Virus problem.

[Lord Frunkamunch]

So after an incredibly stupid download on my part, my computer is now infected with...something.
-It occasionally opens up something that shows up as "MSA" on the task manager, which to my knowledge just hogs more and more memory until you end the process.
-Also, and somewhat more irritatingly, it causes mozilla firefox to crash within a few seconds of opening it. (I'm using IE to say this).
-Oh, and IE freezes if I try to download anything. Yeah.
-I have Avira and Avast, neither of which seem to be able to permanently delete it.
-I also tried running the Avast scan in safe mode, but I really have no idea what I'm doing.
-The trojan is hiding itself as a system file, and I could probably delete it if I knew how, which I don't.
-Halp.

[ds dude]

I believe I know what you have, but I can't report for sure.

The only thing you can really do is reformat, because it sounds like you have a Win32.Gpcode virus.

If you start getting porn icons on your screen, then you know you have it, and it's really too late.

Until then, just scan your computer, and if it gets really bad, just reformat.

[Thinkto urself]

try defragging i heard that helps

[Lord Frunkamunch]

I'm trying to keep that as a last resort. *edit: AS IN THE REFORMATTING.

Stupid question: If I backup my files will they just be reinfected after said reformatting?

[ds dude]

It is a possibility that they could be infected.

[Psycho]

I got a virus myself trough ads on a site I thought was safe. It was really nasty, but I eventually got it.

My antivirus dont get much credit for that though, as it was Spybot search & destroy, and Spyware doctor that found the infections. I also got something out with Ad-aware. This all had to happen in safe mode (spent like 3 days in there battling this thing)

Had to manually delete some thing from the registry startup files as well. After I finally thought the virus was gone, windows was behaving erradic, freezing up if I did anything. This was remedied by a windows repair using the XP disk.

So, I would start by running Spybot s&d, ad-aware, Malwarebytes anti malware, and anything else you might have, from safe mode.

[jrgp]

try defragging i heard that helps

That does nothing except possibly help virus scans go faster (assuming your drive is fragged heavily).

I'm trying to keep that as a last resort. *edit: AS IN THE REFORMATTING.

Stupid question: If I backup my files will they just be reinfected after said reformatting?

Formatting/reinstalling is the ONLY thing that will guarantee your computer is safe. And no, backups of non-system files should be fine.

[Keron Cyst]

Bacled-up files would only be infected if the virus was occupying one of the files you back up. If it sits in the same system file, you're fine to back up and reformat the thing (in fact, if it sits in the same one, which system file is it occupying?).

Consider HijackThis and possibly Unlocker (since you can't seem to dl., and if you don't have any other browsers installed, perhaps try downloading from another computer and transferring to the infected one via flash drive).

[demoniac93]

1.Defrag.
2.Clean up using CCleaner.
3.Get one of the following; ESET/NOD, as they are not colossally expensive, and are your best crack at Trojans, which I assume you're dealing with.
4.Install the AV and scan/quarantine/delete the infected files.
5.Format. (After backing up your files, would be even better to back them up externaly for future issues)
6.Re-install the AV, and you're good.

That's if you have a few bucks to spare and want to guarantee your PC's safety on the long run.

[a-4-year-old]

Yes, defragment your data right before you delete it. its the most efficient way.

[Lord Frunkamunch]

problem solved, thanks for your non-defragmentation-related input

[Keron Cyst]

Hahaha. So what did you do?

[Lord Frunkamunch]

I traced the locations of the 2 most annoying processes, renamed the extensions so they stopped working, and deleted them with the help of unlocker. Then I was able to download things without IE freezing, and got a shitload of various antivirus programs.

[Psycho]

Congrats

[Kazuki]

You should have tried Malwarebytes in safe mode. I should have chimed in earlier.

[TBDM]

smash your pc and buy a new one.

[messuh]

smash your pc and buy a new one.

Lol, you're funny. He didn't wanna reformat his computer and you want him to buy a new one O: