Windows Live Messenger Virus

This is about MSN/Windows Live Messenger's Virus/Trojan, which "AGAIN" spreading to the world recently. Many victims found difficulty to solve it, though many solutions have been shared throughout the web. Just Google about it, the results will be shocking.

The virus basically sends a random message to people in messenger contacts, with messages like:

1. "haha lets hope your parents don't see this picture of you" ...or
2. "I've been editing some pics you should def see em lol!"

The contact will also try to send a *.zip file called ImageXX.zip (where XX is a random number, e.g. “image08.zip”). Please note that the message & file name may always be different / changed, anyway just be careful & always try to double confirm with sender when receiving this kind of message. If a message is found weird, the best way is to click cancel & do not receive it.

A symptom of this virus is making IE (especially ver.7) keeps on popping-up new windows of advertisements, which is annoying. Once IE is infected, of course user may feel no confident on security/privacy.

Solution:-

1. When MSN / Windows Live Messenger is infected by this virus, may be the PC will start lacking (or running slow).
2. Restart PC & proceed to Safe Mode. If the PC cannot restart due to slow response, then perhaps force it to turn off by manually pressing restart button.
3. Run Anti-spyware & Anti-virus in Safe Mode. Delete those detected virus / trojan / malware, etc. Here are 2 freebies (i) anti-virus like Avast! & (ii) anti-spayware like Spyware Terminator, which are quite useful for this problem.
4. Clear all temp files & cookies. An useful tool is called ATF Cleaner, which can clear those files quite well, just download it from here.
5. After scanning & cleaning in Safe Mode, restart PC in normal mode & then uninstall MSN / Windows Live Messenger & IE7 in order to clear all those shits.
6. Restart PC again & reinstall MSN / Windows Live Messenger & IE7. Done!

Some people will need to repeat the above steps few times (please do not forget to update virus/spyware database) in order to clear these virus. In case a PC cannot completely be cured, perhaps user can consider formatting his/her OS (anyway this is always a best way to remove virus).

Source:

[1] Azeem Azeez, Windows Live Messenger Virus