Is this a virus? PLEASE HELP!

I am running Windows 98. I have a computer with 1000Ram so memory is not a problem. Every
few minutes my computer freezes up for just 2 to 4 seconds. In this short time nothing works.
Mouse curser stops, music stops and everything is suspended. I checked my computer for virus
with Norton and with on line Panda Active
Scan,(http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm), for virus and I
found nothing. Also my computer at work with which I frequently exchange email exhibits same
symptoms.

Is this a virus? What kind? How can I get rid of it? And if not what is it????

 

Hi, King ~

If you are virus-free, you may have ad/spy/malware or something running in the background. If you want to discover the unasked for software snuck on to your 'puter, I highy recommend you download Spybot v1.2 and Ad-Aware 6.0. You will need to download the latest updates for each and then run them both (and you should do so regularly).

 

10-4 to Bruce.

I second that!

Mike

 

Thanks

I just yesterday upgraded from Win98 to WinXP and so far so good, it took care of then problem.
But should it return I will defiantly try your suggestion.
Thanks again.
Kingfish

 

I think Bruce will agree, if you upgraded this copy of 98 and you had spyware. It is still there. Symptoms gone for the time being only. This can be because of XP's robustness and greater control of the file system.

You are lucky they gave you no problem installing. I usually reccomend a deep cleaning of all temps and spy/adware etc before an upgrade!

Some say upgrade meaning they went from 98 to xp.

When I hear upgrade I assume you installed on top of 98 keeping programs and settings.

Now if you did a clean install instead of an upgrade you are ok for the time being.

You need spy/adware cleanup just as you need virus protection.

Mike

 

the key is to put these anti-spyware security layers in place before the malware finds its way onto your system... to be, as much as is possible, proactive rather than reactive.

so much of the pc security game is already reactive by nature... it's a catch up premise to begin with, in that virus definitions have to be written for newly discovered threats. you're already a bit behind the curve even if you keep everything up the the minute.

but waiting to attack the malware until the culprit has announced itself as a new resident on your machine is not a viable plan, imo.

i completely agree with the previous posters who have recommended Spybot and Ad-aware. both are excellent and both can be found on my computer.

i also think that SpywareBlaster by javacool is a very important proactive security component. check it out and see if you agree. it is memory resident, and will prevent these threats from invading your machine.

good luck and hth



mark

 

Will DO!

Thanks!