Windows mail

[jfb]

Hi, Please understand that I am not experienced as all of you seem to be. I had an experience a couple weeks ago when surfing the net and all of a sudden a pop-up supposedly from windows mail saying that I had picked up a virus. I was suspicious so I did nothing about it because I thought it looked suspicous. Now I am wondering if windows does have an alert message when on websites to alert to dangerous ones. The pop up looked real with the right logo, but it wanted to me to download something to get rid of the virus it said it detected. Then when I closed the window it gave me another warning asking if I really wanted to close the window without removing the virus. I have Vista 62 bit and us avast free. Thanks

 

[richc46]

You may have malware
Download and do a full scan with malwarebytes. Make sure you update first. A full scan take about 90 minutes.

One pop up however can come from the website.

 

[jfb]

Thank you Richard, please let me make sure I understand. I should google malwarebytes, download it and then update this program before I scan with it? Is there something in the download that will allow me to update or do I have to go somewhere to get the updates? I assume that Avast does not detect malware in scans, am I correct? Is there some way to prevent getting malware....in other words do I need more protection than I have? Is this malware program you suggested something that I need to run frequently? Thanks so much for your help

 

[richc46]

I will be pleased to answer all your questions, I am here for you. But it is best to go one step at a time

Here is the link
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware: Malwarebytes


It is free, when it is downloaded look at the tabs, one says update or some such thing. Just click and then do the full scan If takes much less than 90 minutes you did it wrong.

Then report back either way.

Avast does everything,but malware is a specialist, I am sure it will find something.

 

[jfb]

Thanks, I will follow your instructions and report.