Cannot update any antivirus or spyware

Hi all

Ok if anyone wants logs I will have to run everything again, however after running e.g. Bitdefender it removed a lot of stuff so did Counterspy, AVG, Spybot and Adaware, the problem I've got is that none of these programs can be updated with the latest definitions, even the paid for Norton Antivirus that is already on this laptop cannot update, Spybot stops twice through its checkng and a window appears with "There were problems with the include file C\Program Files\Spybot - Search _Destroy \Includes\Hijackers.sbi See include 'errors.Log' for details, when trying to update the definitions for Spybot an error window pops up saying "Error retrieving update file Socket error # 10061 connection refused, this seems to be the same as all the other software, cannot connect to server, AVG is the same and asks me to check the update manager, however I cannot access it, its not there, anyone any ideas.

 

Hi Halo

Nice to hear from you, been a while, I was wondering is there a reason why I cannot update direct from the laptop, is it because of Malware, not one antivirus or spyware program will update and I've tried almost all of them, there must be a common denominator somewhere in my connection that can be fixed? However in the mean time will try the manual updates, tankyou very much and all the very best for the festive season.

 

Hi Halo

Happy New Year to you and the gang, I'm going to have to call it a day on this laptop for now, still cannot implant the updated definitions into either AVG, Spybot or Adaware, tried everything, one or two downloaded programs that have to be paid for report viruses and others likes of Smitfraud says there are none, same as AVG which sometimes shows it is updated and then when I try to connect to the internet says that my Defs are 568 days out of date, but for now I'll have to leave it I'm due back to work in a couple of days and I work abroad so will have to return the laptop to family, once again thanks for your help and the help of others, take care and all the very best.

Pozzy

 

Chaslang,

Thanks for replying, how would I sort this out, I mean I don't see any numbers written in the proxy server section to enable connection and that also goes for my own PC which works just fine, also when I followed an online instruction about inputting proxy server info using the software address I think for Spybot or one of the others e.g.127.0.0.1 it didn't work, however if that was the case inputting such information then surely I would have to change it everytime, as each piece of software from different sources will have a different address, could you possibly walk me through it, please note I work away and will not be back home until the end of the month, therefore will not be able to sort this problem until my return, thankyou.

 

Hi Chaslang

Firstly apologise for not getting back to you sooner, as I explained earlier I work away from home (overseas) and I am still over here for the next two weeks, also the laptop with the problems is not mine so could not bring it with me to fix.
Ok down to business, I didn't know anything nor understand about proxy servers so you will have to excuse me for my ignorance, (I do think you are right though that the proxy server is not being used), I actually only know enough to get by, most of which your website has taught me, firstly I do know that the firewall is not the problem on the laptop however I found something of interest the other week in an article in the Computeractive magazine, so please find posted below, don't know how to attach, if too large then I apologise.

Blocked Internet

Q My computer was infected and now only shows two websites: virusbuster.com and eprotectpage.com. I cannot even get Google or Computeractive. I have Norton Antivirus and Firewall.
How can I get rid of these two websites that are claiming to sell anti-virus programs and get Internet Explorer back?

A Some viruses change an important Windows file called HOSTS. This is used when Windows is looking for a website. The address you type in such as www.computeractive.co.uk, mean’s nothing to a computer and has to be changed to a number. This is normally done by the ISP but Windows looks to its own settings first. If this file is changed it can stop websites from appearing or they may not be the websites you expected. Therefore you should be careful when editing this file and only do so as a last resort after a virus attack.
To edit the hosts file, click on the Start Menu, then All Programs, Accessories and Notepad. Click on the File menu and select Open. Change the File of Type menu to All Files. Left click on My Computer along the left hand side of the window. In the main part of the window double click on Local Disc (C), Windows, system 32, drivers and then on etc. Double click on the HOSTS file (there is no file extention) to open it. A normal host file has 17 lines beginning with a # followed by a line that says ‘127.0.01 localhost’. If there are any files below this it may mean the file has been tampered with. There may be many blank lines between the authentic lines and the information added by the virus so be sure to scroll all the way down. Add a # character to the beginning of any extra lines. This will tell Windows to ignore them but leave them in the file in case they were important.

A sure sign that a virus has attacked a PC is if websites of well known security companies such as www.symantec.com and www.mcafee.com are included in the list with the number 127.0.0.1. This tells the computer that the website is on its own disk, hence the inability to get help.

 

Hi Chaslang

As I said cannot do anything for at least another two weeks as I'm overseas, the second last email I sent, to which you replied, I had already started my journey without the laptop, I realise I had to send you logs but I had to first update the software prior to running it, however I could not update any of it, even manually for some reason it would not update, one thing that did happen was that AVG seemed to update manually but after running the program the icon in the bottom tray reverted back to grey again, so once I get back home I'll have another go will have more time then and will endeavour to get those logs sorted, sorry if I've been any trouble.