My wife uses Windows 7 in her PC. Today she opened an e-mail, "Colin Fox invoice", and clicked on the attached .pdf (true, true, it was not me, I use a Mac!). We now learn that it is malware. We have run Microsoft Security Essentials, and after the scan, it reports that there are no viruses. Is there any way of knowing whether the PC is really clean, or whether it is still infected? We have stop all activity on that computer, until we know it is safe to use it.
Many thanks
I have found the MS essentials that are part of Win7, and Windows Defender are not that good. I was advised to down load MS Security Essentials from their site. You can turn off Windows Defender, as it`s probably set to run at start up, and just slows it down.
Many thanks, John. Followed your instructions, downloaded the file, and run it. It reported that it did not find any malware. We will probably buy the license for the pro version.
Now, a question. If this happened to you (I hope not!) and you got these results from the scan, would you be confident in using this computer for banking, etc?
Many thanks again
Hi ernesto 17.
I would be very cautious about using it for banking, after reading these links. If there is a zip file attached which has not been opened, then it would seem safe. But I would definitely delete that, the e-mail and anything that came with it.
http://myonlinesecurity.co.uk/invoice-519658-colin-fox-pdf-malware/
http://sanesecurity.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/colin-fox-invoice-519658-sales-invoice.html
If you have a back up of the system drive, or better still a drive image, I would use it. The only other safe way unfortunately, is to wipe the drive and re-install windows. First move all important data to another drive, hoping it is virus free. Sorry I cannot be of more help.
You could also try a System Restore to a date before the e-mail. Alternatively buy a copy of Karspersky, £17+ from the Coimputer Active magazine (a special offer from £39 +). This has security function especially for banking.
Harry
Many thanks for all the useful comments and suggestions. It looks like a windows reinstall is the only way to be sure (sigh..!).