Why Does My PC Get Virus' and Malware?

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  1. Posts : 10
    Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
       #1

    Why Does My PC Get Virus' and Malware?


    My Windows version is 2004 (OS Build 19041.508)

    I recently had to take my Windows 10 Pro 64 bit PC to the repair shop because it took for ever to boot up and I lost my Internet connection.

    The technician told me the machine had all kinds of virus and malware. Many of the system files were damaged so he had to format the C drive and re-install Windows 10. I don't know the Windows 10 version when the technician formatted the C drive with all of the troubles. The version number in line one of this post is the version the machine is running now after Windows was re-installed.

    My machine is powered ON 24x7 and it is connected to the Internet all of the time. I have used ESET NOD32 antivirus software for many years and the free version of Malwarebytes. Whenever I do a manual Malwarebytes scan the machine always comes up clean with no malware. I do a weekly ESET scan and the scan never finds any virus. I do not visit "unknown" websites and I don't open email attachments from people I don't know.

    Last year a second Windows 10 Pro 64 bit PC that I have experienced the same thing but the computer shop was able to clean the machine without re-installing Windows.

    I asked my computer technician why ESET didn't catch the virus' and he told me there are so many virus' being created everyday that it is impossible for the anti-virus companies to keep up - I don't know if I believe that.

    I sent ESET an email explaining and asking the same questions as I am asking in this post. ESET usually provides good answers to my questions but this time they really didn't say much of anything.

    Can anyone please give me information on how to keep virus and malware out of my machine?

    Thanks for your help, Bill
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 819
    10
       #2

    artmanphoto said:
    The technician told me the machine had all kinds of virus and malware.
    I've never heard of your virus software and so I have no clue if it's recommended. (I'm new to PCs 3 years but still someone else here will know the answer to that.) I'd use the Windows Defender Security installed plus Malwarebytes free.

    If I had to guess you had a corrupted install and the tech decided to make a little money and do a clean install. He might have thought telling you about viruses and malware was the fastest (for him) solution.
    Last edited by The Pool Man; 18 Sep 2020 at 14:31.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 16,781
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #3

    artmanphoto said:
    I recently had to take my Windows 10 Pro 64 bit PC to the repair shop because it took for ever to boot up and I lost my Internet connection.
    Bill,

    If those were your symptoms then I agree with The Pool Man; you've been had.

    You might have been able to fix things yourself with, say, SFC-DISM - TenForumsTutorials

    Denis
    Last edited by Try3; 17 Sep 2020 at 22:27.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #4

    You don't really know if your computer had viruses or not. All you know for sure is what the computer shop told you. It is the easiest fix for them to reinstall Windows, which you can also very easily do yourself.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,604
    Win 10 home 20H2 19042.1110
       #5

    I don't think the computer shop has any idea about your antivirus or your problems! Their easiest way (and to charge you money) was to re-install Windows.

    "Overall, *ESET* NOD32 is one of the best antivirus software in the security software." This is a quote, and Eset is very good!!
    Download ESET NOD32 Antivirus 13.1.16.0 (Free) for Windows
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 10
    Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Thanks everyone for your thoughts. My repair tech is in a small computer store that I trust and I used before. So I guess I am still wondering how my machine got so infected.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1,604
    Win 10 home 20H2 19042.1110
       #7

    I don't believe you're infected. Ask your repair tech to copy and save the infected files, so that you can see them. Let us know which files and the name of the infection associated with them, if and when it happens again.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 2,123
    Windows 11 Pro (latest update ... forever anal)
       #8

    artmanphoto said:
    ..... I am still wondering how my machine got so infected.
    Asked, and answered ...

    artmanphoto said:
    I have used ESET NOD32 antivirus software for many years

    Jacee said:
    "Overall, *ESET* NOD32 is one of the best antivirus software in the security software." This is a quote, and Eset is very good!!
    A "quote"? From where ... ESET itself?? In any case, can't say that I agree with any confidence.

    @OP - what are your browsing/useage habits - e.g. do you download torrents.

    In deference to your computer shop, sometimes a level of infection just isn't worth the cleanout effort, and a reformat and clean install can be the best option.

    How did/do you know your computer was infected - errors/warnings/etc ?? Sometime a slow start can simply be a build up a startup programs and cached storage that can easily be user rectified - just part of the normal housekeeping responsibilities of a computer owner/user.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 318
    Windows 10 Home Single Language 21H1
       #9

    Jacee said:
    I don't think the computer shop has any idea about your antivirus or your problems! Their easiest way (and to charge you money) was to re-install Windows.
    it is what they did, how it works

    guy if you have virusses in your computer you can clean by yourself
    you do not want to loose your personel data on your computer

    formating your pc and getting your money is easy way
    you can format your pc by yourself too
    you do not need computer shop or tech
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 5,442
    Windows 11 Home
       #10

    artmanphoto said:
    Can anyone please give me information on how to keep virus and malware out of my machine?
    ~99% malware comes into the PC via a browser (links) or an email (attachments). When it comes to emails, do not open attachments blindly, if you are unsure, scan them with multiple AV, for example at VirusTotal.

    As for the browser, you should start by using a secure DNS, which blocks the most malicious links.

    CleanbrowsingDNS is the best, then there is UltraDNS, Quad9, Cloudflare (in this order).

    Free and Public DNS Server List (Valid September 2020)

    You can also try some browser extensions, in essence, they act as a secondary antivirus.

    Bitdefender TrafficLight - Free Add-on for Secure Web Browsing

    https://www.malwarebytes.com/browserguard

    You can run this as admin in CMD (it disables roughly 50% malware)
    When they say: malware runs by itself, they mean, it runs using scripts.
    Code:
    reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows Script Host\Settings" /v "Enabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
    reg add "HKLM\Software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows Script Host\Settings" /v "Enabled" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Why Does My PC Get Virus' and Malware?-camp_02.png  
      My Computer


 

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