Have no idea what to do, or even if this is the right place to post this.

So my PC (Windows XP) got the red "biohazard" wallpaper ("YOUR PRIVACY IS IN DANGER! DOWNLOAD PRIVACY PROTECTION SOFTWARE NOW"), along with the new icons "Error Cleaner", "Privacy Protector", & "Spyware & Malware Protection".

I get the window that says "Windows has detected an Internet attack attempt...someone's trying to infect your PC with spyware or harmful viruses. Run full system scan now to protect your PC from internet attacks, hijacking attempts, and spyware! Click here to download spyware remover for total protection."

I've searched around and seen several posts regarding this malware. I may be a bit worse off, though, because I can't explore or run any programs! I tried inserting a disc of anti-spyware programs, and it wouldn't let me open/explore the disc. Not even in Safe Mode. The "Start" button at the bottom left of the screen is gone, and when I try to run anything, I get a message that says something like "Windows cannot find the .exe file"...

That seemed to happen right after I ran KillBox and let it delete a file called "Spools.exe" that Ad-Aware found. Yes...my computer is really screwed up.

I'm using a borrowed computer right now, and disconnected the other one from the internet. Since I can't run anything or explore on that computer, I'm not sure how I'm going to fix it, or run any kind of Hijack This log, etc.

When I hit Ctrl/Alt/Del, my "Task Manager" button is greyed out. The time has changed to military time, like this: 6/10/2008 16:25: VIRUS ALERT! The time at the bottom right of my screen also says VIRUS ALERT.

When this first happened, I did a search and tried to follow some instructions that said to download/run something called Smitfraud. I wonder if this was fake, because the SmitfraudFix.exe had yellow Biohazard icon (like the red Biohazard wallpaper)...?

Anyway, this is obviously a mess. I greatly appreciate any assistance with getting it fixed. Thanks!

I hope that somebody more familiar with this will come by to help.

You need first of all to get a trusted copy of SmitFraudFix.

I do not recommend using the tool without guidance from a qualified malware removal specialist!

Please be patient.

You will be helped.

In the meantime, please read this, it will help all round:
/t146923-Waiting_for_Help_1_Patience_2_Use_the_MRP_Procedure.html

Hi penkosey, and Welcome to CC

logicman_alf's advice is spot on - you need to run through our Malware Removal and Prevention procedure.

When you are ready to your HiJackThis logs then please read the instructions at the top of this page and follow these instructions before posting. One of our trained 1st Responders or Security Experts will be along help you.

If you have any questions about running the programs recommended in the procedure then please post back here and we can run through it with you.

Thank you for the replies. I will read back over the info you mentioned. It seems the main difficulty here is that I can't explore or run any kind of .exe program...the computer is pretty crippled.

If you have access to another computer then download HiJackThis from here .

Copy the file twice and rename one copy to hijackthis.bat, the other copy to hijackthis.com.

Transfer all 3 files to your machine on CD or a USB memory stick.

Some malware prevents .exe files running correctly so this may be a way round the problem.

If you still can't run any of the versions of HJT from your computer then try running it from the CD/memory stick. This is not ideal but may at least generate a log.

If you do get a log then please read the instructions at the top of this page and follow these instructions before posting. One of our trained 1st Responders or Security Experts will be along help you.