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Here are the procedures LTS recommends for dealing with a security compromise. If you're not sure what the difference is between viruses and spyware, check our Security Terms page.
Most spyware infections can be cleaned up easily using one of our recommended Anti-Spyware tools. You may have to try more than one of these programs before you'll get rid of the problem. If you're still having trouble, contact us for more assistance.
If Symantec AntiVirus detects a virus and is able to remove or quarantine it, it's probably still safe to continue using your computer. Symantec keeps a log of what it was able to do to fix virus problems in its Virus History.
If you find out your computer has a virus and Symantec does not detect it, getting rid of it is often very difficult. LTS strongly recommends that you format the hard drive and reinstall the operating system from scratch, which the Hardware Repair Shop can help you with for a small fee. If you choose not to reinstall your operating system, you will have to figure out how to get rid of the virus yourself.
Almost all modern viruses try to steal your personal information. If your computer has a virus, you should change all of your important passwords, including your UNet password and passwords for your bank, eBay, Paypal, etc.
The first thing you should do if you suspect you may need to reinstall Windows is back up all your data. If you have a CD burner, CD-Rs are usually the easiest way to do data backup. Otherwise, you can use Zip disks, USB flash drives, Firewire external hard disks, or any other kind of removable media storage. If it's still safe to access the network with this virus, you can use your UNet file space to back up your data. Only use floppy disks as an absolute last resort.
If the Hardware Repair Shop is assisting you with your reinstall, they can back up and restore your data for a small additional fee.
