Please note that all the software I am recommending in this thread is free. Some of these software programs also have paid versions but all of these programs can be downloaded installed and run for free.
Sorry to hear that happened. First of all I would say why don’t you restore the system from a backup. You should always have a backup because Windows is inherently unstable. The software below will allow you to make a backup to DVD blanks with compression of all data on a hard drive. It also allows you to make a boot disk to restore data later.
Macrium Reflect Free 4.2 build 2952
http://download.cnet.com/Macrium-Reflect-Free/3000-2242_4-10845728.html?tag=mncol;2
Secondly I would have a talk with your son about the fact that it’s a big bad world out there on the Internet. Explain that there’s a difference between going to known websites versus simply searching new sites from a search engine. Talk about what viruses, Trojans, worms and key loggers and the fact that Windows is an unstable open operating system.
Below are some links and how to remove antivirus8. It looks like you’re going to have to edit the registry manually. A way to do that is to go to start, run, type in “regedit”. After you delete the registry entries, reboot the system. Then you should be able to delete the associated files.
Whenever you have a suspect program you think is running on your computer, it’s a good idea to check what is running in memory against a baseline you should have made earlier. The way I do this is to boot up my computer, unplug my network wire, turn off all the programs that I can including the antivirus program. Then I do a CTRL ALT DLT to open the Windows task manager. Click on the process tab to see what’s running in memory. Click on the image name sub tab once or twice to get the list in alphabetical order. Impress the ALT PRINT SCREEN buttons at the same time to copy a picture of what’s running in memory to the clipboard. Then I paste that picture into Microsoft Word and print it.
Whenever you see something running in memory that isn’t on your reference list Google it. Pretty quickly bailed to see if it’s a process that is harmless or whether it’s some kind of virus.
Remove Antivirus8 malware:
http://www.2-spyware.com/remove-antivirus8.html
My two favorite anti-malware our programs are below:
SpywareBlaster 4.4
http://download.cnet.com/SpywareBlaster/3000-8022_4-10196637.html?tag=mncol;1
Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.2
http://download.cnet.com/Spybot-Search-amp-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html?tag=mncol;4
Below is my favorite free online scanner which you can run regardless of what antivirus program installed in your computer.
Free eurozone anti virus online scanner:
http://www.f-secure.com/en_EMEA-Labs/security-threats/tools/online-scanner/
Generally I recommend running a third-party firewall rather lets build in the Windows.
Agnitum Outpost Firewall Free 2009
http://download.cnet.com/Agnitum-Outpost-Firewall-Free/3000-10435_4-10913746.html?tag=mncol;1
Windows Vista should be on service pack three by now. There is a chance your system is only on service pack two. I think you can go to control panel, system, the general tab to see what service pack is installed.
Lastly I would recommend that you never ever use Internet Explorer. Use Firefox instead. Also I recommend not using Outlook express. Instead use Thunderbird
Mozilla Firefox 3.6.13
http://download.cnet.com/mozilla-firefox/?tag=mncol;6
Mozilla Thunderbird 3.1.7
http://download.cnet.com/Mozilla-Thunderbird/3000-2367_4-10213643.html?tag=mncol;2
I don’t recommend trying to remove Internet Explorer. Simply don’t use it. The main IE icon on most Windows desktops is actually an icon and therefore can’t be deleted. However you can make a folder like “don’t use” or some such thing and put Internet Explorer in there. Trying actually remove Internet Explorer is likely to break the box.
