I hope someone can help me . . . something is preventing me from running Norton AV on my computer. It has disabled Autoprotect, and when I try to start Norton through the Start menu, it starts up for about 10 seconds before disappearing again. I suspect some sort of virus, but I have no idea how to detect it or get rid of it without Norton AV! Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi there, I also suspect a virus, more than likely a Trojan. Here is what you should do, first, go here: http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?productid=symhome&langid=ie&venid=sym This is where Norton will test your system online for both security threats and virus/trojan threats. This should tell you what is on there if there is anything at all. It should also point you to the removal tool for what it finds unless it deletes it itself right then and there. If nothing is found, we'll look for other options, ok? Oh, yes, you can also go to Sygate.com and run their Trojan check. Hope this helps.

I just thought since there are more than likely a lot of people new to security that come in here, I'd give a quick list on staying safe and virus/trojan free. I hope nobody minds. 1. Before you do anything else, install anti-virus software and update it the very moment it is installed. You have many choices both free and pay. Norton Anti-Virus, AVG, which is free by the way and works well, Panda, and others. 2. Your very next step should be to install a firewall. Again, there are free and pay versions. Some companies like Sygate and Zone Alarm have both free and pay versions of the same product, pay versions having more features but not necessarily working any better than the free version. I use the free version of Sygate and it does a good job. Make sure to regularly test your firewall at the many security sites such as GRC.com and others. Always keep it properly configured, most will have pre-configurations you can trust pretty well, but some firewalls do this better than others. 3. Install an anti-spyware program such as SpyBot Search and Destroy, Ad-Aware 6, and Spyware-Blaster. It will not hurt anything to install all three of these fine programs, I did. Here is some advice, if you use SpyBot Search and Destroy, consider also using Ad-Aware 6 as there are many times that one program will catch something the other did not. Spyware-Blaster will prevent bad Active X controls and other scripting methods from installing anything bad on your system. 4. Once these applications are installed, you MUST update regularly, if you can't do it daily, do it at least weekly. Update everything, anti-virus, firewall, anti-spyware, all of it. Anti-virus updating is the biggest must of them all. 5. Never install or run any program, file, whatever, without first scanning it with an UPDATED anti-virus program. Programs and files are the biggest contributors to trojans and viruses, though e-mail is fast becoming bigger or as big of a contributor. 6. Speaking of e-mail, make certain that you turn off HTML in your e-mail application, and, if using OutLook or OutLook Express, turn off Preview Mode. To turn off HTML in OutLook Express, first open OutLook Express, click on Tools/Options/Read, and make sure the box next to "Read all messages in plain text" is checked. To turn off Preview Mode in OutLook Express, while OutLook Express is open, click View/LayOut, and make sure the box next to "Show Preview Pane" is unchecked. Doing these two things will reduce the chances of viruses via e-mail. Methods for other mail programs will vary. I simply used OutLook Express for my example because I'm most familiar with it and use it. 7. Make sure to have your browser settings as secure as possible. if using Internet Explorer, refer to the post "More IE Vulnerabilites" just a few posts down from this one in this part of the forums. There is a great explanation as to how you can secure IE. 8. Last, but not least, check the WindowsUpdate site regularly, preferably daily, to check for any new vulnerabilities and patches for them, including normal updates for other Windows services. Now, many will tell you that you should always wait around a week or so before installing any patches as Microsoft has been known to screw it up the first time and re-patch a patch later. I don't disagree with this at all, but, I always think to myself what would happen if, while waiting for the buggy patches to be fixed, the vulnerability was exploited on my system? This one is left to personal preference. Well, that's all for now, I hope I haven't bored anybody reading this. For newbies, I hope this helps you. For the ones that already know these things, sorry if I put you to sleep :-) Keep in mind, these tips will only reduce your chances of bad things being put on your system, at some point, all of us, no matter how much we do to protect ourselves, will get a virus or trojan. I had a trojan just a few days ago.

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I ran the program at the link you gave me, and, sure enough, there was a virus: W32.HLLW.Gaobot.gen. I followed the instructions on the Symantex site, and the virus has been deleted, and Norton AV is up and running again. Happy Thanksgiving!

Glad I could help, happy Thanksgiving to you and all on the forums. :-)

dw226, quote from you; "I just thought since there are more than likely a lot of people new to security that come in here, I'd give a quick list on staying safe and virus/trojan free. I hope nobody minds." Knoledge is power, nice post! Abnormal