So before I answer yes, what problem is here? It's just a scan result. What failed?
Bob
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Hello All,
Haven't been here for a long time. I run Windows 8.1. I run Avast free version Antivirus. MalwareBytes (On Demand) and SuperAntispyware. I ran a full system scan with SuperAntispyware with revealed the following virus namely, C:\PROGRAM FILES\AVAST SOFTWARE\AVAST\NG\VBOX\VBOXDOGC.GC, a Trojan Agent/Gen - Packed.
My questions are: (1) whether this can be considered a false positive or not? (2) whether I should delete it from the quarranteen? (3) whether deleting it would disable the program in any way or (4) Whether I should uninstall the program and use another.
Thanking you in advance for you kind consideration with a view to solving the problem.
Standeb..
Discussion is locked
Hello Bob,
Thank you for your reply. By reason of pressure of work I did not reply earlier. I just got a first look at your reply.
In answer to your question The trojan complained of was picked up by SuperAntispyware (Paid version) and Malwarebytes (On demand version). It appeared to me to be a false positive but since I am not so savvy I decided to check on it, hence my initial post. I followed the link you gave and it seems reasonable that the vbox should be left alone but what worries me is the fact that it slowed down my system a great deal and at the moment It is in quarrenteen. The system moves just as fast as it always did. The system is an old machine which was upgraded from time to time and finally upgraded to Windows 8.1 in or about July 2014. Further to your question it seems that nothing has failed.
I would just like to be sure that the virtual machine stuff mentioned in the link you gave it just that and I can return the vbox thing to the system, It being seen as a trojan worries me.
One other thing that worries me is the fact that I can't seem to copy my system information so that it can be posted in my thread to the forum. I have yet to learn to do screen shots so perhaps that way I can get that information into a thread thereby giving you guys a better idea of the or any problem.
Permit me to add that I hardly ever use the Windows machine as I now use a iMac to do my work since I deal in graphics and its better and more powerful. I however have a whole lot of work done on the Windows machine that I can't afford to loose and which will not ever open on a mac and don't want to install windows for mac in order to save drive space. The windows machine was never built to take the volume of graphic work I do.
I shall appreciate if you might let me know whether I should delete the vbox trojan or return it to the system. I have always regarded you and Grif to be the bibles of computers and whatever you say is well respected by me. Please let me have your views.
Thank you so much and do have a Merry Christmas and a great New Year.
Standeb.
OK, the thing is that an antivirus must by it's very nature do things that trojans and other bad things do. So with some 17 million plus signatures (http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-malware-numbers-game-how-many-viruses-are-out-there/ and many other articles) it's a safe bet that if we scan in an antivirus app's folders we'll get hits.
-> So FALSE POSITIVES are getting more common.
Bob
Hello Bob,
Thank you for your greeting in return. You are wished all the best of the season and the new year. I do think it was a false positive as you intimated. I Plan to return the file to the system but I will leave it in quarantine for some time yet.
Meanwhile thanks again for your input. Much appreciated. Hope you had a great xmas day and God Bless.
Standeb.