My computer is possessed!!! HELP!

[ROCcomputerguy]

Well, be careful of rootkits!

Don't let applications that you install take full advantage because some will install some crap that is useless. Uncheck the stuff you do not want

Good luck on finding problems!

Ultimate Boot CD:Fusa.be - Home - #Kwaliteit in alle eenvoud

 

[gregrocker]

Gregrocker... I dont really want to shut everything down like that. I've had problems in the past shutting alot of programs down on startup just to increase boot time and it really wasnt worth it. Id like to find a solution to this problem somehow other than that.

Why do you want programs starting up wholesale with Windows, freeloading on your RAM, CPU, Startup time and spying on you? For best performance you want a clean boot with nothing except AV riding on the back of Win7 that isn't needed at the time.

If you have all of the factory bloatware starting up with Win7 then you're running a crippled machine. Any tech enthusiast will clean this up and/or reinstall:
Clean Up Factory Bloatware - Windows 7 Forums
Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

What scheduled tasks did you find?

I would also uninstall AVG which is no longer recommended by anyone here, install free lightweight Microsoft Security Essentials and keep the Win7 Firewall updated at all times via Windows Updates.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Here Ill post a pic to show exactly what my desktop looked like when I returned.

I would consider getting rid of AVG and scanning with something better, although Malwarebytes should have detected anything.

Gregrocker... I dont really want to shut everything down like that. I've had problems in the past shutting alot of programs down on startup just to increase boot time and it really wasnt worth it. Id like to find a solution to this problem somehow other than that.

I don't even know where to begin with these comments. What kind of problems could you possible be having by shutting off unecessary apps? How is slowing your computer's boot time down a better alternative?

I'm scratching my head on that one, but to eliminate any kind of remote viewing app, next time you walk away from your computer, shut off it's network access.

 

[SuJunioR]

Possessed eyh?? Have you considered exorcism? lol. I think you're computer has been set to launch certain applications by a timer when your computer is in idle. I'm not even sure if that's possible, but still a theory. Or maybe you got hacked through your internet by some software you probably download that you probably don't know of.

 

[EzioAuditore]

-Does this happen even when the pc is not connected to internet?
-You said some people come by and use your pc. There is a possibility that someone might have installed a remote administration tool by which they can do many stuffs like opening apps, taking screenshots, opening cd tray etc. Can you trust those people?
- Check your task scheduler if there's any task listed corresponding to your problems.

 

[EzioAuditore]

:roflmao:

 

[Golden]

Hi,

Since other people have used your PC, please ensure that Remote Connection is disabled, as shown below.

Regards,
Golden

 

[koolkat77]

:devil:

Have you considered exorcism?

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

-Does this happen even when the pc is not connected to internet?
-You said some people come by and use your pc. There is a possibility that someone might have installed a remote administration tool by which they can do many stuffs like opening apps, taking screenshots, opening cd tray etc. Can you trust those people?
- Check your task scheduler if there's any task listed corresponding to your problems.

could be right.

 

[lmw2184]

Gregrocker... I dont really want to shut everything down like that. I've had problems in the past shutting alot of programs down on startup just to increase boot time and it really wasnt worth it. Id like to find a solution to this problem somehow other than that.

Why do you want programs starting up wholesale with Windows, freeloading on your RAM, CPU, Startup time and spying on you? For best performance you want a clean boot with nothing except AV riding on the back of Win7 that isn't needed at the time.

If you have all of the factory bloatware starting up with Win7 then you're running a crippled machine. Any tech enthusiast will clean this up and/or reinstall:
Clean Up Factory Bloatware - Windows 7 Forums
Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

What scheduled tasks did you find?

I would also uninstall AVG which is no longer recommended by anyone here, install free lightweight Microsoft Security Essentials and keep the Win7 Firewall updated at all times via Windows Updates.

I don't really have a lot of bloatware. I do a pretty good job up keeping things bare minimum on startup as you can see in the image below. And if i shut off all that besides my antivirus theyre not available to me. sound isnt available until i launch it after startup, keyboard etc. Apple can be removed. I just noticed that. But I have tried this method on an older, slower XP machine to make things faster and it caused nothing but problems and hoops to jump through to turn everything on once it booted up. If you can prove me wrong, by all means Ill attempt it.

What do you want me to look for on scheduled tasks and how do I know if its normal to be starting up or not?

How is slowing your computer's boot time down a better alternative?

I said shutting down programs isn't worth it to increase boot time, as making boot time faster. I guess if you want it technical it would be decreasing boot time to eliminate more time it takes to boot from startup, but you knew what I meant.

 

[gregrocker]

Uncheck everything in that list except Avira to see how running a Clean Boot helps.

You are the master of your computer, not random programs angling to run at Startup so they can gather marketing information on you. If you need one then you'll know it because some functionality you desire will be missing. Then you can enable it again in the Program preferences or in msconfig.

XP was a different situation where System functions were thrown into msconfig requiring Googling each until you became familiar with if it was absolutely needed. Gradually after SP3 critical System services disappeared from msconfig>Startup.

I would do the same in the msconfig>Services tab after Hiding All MS services.

Rather than just ignoring the step to turn off Scheduled tasks, why not ask back before I had to ask you again. It's ridiculous to ask for help and then ignore some of the top experts in the field.

Take a screenshot of your Scheduled Tasks window and we'll advise you. You can also google them to see what they're for. But why would you let anyone except yourself be in charge of what your computer is running and when?

 

[lmw2184]

-Does this happen even when the pc is not connected to internet?
-You said some people come by and use your pc. There is a possibility that someone might have installed a remote administration tool by which they can do many stuffs like opening apps, taking screenshots, opening cd tray etc. Can you trust those people?
- Check your task scheduler if there's any task listed corresponding to your problems.

My pc is always connected to the internet, so I wouldn't know. It seems to only happen when I'm not sitting on it though. I'm never just here typing and a program pops up on the screen.

HA! And yes I can trust my friends. I've known them for 28 years and checking email is about as tech savvy as they get. Even though I came off with a paranoid vibe about this whole mystery, I was sorta joking and just curious whats causing this to happen or if its ever happened to anyone else. Can't believe some of you guys even thought of that. What kind of friends do you guys have? How paranoid are YOU guys? lol

 

[lmw2184]

Uncheck everything in that list except Avira to see how running a Clean Boot helps.

You are the master of your computer, not random programs angling to run at Startup so they can gather marketing information on you. If you need one then you'll know it because some functionality you desire will be missing. Then you can enable it again in the Program preferences or in msconfig.

XP was a different situation where System functions were thrown into msconfig requiring Googling each until you became familiar with if it was absolutely needed. Gradually after SP3 critical System services disappeared from msconfig>Startup.

I would do the same in the msconfig>Services tab after Hiding All MS services.

Rather than just ignoring the step to turn off Scheduled tasks, why not ask back before I had to ask you again. It's ridiculous to ask for help and then ignore some of the top experts in the field.

Take a screenshot of your Scheduled Tasks window and we'll advise you. You can also google them to see what they're for. But why would you let anyone except yourself be in charge of what your computer is running and when?

I didnt ignore anything. I asked you what you wanted me to do. Cause when I looked there wasnt much there. Is this it?

 

[gregrocker]

Yeah it's not the problem. So get a clean boot and let us know what happens - or doesn't!

 

[HammerHead]

Spooks

Sounds to me a lot like one of your infrequent visitors is yanking your chain. I would start (just my opinion) with Deacon Frost's suggestion. Every time you walk off from your rig do this to see if the problems go away.

Open network and sharing center. You will see --- Connections: Local Area connection--- that is a link --- left click on it ---- in the window that comes up you will see a "disaable button". Click disable and you have shut off a possibility of someone remotely connecting to your computer. Do this each time you walk away and see if the weird stuff stops. When you are ready to use your rig again just retrace these steps and click enable.

 

[EzioAuditore]

-Does this happen even when the pc is not connected to internet?
-You said some people come by and use your pc. There is a possibility that someone might have installed a remote administration tool by which they can do many stuffs like opening apps, taking screenshots, opening cd tray etc. Can you trust those people?
- Check your task scheduler if there's any task listed corresponding to your problems.

My pc is always connected to the internet, so I wouldn't know. It seems to only happen when I'm not sitting on it though. I'm never just here typing and a program pops up on the screen.

HA! And yes I can trust my friends. I've known them for 28 years and checking email is about as tech savvy as they get. Even though I came off with a paranoid vibe about this whole mystery, I was sorta joking and just curious whats causing this to happen or if its ever happened to anyone else. Can't believe some of you guys even thought of that. What kind of friends do you guys have? How paranoid are YOU guys? lol

When it comes to security, being paranoid is good.
It could be that someone might have did that as part of a practical joke
Put your system to 'offline mode' (not connected to net) and see if the issue surfaces during this period or not.

 

[lmw2184]

Alright. I followed all your advice. Ill wait a few days and see if it happens again.

 

[chungocthanh]

Install and run a Full Scan with Malwarebytes?????

 

[lmw2184]

Nope. Still doing it guys. Noticed last night about 8-9 different applications were open on my desktop. Ive been shutting my modem off too.

 

[gregrocker]

I'd want a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 with nothing more than the tools and methods given used to install and maintain Win7.

Resist adding a lot of crapware - nothing except your most important programs, using only the tools built into Win7 and recommended in tutorial.

Run a clean boot at all times.

Tech enthusiasts NEVER run the factory preinstall but always clean reinstall just the OS. Until you do this you don't even have a clean install.

 

[EzioAuditore]

Nope. Still doing it guys. Noticed last night about 8-9 different applications were open on my desktop. Ive been shutting my modem off too.

Did you run the Malwarebytes scan? What was the result?