how do i scan for trojans?

For system help, all hardware / software topics NOTE: use Coders Corner for all coders topics.

Moderators: Krom, Grendel

Post Reply
User avatar
roid
DBB Master
DBB Master
Posts: 9996
Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2001 3:01 am
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Contact:

how do i scan for trojans?

Post by roid »

my PC is running perfectly fine,
a prettymuch default setting standard win7ultimate setup,
running Microsoft Security Essentials,
and windows firewall is on.

but i've had a vague scare i'm having trouble explaining, and wish to eliminate the possibility that my PC's security has been compromised (Perhaps a way of remotely controlling my PC).

I guess i'd settle for simply scanning for evidence of a security breech. Coz it's possible this is just a fit of paranoia, and i'd rather not turn my smoothly running PC into a fortress full of layers of security software unless there's real evidence that i need it.
I mean, it'd leave evidence right? that's what i'm imagining. i just don't exactly know what to look for that MSE wouldn't have already obviously picked up on (assuming it's actually working - which it seems to be, since everything has been running smoothly)

So, what's the standard procedure?
(and incase you missed it, i have MSE installed and always have, and it's detection log still remains virginal (there have been, and remain, zero infection scares))
User avatar
Top Gun
DBB Master
DBB Master
Posts: 8099
Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2002 3:01 am

Re: how do i scan for trojans?

Post by Top Gun »

Malwarebytes seems to have a reputation for picking up anything that other security software might have missed. It's worth a scan just to see if something else pops up.
User avatar
TigerRaptor
DBB Fleet Admiral
DBB Fleet Admiral
Posts: 2693
Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2000 6:00 am

Re: how do i scan for trojans?

Post by TigerRaptor »

Yeah Malwarebytes is usually the first one on the list do to its reputation. It doesn't run a background service, great detection, and its free.
User avatar
roid
DBB Master
DBB Master
Posts: 9996
Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2001 3:01 am
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Contact:

Re: how do i scan for trojans?

Post by roid »

thx guys, full scanned and found nothing, which makes me feel better i guess.
the search for answers continues :[
User avatar
Isaac
DBB Artist
DBB Artist
Posts: 7737
Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2005 8:47 am
Location: 🍕

Re: how do i scan for trojans?

Post by Isaac »

Think you have a spy? get everyone safely off and blow the structure. Then rebuild.

Get all the data you care about saved on a disk. Just drag and drop it onto a disk. Then reformat the Windows drive.

Your saved data should be re scanned by a trusted computer to make sure no spys snuck on.

Now you re-install Windows and put your data back on. Install your drivers, updates, then your virii and malware scanners. Then you should be good for a month.
❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉
-⎽__⎽-⎻⎺⎺⎻-⎽__⎽--⎻⎺⎺⎻-★ ·:*¨༺꧁༺ :E ༻꧂༻¨*:·.★-⎽__⎽-⎻⎺⎺⎻-⎽__⎽--⎻⎺⎺⎻-
❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉
User avatar
Krom
DBB Database Master
DBB Database Master
Posts: 16137
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 1998 3:01 am
Location: Camping the energy center. BTW, did you know you can have up to 100 characters in this location box?
Contact:

Re: how do i scan for trojans?

Post by Krom »

If you really want to go nuts, you can always download a few live cd scanners from the big av players (kaspersky does it, antivir does it, even microsoft has one), burn them to a cd and boot directly from the cd to scan your system offline which helps prevent anything from masking itself.
User avatar
TigerRaptor
DBB Fleet Admiral
DBB Fleet Admiral
Posts: 2693
Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2000 6:00 am

Re: how do i scan for trojans?

Post by TigerRaptor »

If you took Krom's advice and found nothing, then your system is clean.

But if you want to give yourself a peace mind without bogging down your system. Keep a couple of on-demand scanners handy and use them regularly or as you see fit. Malwarebytes is a good start and a keeper. Hitman Pro and Emsisoft Emergency Kit are two others known for being effective. Now Hitman Pro is only free for 30 days for infection removal. But many don't even activate the license and use it for regular scans. Well free for cookie removal at least. :P
User avatar
Krom
DBB Database Master
DBB Database Master
Posts: 16137
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 1998 3:01 am
Location: Camping the energy center. BTW, did you know you can have up to 100 characters in this location box?
Contact:

Re: how do i scan for trojans?

Post by Krom »

There are some filter sets for adblock plus (firefox extension) that can block most tracking cookies from even downloading, which is way more effective in the long term than removing them manually (they quickly regenerate otherwise).
User avatar
TigerRaptor
DBB Fleet Admiral
DBB Fleet Admiral
Posts: 2693
Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2000 6:00 am

Re: how do i scan for trojans?

Post by TigerRaptor »

I have all cookies blocked in Firefox. The CS Lite add-on lets me pick which website I want to except cookies from. BetterPrivacy takes care of the LSO ones and is set to one second delete. I honestly don't remember the last time I saw a tracker.
User avatar
woodchip
DBB Benefactor
DBB Benefactor
Posts: 17865
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 1999 2:01 am

Re: how do i scan for trojans?

Post by woodchip »

Well something else is a proggy called "NoScript". Prevents hidden scripts from dodgy websites entering your system. Down side is it also may block java scripts from reputable site until of course you tell it that the website is trusted.
User avatar
Tunnelcat
DBB Grand Master
DBB Grand Master
Posts: 13740
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2007 12:32 pm
Location: Pacific Northwest, U.S.A.

Re: how do i scan for trojans?

Post by Tunnelcat »

Ghostery is great for Firefox too. One more little tool to irritate the trackers.
Cat (n.) A bipolar creature which would as soon gouge your eyes out as it would cuddle.
User avatar
Sirius
DBB Master
DBB Master
Posts: 5616
Joined: Fri May 28, 1999 2:01 am
Location: Bellevue, WA
Contact:

Re: how do i scan for trojans?

Post by Sirius »

I'm not sure you can ever be 100% sure you don't have any malware on your system unless you can check every single binary and make sure it matches what was supplied by the vendor, and delete anything unknown... but the chances you have something exotic are remote, so scans from something up-to-date are probably good enough.
User avatar
flip
DBB Material Defender
DBB Material Defender
Posts: 4871
Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2006 9:13 am

Re: how do i scan for trojans?

Post by flip »

What Isaac and Sirius said :P
User avatar
BUBBALOU
DBB Benefactor
DBB Benefactor
Posts: 4198
Joined: Tue Aug 24, 1999 2:01 am
Location: Dallas Texas USA
Contact:

Re: how do i scan for trojans?

Post by BUBBALOU »

Nospript works well

I seem to have a better workout dodging your stupidity than attempting to grasp the weight of your intelligence.
User avatar
TigerRaptor
DBB Fleet Admiral
DBB Fleet Admiral
Posts: 2693
Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2000 6:00 am

Re: how do i scan for trojans?

Post by TigerRaptor »

tunnelcat wrote:Ghostery is great for Firefox too. One more little tool to irritate the trackers.
Yet a company called Better Advertising bought Ghostery a few years ago. :lol:

Surprise. :P

http://blog.evidon.com/2010/01/19/bette ... -ghostery/

No reason to worry though.
Post Reply