Anyone know how to rid of this thing?

My friend's machine is infected and she is an artist...PC is not her thing.

any help appreciated.

She has ran anti-virus program sevberal times and after getting the message that it was removed the virus still stays, effecting the desktop background.

Reformatting the HD can't really be an option unless nothing else works.

Try first scanning the machine online at: http://www.ewido.net/en/onlinescan/

That is supposed to get rid of the :mad: Mad Sheriff.

After that, regardless the results of the first online scan perform these steps:

1) Download and install Ad-Aware SE Personal (free) at: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
2) Update the Ad-Aware definitions
3) Scan the machine using the option "Perform full system scan"
4) Instruct your friend to scan with the latest definitions regularly

Let us know if you could solve the problem.

1. Have a look here: http://www.merijn.org/

2. Get Hijackthis here: http://216.180.233.162/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe

3. Download, install the program and run "Do a system scan and safe a log file".

4. Go here, become member and tell the problem, while copy-pasting the log file from 3.:

http://www.tek-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=760&page=1

5. Hope for the best.

hijackthis might be a bit complicated.

my recommendations would be:
1. use ad-aware, with good definitions
2. install webroot spysweaper. it will make sure spyware programs cannot install themselves on your computer because it will ask you if, for example, you want to allow a new program to start when you reboot your pc.
3. use a antivirus program (I use AVG), and have it scan once a day (or so)
4. get firefox, its much more secure than Internet explorer

Anyone know how to rid of this thing?

My friend's machine is infected and she is an artist...PC is not her thing.

any help appreciated.

She has ran anti-virus program sevberal times and after getting the message that it was removed the virus still stays, effecting the desktop background.

Reformatting the HD can't really be an option unless nothing else works.

It's probably been backed up via System Restore - get her to use her anti virus software one more time to get shot of the thing, then have her go to My Computer>Properties>System Restore. Have her tick the Turn Off System Restore option - that'll flush everything, including any back-ups of the virus. Once done, boot down, shut off the computer. Give it a minute or three and then boot her back up again, check the system once more.

Whenever you get a virus infection, always turf your previous System Restore back-ups. Re-enable after your clear.

I've only seen it once. Got rid of it, but I'm not sure how. There was a lot on that particular machine... and I wasn't really paying attention to what I was doing at the time.

If it is a variant of Spyaxe... try this. I've found it to be very effective in removing that particular pest:
http://noahdfear.geekstogo.com/