteins? so good luck with that

[Reverend_Smitty]

8. cool thanks

[BikeWriter]

11. AVG antivirus Free Edition