Rootkits

Epignosis wrote: Also, I almost met Glenn Beck today.

Near death experiences are always scary.

Have you tried using Google Chrome? It won't get rid of the rootkit, but since it's used so little, it might not be affected by the rootkit.

2 ways of doing it. first off, back up any needed data. this is similar in both solutions. then wipe the hard disk.

heres the choice.

1st option, reinstall windows, download firefox, AVG (or similar) and Zone Alarm (firewall, so anything similar) whatever you do, do not install norton, mcaffee or panda, their the AV equivilent to a chocolate fireguard.

then scan all the files you backed up with an up-to-date AV scanner, and malware bytes.

or the simple method, install linux, (need to make a boot disk/usb pen before wiping the computer) once you install linux you can then return all your files without risk of reinfection, and for that matter, not worry about viruses and trojans again...

your choice.

personally only moved over to linux (currently using ubuntu, tempted to try a few other variants as well, though would recommend ubuntu to start with) fairly recently. started mucking about with it 6-7 months ago, but never made the switch from xp (which I have had to patch up a few times....) however, bought myself a new PC, which came without an OS, (quadcore @3GHz/core 8GB DDR2 800 1TB Harddrive, 1GB graphics (theres showing off for you)) moved over to linux on that completely (with the exception of the occasional use of XP to use the sony software for my Walkman) and sinse then. the few times I've had to use M$ has driven me mad.