Security problems with my home PC

[Wrichik Basu]

I have a PC at my home with Windows 7, 32-bit. It is used by my father and me, on the administrator account, which is the only user in the computer.

Since a few months, while clearing the contents of the "temp" folder (accessed by %temp% from Run option in start), I am finding that several videos of bad taste (very very bad content) have downloaded by itself. This is taking place at least once in a week, depending on how much we are using the Internet.

We have QuickHeal antivirus installed and updated to the latest version. We perform a full system scan (including that of the full hard disk) at least once a month. Malware protection, browser protection, firewall are all switched on. Still, we are facing this problem.

But today, it reached its height. I was doing some work on the Internet with Opera browser, when suddenly it just started opening new tabs, and absolutely horrible websites started cropping up by themselves, and also started asking for downloading videos. I was very scared, and immediately uninstalled the browser.

But when I opened Chrome, the same thing started happening again!

I am really scared now. All my data in the computer is backed up, so I am not thinking about that too much. But I'm really worried about why this is happening?

I switched on parental control in QuickHeal, and after that, it seems the problem has stopped. But the `temp` folder is still getting affected with obliterate content.

Any ideas about how I can prevent all these? My Internet is through broadband connection over cable, with no WiFi connection till the gateway.

 

[Borg]

Have you tried installing a firewall like ZoneAlarm? It will let you know whenever any application is attempting to connect to the internet and will let you block them. You can also see what the application is so that you can investigate further.

 

[jedishrfu]

These steps may help:

https://www.pcworld.com/article/243818/security/how-to-remove-malware-from-your-windows-pc.html

 

[Wrichik Basu]

Have you tried installing a firewall like ZoneAlarm? It will let you know whenever any application is attempting to connect to the internet and will let you block them. You can also see what the application is so that you can investigate further.

Can it be installed with QuickHeal?

 

[Borg]

Can it be installed with QuickHeal?

Probably. I'm not familiar with QuickHeal but, firewalls and antivirus tools usually don't interfere with each other. The real issue is likely the malware. They sometimes block access to sites or applications that would cripple them.

 

[Svein]

https://www.malwarebytes.com/

 

[kaustubhb]

In my experience, it is generally difficult to completely get rid of malware once your system has been deeply infected.
Firewall can prevent outside contact, but to be able to use that effectively, you need to intimately know what applications you are using, and how they connect to internet.
YMMV, but in past, I've had to reformat by system and do a clean install of windows to completely get rid of malware.

 

[QuantumQuest]

Any ideas about how I can prevent all these?

The best way is to be very careful when you browse the net. You may inadvertently click some link on a site and sooner or later, less or more, open the gates of doom in terms of personal annoyance and functionality of your computer. There is no single antivirus or antimalware package in general (even the commercial ones) that can detect and eliminate every possible threat, so your best bet in your case is to try other antimalware software by uninstalling your current one and install another till the malware is detected and eliminated. If you don't want to get through all this your other option is to format your system. Before doing so take care to keep copies of files that you need and double check them if they are infected.

As for firewall, it's been a long time since the last time I used zone alarm but it's definitely a good product. I personally use windows firewall at home and I have no problem but again, my main line of defense is keep an eye open while browsing.

 

[StevieTNZ]

Your backup data also may be infected.

You may also want to run this program - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HijackThis - generate the log and post it for analysis.

 

[phinds]

PC Magazine doesn't rate quick heal very highly. "Con" comments:

Failed to completely block detected malware in testing. So-so phishing protection. Firewall failed Web-based attack tests. Firewall program control limited. Anti-Keylogger proved ineffective in testing.

 

[Wrichik Basu]

PC Magazine doesn't rate quick heal very highly. "Con" comments:

Failed to completely block detected malware in testing. So-so phishing protection. Firewall failed Web-based attack tests. Firewall program control limited. Anti-Keylogger proved ineffective in testing.

Didn't know about that. Maybe we'll consider changing the antivirus soon.

 

[Rive]

Maybe we'll consider changing the antivirus soon.

The problem is, that any decent harmful software will try to interfere with the installation of a new antivirus.
Generally, it's not an easy job to clean up an infected system.
I think the best would be to install a complete new system on a new drive, and then when it is up and secure, attach the old drive (as a removable) and scan/clean it from the new system. Given the circumstances it's better to not have any other working computer on the local network during installation.
After scanning you can move your data securely to the new system.

 

[Laurie K]

Didn't know about that. Maybe we'll consider changing the antivirus soon.

Just google norton internet security free download and only download the one from norton, no matter how many others appear above it on the list as you don't really know where they come from. It is a 3 month trial version which will at least clear up any nasties you may have collected over the years. MacAfee provides a similar trial product.