I have a bad virus on my computer. Wherever the time is displayed it says 'VIRUS ALERT!' next to it, including in the notification tray. It says in the system properties that the computer is registered to 'VIRUS ALERT!'. The virus is really annoying, it asks me to download dodgy anti virus software and displays different apps/programs that are open (highly annoying). When ever I login the stuff in the start menu is hidden such as 'search', 'run', 'help and support', 'control panel', 'My documents', 'my pictures', 'my computer', 'favorites', and others. Task manager is blocked, gpedit.msc is gone and when I give myself access to task manager it still says I don't have the administrative privileges. The logout button is hidden and I don't know how to get it back and the programs menu aswell. I just downloaded hijackthis and created a log. Can someone please help, give suggestions or links to websites/posts that are similar to this one. Any assistance would be greatfully appreciated, also it will help aid other XP users in the future with this common virus. I know of two other people who had/have the same virus. One guy wiped their computer, and I really don't want to, it will be a last resort. Thanks so much in advance. BTW I added a pct of the 'VIRUS ALERT!' message in the notification area.

Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware from one of these sites: MalwareBytes1 MalwareBytes2 1. Double Click mbam-setup.exe to install the application. 2. Make sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish. 3. If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version. 4. Once the program has loaded, select "Perform Quick Scan", then click Scan. The scan may take some time to finish,so please be patient. 5. When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results. 6. Make sure that everything found is checked, and click Remove Selected. 7. When disinfection is completed, a log will open in Notepad and you may be prompted to Restart. If MBAM encounters a file that is difficult to remove,you will be presented with 1 of 2 prompts,click OK to either and let MBAM proceed with the disinfection process,if asked to restart the computer,please do so immediately. 8. The log is automatically saved by MBAM and can be viewed by clicking the Logs tab in MBAM. 9. Copy&Paste the entire report in your next reply. Please download and install the latest version of HijackThis v2.0.2: Download the "HijackThis" Installer from this link: Hijack This 1. Save " HJTInstall.exe" to your desktop. 2. Double click on HJTInstall.exe to run the program. 3. By default it will install to C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis. 4. Accept the license agreement by clicking the "I Accept" button. 5.Click on the "Do a system scan and save a log file" button. It will scan and then ask you to save the log. 6. Click "Save log" to save the log file and then the log will open in Notepad. 7. Click on "Edit > Select All" then click on "Edit > Copy" to copy the entire contents of the log. 8. Paste the log in your next reply. 9. Do NOT have HijackThis fix anything yet! Most of what it finds will be harmless or even required.

Thanks, you're a legend! I think the computer is clean now, do I still need to put in a log file? After using MalwareBytes and restarting the computer it seems it is running as it should be, all signs of the virus are gone. Regards Ub3rN3rd131