I don't know if this is the correct place for this post, but... what on earth is pest trap and how do you get rid of it? i've just switched on my computer after some weeks away (during which a neighbour borrowed it for work) to find it claiming that it's infected with something or other and something called pest trap seems to have installed itself. Please help.
pest trap
- Thread starter judder
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Wonder what "work" that was 
What anti-virus and anti-spyware/malware are you currently using? what have you tried so far?
What anti-virus and anti-spyware/malware are you currently using? what have you tried so far?
I have Sophos anti-virus and Ad-Aware spyware. I have run both and deleted everything dodgy they detect.
The annoying pop-up, telling me that my computer is infected goes away. However, when I restart my machine the wretched thing comes back! I notice that I deleted something called winstall, but then found it again (in the same place from which I'd deleted it) after the restart.
What is this thing and please help me to get rid of it!
The annoying pop-up, telling me that my computer is infected goes away. However, when I restart my machine the wretched thing comes back! I notice that I deleted something called winstall, but then found it again (in the same place from which I'd deleted it) after the restart.
What is this thing and please help me to get rid of it!
Soldato
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Don't reformat yet
Firstly turn off System restore, you can find it by;
Right Click on My Computer -->Properties-->System Restore Tab and place a check mark in 'Turn off System Restore' then Ok it.
Run the antivirus and adaware scans again. Reboot and turn System Restore back on. See if that stops it returning.
Firstly turn off System restore, you can find it by;
Right Click on My Computer -->Properties-->System Restore Tab and place a check mark in 'Turn off System Restore' then Ok it.
Run the antivirus and adaware scans again. Reboot and turn System Restore back on. See if that stops it returning.
TheMightyTen said:Don't reformat yet
No need to roll eyes me. Reformatting is a valid course of action in this kind of situation.
Certainly what I would do if I'd had a click happy neighbour put spyware on my pc. I'd probably give the keyboard / mouse a wipe too.
Soldato
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So before you've exhausted all logical steps to take you go straight in with a sledge hammer? You don't think that's a bit OTT. I agree to reformat is an option but if someone is asking for advice maybe we should give them less extreme things to try first.
I would incinerate them 
You hopefully shouldn't need to format, I had very similar problems when a friends pc had 'Virus Burster' on it. Try looking at this link which has manual removal instructions and a scanner/removal tool for pest trap.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t58391.html
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t58391.html
Thanks for the helpful suggestions. I'll try the non-reformatting step first (as I'm not a computer whizz). But, if I do have to reformat, how do I do that? Doesn't that completely wipe the computer of all knowledge of everything it has ever known? Thanks again.
z0mbi3 said:Reformat. It's the only way to be sure
OMG!
z0mbi3 said:
OMFG!!
Reformatting and Re-installing is Last course of action you should have to take when dealing with an infection.
In 99% of cases it is always possible to remove the infection, sometimes as simply as uninstalling the said piece of software (MSN Plus with LOP for example).
Other times you may simply need to run programs, such as Spybot, Adaware, Ewido or AVG all of which can be had for free
When those options don't work then downloading a copy of HiJackThis and posting a log at one of the sites listed on the ASAP member list will almost guarantee removal.
OP whatever you do, don't ever believe you have to re-install to get rid of an infection. Take a look here: Pest Trap Removal
The_KiD said:
Z)ZZ000000000000000MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMFFFFFFFFGGGGGGGGGG!"!"!"!!!!!
Right now we've got that out of our systems please stop puting words in my mouth. I'm not saying the OP has to reformat but what I am saying is that having had an infectious pop up manifest itself at start up under God knows what circumstances, I wouldn't be happy unless I'd nuked the install and started a fresh. I can't stand the sneaking feeling that spyware might of been hampering my performance in any way (weather that's boot time or anything).
t31os said:
I have anti-virus and spyware protection. The point is that it's preventative. If I'm unfortunate enough to catch something then I'm not going to bother repairing damage, I'm going to backup my important files that I don't already have backups of and reinstall. 2 hours later I'll be back up and running in even better condition than I was before said infection.
~11 years in computing and I've only had to reinstall owing to infection of either virus or spyware maybe 5 or so times. Most of those being when I was very young and most probably when I was due a reinstall anyway.
edit: Again less of the roll eyes please.
Mr.Clark said:
One of the best suggestions so far
Last edited:
20 years computer experience for me and I've never once had to reformat as a result of a virus, or spyware, etc.
What possibly would make me reformat in this instance would be the fact that I don't fully know what said neighbour has done to my PC, if there's obvious dodgy stuff there, there might be less obvious dodgy stuff there too.
But then I would never ever lend my PC to anyone, I've let people use my PC when they've needed to but I've never let them take it away, but then I've never been asked either.
Just my take
What possibly would make me reformat in this instance would be the fact that I don't fully know what said neighbour has done to my PC, if there's obvious dodgy stuff there, there might be less obvious dodgy stuff there too.
But then I would never ever lend my PC to anyone, I've let people use my PC when they've needed to but I've never let them take it away, but then I've never been asked either.
Just my take
Man of Honour
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As already said, turn off sytem restore, but then........run AV and anti-spyware in safe mode. It's what you should be doing if you have some persistant spyware or other nasty on the pc as only the very basics load up in safe mode.
Ok. Thanks for all the suggestions so far, including the neighbour beating. He delivered a case of nice S.African wine for the trouble. Anyway, I've tried everything mentioned above apart from reformatting (and my final point below). The trouble files seem to get deleted and all is fine until I connect to the internet at which point I get the bubble telling me that the computer is infected etc... One link I accessed said to deleted certain registry files, "HKEY....". How do I find these HKEY files? I'm trying to put off reformatting until the last moment (though I'm sure it will be good experience for me to do). Thanks again.