Computer Virus?

I am not able to see my desktop theme. All I see is a black back round laying on top of my desktop theme and in a square it says,

WARNING! YOU'RE IN DANGER!

ALL YOU DO WITH COMPUTER IS STORED FOREVER IN YOUR HARD DISK. WHEN YOU VISIT SITES, SEND EMAILS... ALL YOUR ACTIONS ARE LOGGED. AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THEM WITH STANDARD TOOLS. YOUR DATA IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR FORENSICS. AND IN SOME CASES FOR YOUR BOSS, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR WIFE, YOUR CHILDREN. Every site you or somebody or even something, like spyware, opened in your browser, with all images, and all downloaded and maybe later removed movies or mp3 songs - ARE STILL THERE and could broke your life! SECURE YOURSELF RIGHT NOW!

I know it's a virus but how can I get rid of this right now or am I going to need to purchase some type of spy ware cd, etc.

Plus I continue to receive many, many pop ups. I downloaded Firefox but was unsuccessful at deleting Explorer. Wasn't able to locate it in the add/delete programs MY Computer

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Right click empty spot on desktop/properties/display properties/desktop/check none/apply/ok

or Start/Control Panel/Display/display properties/desktop/check none/apply/ok

and

Right click empty spot on desktop/properties/display properties/desktop/customize desktop/web tab/uncheck all boxes/ok/apply/ok

or Start/Control Panel/Display/display properties/desktop/customize desktop/web tab/uncheck all boxes/ok/apply/ok

start/settings/control panel/display/desktop tab

click on the customize desktop button

click on the web tab

uncheck file://C:\WINDOWS\Web\desktop.html

Do all of ththe following in SAFE MODE if possible; safe mode - (click on link if "how to" steps needed)

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsg...

Then run = Spybot-S%26amp;D =http://www.safer-networking.org

and Ad-aware = http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?d...

Then install = SpywareBlaster[/b]/SpywareGuard - Freeware = http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareb...

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Hi. First boot into safe mode by booting and tapping F8 repeatedly. Select safe mode. If you or a friend can download AdAware and Spybot, run them. Delete everything they find and try a normal boot. Sometimes this indicates a registry key has been changed. There are some free registry cleaners out there. Search on 'registry clean free'. Good luck.
Follow the instructions on the link below

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t...
That is a nasty virus. You can't delete explorer because it is part of your operating system. If you get your computer running again, try your best to download Adaware and run it. You need to run an anti-virus software (I like Norton's) all the time. Any computer that doesn't have it these days is toast. Some viruses are virtually permanent, requiring the drive to be reformated. Your programs and data are usually not infected so they can be copied to the new computer. Just make sure the anti-virus software is running on the new computer. You may get lucky and between Adaware and Norton, things will straiten out.
I recommend you try superantispyware. It might help you out. Do not try to delete explorer,it is a part of windows operating system.
Ok, it is apparent that you can access the internet and download because you downloaded and installed Firefox. Firefox only blocks the standard website popups that any popup blocker program blocks. The types of popup you have are adware popups and cannot be blocked or stopped by Firefox.

Here are two programs and a procedure that will remove most or all of your infections.

TEMPORARILY SHOW HIDDEN FILES AND FOLDERS.

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2. Click Appearance and Themes, and then click Folder Options.

3. On the View tab, under Hidden files and folders, click "Show hidden files and folders", and clear(uncheck) the "Hide protected operating system files" check box.

IMPORTANT: Files are hidden by Windows for a very good reason. It is not wise to experiment with these files. Unfortunately, to successfully remove modern spyware we must turn this protection off temporarily. Please turn the protection back on when you have finished cleaning your system.

EMPTY INTERNET EXPLORER BROWSER CACHE:

1. On the Internet Explorer Tools menu, click Internet Options.

2. On the General tab, in the Temporary Internet Files section, click the Delete Files button. Select the Delete all offline content check box in the confirmation dialogue box that appears, click OK. Click OK again.

RESTART IN SAFE MODE:

To do this you need to hold down or repeatedly tap the F8 key while the computer is booting (when the computer is displaying a black screen with white text). When the boot menu appears, use your keyboard arrows to select "Safe Mode."

Safe Mode can look quite ugly. The color may look bad, and all of your desktop icons will be very large. This is normal.

START THE SCAN WITH YOUR PROGRAM(S).

When the scan and removal are completed REBOOT COMPUTER. This will restart you in normal mode.

RESET HIDDEN FILES AND FOLDERS.

The RESTORE POINTS may be infected with the Malware and cannot be used. Delete the old one(s) and make a new one.

CLEAR OLD RESTORE POINT(S). HERE'S HOW:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2. Click Performance and Maintenance, click System, and then click on the System Restore tab.

3. Select the Turn Off System Restore check box, click Apply, then restart your computer.

4. Return to the System Restore Tab and turn System Restore back on.

TO SET A NEW RESTORE POINT:

1. Click the Start button.

2. Point to Programs, then navigate to Accessories, then System Tools, then click System Restore.

3. Choose Create a restore point, and then click Next.

4. In the Restore point description box, type a name for your restore point, and then click Next.

5. Click OK.

NOTE: If you are using Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and are unable to access the Internet after removing Malware, there is a command that may fix the problem. It works by resetting the winsock catalogue. Click on Start, then Run and type CMD in the box. Click OK. Type "netsh winsock reset" (no quotes)into the DOS window that appears.
get the following, all are free for a safe surfing experience,

install in SAFE mode with networking ( hit F-8 at boot time ), run them all in SAFE mode

with networking as you'll need it for the updates all the programs below will need.

Turn off RESTORE and the RECYLE BIN temporarily as virii can regenerate / reinfect even if you delete

them with both services on. After all the scanning and cleaning after a 2nd reboot and one last

scan do you turn both of them back on.

ANTI VIRAL

AVG (free) http://free.grisoft.com/

FIREWALL

ZoneAlarm http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/co...

WEB BROWSER - http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox

EMAIL use thunderbird. It has a good built in spam filter and learns when you teach it.

http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderb...

SPYWARE

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaw...

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index...

and if you have a wireless router follow these tips,

1. Use WPA encryption (WPA-PSK) it's less crackable then WEP.

2. Make a passphrase that is upper %26amp; lower case and has some numbers thrown in there as well, again harder to crack.

some like mAkE1t5eCurE0rel53 and as long as possible.

3. Use MAC access control so only you or authorized PC's can connect (even if you do have encryption turned on)

4. Turn off DHCP use static addresses.

5. Turn off SSID (and change it) unless your card really needs it (some do)

6. Change username/password of access unit front end

7. Ensure you have the usual firewall enabled on your PC.

8. Paranoia rules, turn WLAN off if your not using it :)

one last tip

control panel---administrator tools--services--messenger

right clik on it

stop the service

then disable it

save changes

*********** sidebar note*****************8

You've seen the Internet ads: Click here to get your free laptop computer, iPod, trip to Bermuda . . .

Ever wondered what would happen if you tried to claim the freebie?

Generally, you'd end up earning the reward by answering surveys, completing product offers or referring friends.

To find out if the process proved worth the effort, we polled our newsletter readers for a week and asked about their

experience with answering ads for free merchandise. Most responded that the freebie turned out to be anything but free.

Here is a sampling of the letters we received.

The free iPod that cost me

"I responded to a free iPod ad. After several requests to sign up for various services, I realized that the free iPod was not

free at all. The killing part is, I actually did commit to a few services and have been billed for them, but because I got

caught in a loop of pop-up windows and surveys, I became frustrated and did not follow through to get the free iPod.

"I keep saying that I am going contact someone about it, but being the procrastinator that I am, I just haven't gotten around

to it yet." -- Rhonda

Free cell phone! What free cell phone?

"Free stuff, what a joke.

"After going through 11 questionnaires and saying no to all, you finally get to the last, and they say you must at least pick

two items in order to be able to get whatever they are giving away.

"For instance, I answered a free cell phone ad and went through 11-12 questionnaires and at first it says no obligation to

buy anything, but when I got to the last I must at least try magazines for 30 days and they're hoping I will forget to cancel

before the 30 days. And the kicker was once I agreed to the free trial of magazines, they never ever mentioned the free cell

phone again, and I will be watching and waiting to see what they do to my credit card and if I get the phone, and then that's

when I will sue the company for 100 times the amount of the phone and the magazines.

More from MSN Money and Bankrate.com

service ? Comstock Select/Corbis

* How to quit the gym (or anything)

* When is a freebie offer really free?

* How to say NO! to anything or anyone

* Have a frugal tip? Share it to win $100

* 5 reasons you overspend online

* Internet scams to watch for in 2007

"By the way, once you give one company your credit card number you get charged $1 to $4.95 on your card, for other items I

never heard of before and have to take the time to call them and get them to remove it.

"There should be a law against this thing." -- Bob

Free spam! Act now!

"Yes, they are all scams. There is always a 'short' questionnaire. You always have to answer many, many questions if you want

this or that. You always have to give your e-mail address and other information. You always have to check 'yes' for at least

one in order to qualify and continue. If you ever get to the end after 45 minutes or so -- yeah, short -- you end up having

to buy or sign up for something or your name is put into a lottery for a chance to win. I, in my stupidity, have done this

several times. Always thinking maybe this one is legit. Not! I have never gotten the free product or the free gift card,

groceries, movie tickets, etc. Then your e-mail is bombarded with hundreds of advertisements that you can never seem to stop

unless you change your e-mail address. What a deal. Moral of this story is: Nothing is free." -- Jean

"I filled out the questionnaire online for a $50 gift certificate for dinner at a well-known restaurant chain. They ask for

your name and the rest of your personal information and e-mail address. Then the questionnaire opens up a new page and asks

you if you would be interested in e-mails for specials on items that you could use in your life. You fill that page out then

here comes another page with more questions. After about five pages I gave up. It just wouldn't quit. It was like a stupid

carrot that they had hanging out there that you could never reach. I turned my computer off and said, 'Forget that!' After

that I didn't check my e-mail for about a week and when I did I had over 200 spam messages, even sex ones. I never did get a

dinner certificate. I had to close that e-mail account because the spam garbage would not quit. Moral of the story: There is

no free lunch on the Internet." -- Sascha

"I have responded twice to freebie ads, using an alternative e-mail address and within 24 hours received hundreds of spam

e-mails -- and no free anything. My perception is the purpose is to get folks to reply and then have access to their e-mail

addresses." -- Bea

"After I gave my e-mail address and answered all the questions, I was informed that I had to order (buy) one item from

several areas in order to receive the freebie. I canceled the 'adventure' and have been inundated with junk mail ever since.

Never again. Big scam for addresses to sell, etc." -- Anita

Complete the never-ending survey

"I tried to win a few of those free products, but I am convinced they are the biggest fraud out there. For example, I spent

three hours filling out questionnaires only to find out they never end, and the couple of times I got to the end they wanted

me to buy something and you know what that means: They are asking for your credit card information.

"They are scam artists." -- Randy

Free (with shipping and handling)

"I purchased some software from a company that advertises if you pay for shipping you get four software titles for free.

"A few weeks later I got a $49 charge on my account. I looked up the company on the Web and none of the links I found went to

the company. I tried the phone number that showed up on my statement and they simply tell you they are not available and to

try back later before they hang up on you. So dissatisfied, I searched the Internet a little more only to find I wasn't the

only one to be scammed. Turns out that they never tell you that you are signing up for a subscription but send you software

and you have a short time frame to return it or be charged. Total scam." -- Kendal

Free (with Social Security and credit card numbers)

"I was scammed. The 'free' gift required my participation in at least six 'promotions,' each of which required signing up for

a trial membership and/or paying shipping and handling fees for the information. Plus I was asked to provide credit card and

Social Security numbers -- too much sensitive, private and personal information.

"The 'free' gift was never realized, and I felt scammed." -- Edward

Free (with purchase)

"Yes, I've answered ads for 'free' products. Please note the quote marks -- they're intentional. Many of the Internet

freebies have extremely long forms to fill out, complete with a host of ads you need to reply 'not interested' to or else

you'll receive hundreds of solicitations from various companies.

"The 'gift certificates' offered for sometimes hundreds of dollars almost always involve purchasing something, somewhere

along the line or becoming a trial member of something. At which point you need to pay for your subscription or membership

upfront, with the caveat it's 'fully refundable' within strict parameters. As the saying goes, there's no such thing as a

free lunch!
You can download a free antispyware/ virus/trojan version and remove them. Check out http://sumiram2006.googlepages.com/comba...

It has good downloads to detect and eliminate virus/trojans/spyware

Best wishes