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The other day I got this Windows error, and it really pissed me off:

Generic Host Process for Win32 Services has encountered a problem and needs to close.

The computer would lose the internet connection, and would not function properly until I did a restart. I did some research, and found that in some instances simply doing a windows update fixes the bug.

But that was not to be in my case. After performing a windows update, I found my system was running slow (cold molasses, you ain’t got nothing!) and my hard drive was thrashing like there’s no tomorrow.

Then I got this green pop-up “Brontok” message, which really pissed me off — even though the screenshot does match the color scheme of this site quite nicely:

Brontok Worm Screenshot[By: H [REMOVED] Community] — stop the collapse in this country —

1. Try the Hoodlums, the Smugglers, the Bribers, the gamblers, & drugs
Port (Send to “Nusakambangan”) —

2.Stop Free Sex, Abortion, & Prostitution

3.Stop (sea and river pollution), forest burning, & wild hunting.

4.SAY NO TO DRUGS!!! - THE END IS NEAR -

Inspired by: (Spizaetus Cirrhatus) that is almost extinct [By: H [REMOVED] unity –

I looked up the name of the virus/worm/malware on Wikipedia, and found that they had this to say on the Brontok worm:

Brontok Virus came from Indonesia. When Brontok is first run, it copies itself to the user’s application data directory. It then sets itself to start up with Windows, by creating a registry entry in the HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run registry key. It disables the Windows Registry Editor and modifies Windows Explorer settings. It removes the option of “Folder Options” in the Tools menu so that the hidden files, where it is concealed, are not easily accessible to the user. It also turns off Windows firewall. In some variants, when a window is found containing certain strings in the window title, the computer reboots. Using its own mailing engine, it sends itself to email addresses it finds on the computer, even faking the own user’s email address as the sender. The computer also restarts when trying to open MS Dos in Windows and Downloading Files from the Internet. It also pop ups an Internet browser which is located in the my pictures folder.


But more importantly, Wikipedia (god bless Jimmy fuckin’ Wales!) links to two fixes:

Bitdefender scanning for Brontok.A in safe modeI chose the second, as I’d heard of bitdefender before. I downloaded the application, ran it - and (I shit you not) my computer gave an error and rebooted! ARRGHH!!!

So I thought I’d have a go running the application in safe mode (press F8, on my computer anyway). As an added measure, I also ran Norton and Spyware Doctor from the free Google Pack, and that seems to have helped too. Download the Google Pack here:

Success! (At least, it seems that way for now)

Anyway, it did take a while for me to search out a decent fix for this, so I thought I’d re-post all my info so that others might find it a bit easier.

Hope it’s of some help to someone out there! :)

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