firewall and AV problem

[w00dy]

I have this strange problem that I feel needs some attention.

My firewall appears to be working (Zone Alarm pro) but when I try to start up the ZA control panel it stays on screen for about 10 seconds then shuts down.

I currently have no ant-virus loaded because I can't install any! When I try to install one the computer just shuts the programme down after about 10 seconds again. Any AV site I visit on the web gets the same treatment, when I visit the site my browser closes the page after about 10-15 seconds. I have no problems visiting any other sites on the web, this only happens when I visit an AV site like AVG or Norotn etc.

What the hell is the problem?

Windows XP
XP Athlon 2100
512 SDram
40GB HDD

cheers
woody

[sam]

try disableing ZA befor the D/L as long as you know its a trusted site then enableing it after the D/L

[w00dy]

I've tried this already, I've even tried uninstalling the firewall and then visiting an Anti-virus site, same result I'm afraid, the browser shuts down after only 10-15 seconds!

[cbuddha42]

that sounds like you have some nasty virus that doesn't want you doing anything to remove it

[w00dy]

Please don't tell me I need to format!!!

[Taz]

try installing spybot AND Ad-aware 6.0, update both to the latest ver. and run them, could be you have some spyware in there. Anti-Virus wont see it, but as a recommendation, use the free AVG as your anti-virus.
All above programs are free btw, thats why I use them, and I think they work better than Norton et al.

[w00dy]

You're not gonna believe this, but I downloaded adaware, installed it and ran it, it shut down after about 30 seconds!!

WTF is going on!!??

Some of the newer viruses or spyware have coded to prevent their easy removal. Sounds like you have one maybe.

Only hope sounds like a DOS scan to see if you can pick the offending files up, using a DOS boot disk made by a leading anti-virus app, or booting with a AV CD-ROM. Not guaranteed to work though, even so.

Do you have a CD copy of, say, Norton AV that you can run from the CD (NOT from within windows!). If you have, boot with that CD and try to do a full scan. Might not work if it's an older CD (virus definitions may be too old), but it's worth a shot.

Otherwise, only other option is to reformat, I'm afraid.

Sorry to say, but some of these newer klez-type viruses are awful hard to get rid of.

Cheers
Mick

[muno]

Or, you could try opening taskmanager and see if there's an offending program running (a task that has a name you don't recognize), and then googling for it. You might find a manual removal instructions.
-M

One last thought: if it is a klez virus, then using the Klez removal tool on Symantec's site may work. But if it's another virus, then this tool will be useless.

Worth a shot in the dark, though.

Cheers
Mick