Microsoft Security Essentials Appears to Have Disappeared From My Computer

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Microsoft Security Essentials Appears to Have Disappeared From My Computer (Page 1 of 2)

Posted: 8/9/2011 7:11:13 PM EDT

Just ran it Saturday, now I can not find it and I just got a pop up message (appears to be a system window with control panel) saying that Windows Defender is out of date and I need to manually turn on Security Essentials. The box to do so however is grayed out and there is a blue text options to search on-line for another anti-virus program.

Anybody know what is up?

Posted: 8/9/2011 7:12:13 PM EDT

[#1]

Yeah, you got owned.

Posted: 8/9/2011 7:12:45 PM EDT

[#2]

Sounds like a virus has hijacked your ability to run an anti-virus. I had this same problem a while back.

The main reason I'm posting from linux right now...

Posted: 8/9/2011 7:12:55 PM EDT

[#3]

Mine did this the other day but my computer was updating it.

Probably doesnt help much huh?

Posted: 8/9/2011 7:13:35 PM EDT

[#4]

malwarebytes
safe mode
full scan

Posted: 8/9/2011 7:14:39 PM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
malwarebytes
safe mode
full scan

X2

Posted: 8/9/2011 7:17:05 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
malwarebytes
safe mode
full scan

Start here. If that doesn't get it done, post in the Urban Commandos forum. The new stuff can get really, really ugly.

Posted: 8/9/2011 7:21:28 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:

Anybody know what is up?

Conspiracy. Clearly an inside job perpetrated by Steve Jobs and Apple Inc.

This could be worse than...
It could be... the beginning!

Posted: 8/9/2011 7:28:05 PM EDT

[#8]

Safe Mode with Networking
Combofix
Malwarebytes full scan

Posted: 8/9/2011 7:29:26 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:

Quoted:
malwarebytes
safe mode
full scan

Start here. If that doesn't get it done, post in the Urban Commandos forum. The new stuff can get really, really ugly.

I thought Microsoft was supposed to be on top of this shit.

Showing 9 infected files so far with only 44,000 files scanned.

Posted: 8/9/2011 7:30:54 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
Safe Mode with Networking
Combofix
Malwarebytes full scan

What's the difference between the suggestion above of safe mode, malewarebyres and full scan? If I had a clue I wouldn't be asking here.

Posted: 8/9/2011 7:39:21 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Safe Mode with Networking
Combofix
Malwarebytes full scan

What's the difference between the suggestion above of safe mode, malewarebyres and full scan? If I had a clue I wouldn't be asking here.

Combofix can detect and remove rootkits and other nasty crap. Malwarebytes is good, but it can miss things that will just re-DL malware in the background and reinfect the system.

Posted: 8/9/2011 7:46:02 PM EDT

[#12]

Seriously, I have a PC. I never get viruses. I dont open emails from people I dont know and I dont go to porn spam sites. How hard can it be? Am I just lucky? Do viruses just infect your computer out of the blue without doing anything?

Posted: 8/9/2011 7:47:17 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
Seriously, I have a PC. I never get viruses. I dont open emails from people I dont know and I dont go to porn spam sites. How hard can it be? Am I just lucky? Do viruses just infect your computer out of the blue without doing anything?

First time in ages I've gotten one.

Posted: 8/9/2011 7:49:32 PM EDT

[#14]

When it happened here, I used rkill and malewarebytes. rkill stops the trojan prog from running, allowing malewarebytes to do its thing.

Posted: 8/9/2011 7:52:25 PM EDT

[#15]

Alright talk to the idiot.

Boot in safe mode with networking
Run rkill and combofix
Finally run full scan with malwarebytes

That right?

Posted: 8/9/2011 7:58:28 PM EDT

[#16]

There is a new virus out there that "hides" the contents of your C: drive...you might find that next. Also, MS Security Essentials is probably not gone, just disabled. Have fun!

Posted: 8/9/2011 8:00:53 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:

Quoted:
malwarebytes
safe mode
full scan

Start here. If that doesn't get it done, post in the Urban Commandos forum. The new stuff can get really, really ugly.

I thought Microsoft was supposed to be on top of this shit.

Showing 9 infected files so far with only 44,000 files scanned.

Maybe you should stop watching that midgetgoatfuckinghomobuttsexporn.

Posted: 8/9/2011 8:03:11 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:

Alright talk to the idiot.

Boot in safe mode with networking

Run rkill and combofix

Finally run full scan with malwarebytes

That right?

That should do it. But ya never know these days until you do, and then reboot regular windows.

Posted: 8/9/2011 8:45:09 PM EDT

[#19]

You got da AIDS.jpeg

Posted: 8/9/2011 8:49:41 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
Seriously, I have a PC. I never get viruses. I dont open emails from people I dont know and I dont go to porn spam sites. How hard can it be? Am I just lucky? Do viruses just infect your computer out of the blue without doing anything?

I caught one(actually 2) from Phone.com the other day.

-on an XP SP2 box without any AV running. I hadn't clicked on anything.

Posted: 8/9/2011 8:54:43 PM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
Alright talk to the idiot.

Boot in safe mode with networking
Run rkill and combofix
Finally run full scan with malwarebytes

That right?

Jst FYI - Combofix can be rough on a machine and is more of a last resort-
run Rkill, Super anti=Spyware then malware bytes,

I had to run 'em in safe mode to keep the fake AV from starting up.

Posted: 8/9/2011 8:57:09 PM EDT

[#22]

Jesus I ran rkill than combo fix, removed the infections. Trying to start in safe mode, I can't. Windows boots and I can put in my password, but no applications will launch. I'm getting an error message every time I try to open ANY program.

Posted: 8/9/2011 9:04:47 PM EDT

[#23]

The error message I get for all applications is

The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b). Click OK to close the application.

Posted: 8/9/2011 9:05:12 PM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:
Jesus I ran rkill than combo fix, removed the infections. Trying to start in safe mode, I can't. Windows boots and I can put in my password, but no applications will launch. I'm getting an error message every time I try to open ANY program.

the infection is still there, i told you to run malwarebytes first

you should be able to start in safe mode, it's just a matter of hitting the function key at the right time...

try cycling power a few times while it's in the middle of booting, it should drop you to the boot options menu since windows couldn't finish loading. then select safe mode

Posted: 8/9/2011 9:12:46 PM EDT

[#25]

It removed the file association for all .exe files...so nothing can start. Google the fix for whichever OS you are running...the registry and file locations are different depending on the version of Windows.

Posted: 8/9/2011 9:14:56 PM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:
It removed the file association for all .exe files...so nothing can start. Google the fix for whichever OS you are running...the registry and file locations are different depending on the version of Windows.

Yeah, way over my head... And I'm exhausted.

Posted: 8/9/2011 9:16:01 PM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:
Jesus I ran rkill than combo fix, removed the infections. Trying to start in safe mode, I can't. Windows boots and I can put in my password, but no applications will launch. I'm getting an error message every time I try to open ANY program.

Told ya to be carefull.

sfc /scannow is probably your bet bet now.

Posted: 8/9/2011 9:19:19 PM EDT

[#28]

What the fuck is sfc/scannow? I can't load any programs, including browsers. I'm running Windows 7 Home Premium.

Posted: 8/9/2011 9:22:09 PM EDT

[#29]

Always try to restore from a previous point before running any thing like malwarebytes, that is the first thing Microsoft will tell you if you call them and it usually works, especially with Win 7.

Posted: 8/9/2011 9:24:24 PM EDT

[#30]

Quoted:
Always try to restore from a previous point before running any thing like malwarebytes, that is the first thing Microsoft will tell you if you call them and it usually works, especially with Win 7.

There were no restore points, I looked. First thing I thought of doing.

Posted: 8/9/2011 9:25:06 PM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:
Seriously, I have a PC. I never get viruses. I dont open emails from people I dont know and I dont go to porn spam sites. How hard can it be? Am I just lucky? Do viruses just infect your computer out of the blue without doing anything?

Safe browsing practices go a long way to preventing infection.

Firefox + adblock + noscript will handle most of the "no user input required" type of infections.

Not clicking on every fucking thing that shows up on your screen will handle the rest.

(that includes email attachments and visiting shady porn sites)

Posted: 8/9/2011 9:28:26 PM EDT

[#32]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Seriously, I have a PC. I never get viruses. I dont open emails from people I dont know and I dont go to porn spam sites. How hard can it be? Am I just lucky? Do viruses just infect your computer out of the blue without doing anything?

Safe browsing practices go a long way to preventing infection.

Firefox + adblock + noscript will handle most of the "no user input required" type of infections.

Not clicking on every fucking thing that shows up on your screen will handle the rest.

(that includes email attachments and visiting shady porn sites)

Thanks dad, I don't go to shady porn sites. The only attachments I've gotten have been from my girlfriends Mac when she asked me to print her resume. I would run Firefox if it wasn't such a fucking dog compared to Chrome. Now do you have a suggestion on how to fix it?

Posted: 8/9/2011 9:30:25 PM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Seriously, I have a PC. I never get viruses. I dont open emails from people I dont know and I dont go to porn spam sites. How hard can it be? Am I just lucky? Do viruses just infect your computer out of the blue without doing anything?

Safe browsing practices go a long way to preventing infection.

Firefox + adblock + noscript will handle most of the "no user input required" type of infections.

Not clicking on every fucking thing that shows up on your screen will handle the rest.

(that includes email attachments and visiting shady porn sites)

Thanks dad, I don't go to shady porn sites. The only attachments I've gotten have been from my girlfriends Mac when she asked me to print her resume. I would run Firefox if it wasn't such a fucking dog compared to Chrome. Now do you have a suggestion on how to fix it?

Do I, sure. I've fixed that problem on literally hundreds of computers.

Am I going to help you? Nope, not with that attitude.

Posted: 8/9/2011 9:31:04 PM EDT

[#34]

Quoted:
Seriously, I have a PC. I never get viruses. I dont open emails from people I dont know and I dont go to porn spam sites. How hard can it be? Am I just lucky? Do viruses just infect your computer out of the blue without doing anything?

I got a nasty virus simply from using Google images to find a map of some kind. I didn't click anything, didn't even visit the site.

Posted: 8/9/2011 9:33:42 PM EDT

[#35]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Seriously, I have a PC. I never get viruses. I dont open emails from people I dont know and I dont go to porn spam sites. How hard can it be? Am I just lucky? Do viruses just infect your computer out of the blue without doing anything?

Safe browsing practices go a long way to preventing infection.

Firefox + adblock + noscript will handle most of the "no user input required" type of infections.

Not clicking on every fucking thing that shows up on your screen will handle the rest.

(that includes email attachments and visiting shady porn sites)

Thanks dad, I don't go to shady porn sites. The only attachments I've gotten have been from my girlfriends Mac when she asked me to print her resume. I would run Firefox if it wasn't such a fucking dog compared to Chrome. Now do you have a suggestion on how to fix it?

Do I, sure. I've fixed that problem on literally hundreds of computers.

Am I going to help you? Nope, not with that attitude.

Sorry Zack, I'm cheesed off and I'm getting sick of the porn comments from the peanut gallery. I take great care to protect my machine. I don't go to fucked up porn sites, or porn sites for that matter. Those I use my iPad for, and iTunes is not even on the bored up computer. It's late and I'm burned out. Sorry again for snapping, goodnight.

Posted: 8/9/2011 9:34:34 PM EDT

[#36]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Seriously, I have a PC. I never get viruses. I dont open emails from people I dont know and I dont go to porn spam sites. How hard can it be? Am I just lucky? Do viruses just infect your computer out of the blue without doing anything?

I got a nasty virus simply from using Google images to find a map of some kind. I didn't click anything, didn't even visit the site.

Interesting, I do search Google images when people suggest it here, never thought of that.

Posted: 8/9/2011 9:38:28 PM EDT

[#37]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Anybody know what is up?

Conspiracy. Clearly an inside job perpetrated by Steve Jobs and Apple Inc.

This could be worse than...

It could be... the beginning!

I blame it on the Black Supremecist/White Progressive/Militant Woman's Groups...Has to be...

Doesn't sound good.

Posted: 8/9/2011 9:42:07 PM EDT

[#38]

Wellmit looks like it restored to factory config and I lost everything. While rebooting I got it into a startup mode, after doing it's thing it booted into the desktop and everything is gone.

Posted: 8/9/2011 9:48:01 PM EDT

[#39]

Quoted:
Wellmit looks like it restored to factory config and I lost everything. While rebooting I got it into a startup mode, after doing it's thing it booted into the desktop and everything is gone.

Sorry to hear.

Posted: 8/9/2011 9:50:58 PM EDT

[#40]

Some of the programs are there, but no data... Which means the virus may still be there. Zack I'll take you up on that offer in a day or so, or maybe later tomorrow night. Right now it is nearly 2:00am.

Posted: 8/9/2011 9:53:00 PM EDT

[#41]

Quoted:

Interesting, I do search Google images when people suggest it here, never thought of that.

It was one of those new super bugs. Never had anything like that happen before. That was about...6 months ago. I still use Google images of course. Haven't had any problems since.

Sorta like fender benders, these days. Sooner or later, everyone will get one. So, I went and got an external hard drive to back up my data. I was shocked how cheap they are...and take my word for it: I'm cheap!

Posted: 8/9/2011 10:04:02 PM EDT

[#42]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Interesting, I do search Google images when people suggest it here, never thought of that.

It was one of those new super bugs. Never had anything like that happen before. That was about...6 months ago. I still use Google images of course. Haven't had any problems since.

Sorta like fender benders, these days. Sooner or later, everyone will get one. So, I went and got an external hard drive to back up my data. I was shocked how cheap they are...and take my word for it: I'm cheap!

You're right, it's cheap insurance to keep your data stored on a separate drive, or even mirrored on two.

I don't keep anything on my system drive.

Hope you didn't lose anything too important Hiram.

Posted: 8/10/2011 12:23:14 AM EDT

[#43]

You may not have lost the actual data yet.

It's a complex affair.

1: Stop fucking with the machine. Don't use it... Don't even turn it on.
2: Get help from a Tier 1 Computer Operator.
3: Watch and try to learn.

TR85.

Posted: 8/10/2011 5:05:24 AM EDT

[#44]

Quoted:
You may not have lost the actual data yet.

It's a complex affair.

1: Stop fucking with the machine. Don't use it... Don't even turn it on.
2: Get help from a Tier 1 Computer Operator.
3: Watch and try to learn.

TR85.

I hope Zack is Tier 1

He'll be helping me try to unfuck this mess. Now I understand how people end up owning Macs

Posted: 8/10/2011 5:16:23 AM EDT

[#45]

Go to http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ adn look over the forums for your operating system. You have to join the forum to post, but it's a freebie. From there, you can find the proper board to address your problem.

And For The Love Of God, don't follow the instructions you get on GD. There are moderators on bleepingcomputer who will give you scanners to run and they'll review the logs. Don't post any scan logs unless one of the moderators asks you to do so. Check the membership status of anyone who suggests a program for you. There are idiots on there who act like they know what they're doing.

Combofix attempts to reset registry keys that were corrupted by virus and trojan attacks. It is a last resort.