emergency! do i have a virus?

[mataeux]

a series of circumstances led me to launch a downloaded file. and i feel something is ticking in my computer.

an e-mail with subject "Re: Application" coincided with my expecting a reply to an actual application. upon opening the attached zip file via ms internet explorer, there was a single file inside named "details"

with no extension i assumed it was a standard text file.
i didnt imagine that windows xp would suppress the file extension contrary to my preference! details.PIF ! had the zip file opened as it does in windows explorer, i would have known to not open it!

immediately my computer starts crunching files so i disabled startup features and shut down. after restarting there is noticable delay between web pages and excessive file crunching, i dont know what else has gone wrong.

can i post the offending file for someone to examine?
when i try to examine the pif file under the program tab there is a memory warning and it hangs up when i select advanced... nav turned up no infected files

pleeeeease help

 

[carrr]

Go to

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

and run their scan on your system (free online service).

Then, download and run SPyBot (

http://security.kolla.de/)

 

[carrr]

On seconf thought, yep, bet you do have a virus.
Please follow this link and follow the instructions:

http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/analyses/w32sobigc.html

 

[mataeux]

i searched and found the W32.Sobig.E@mm Fix Tool from Symantec. thier website described the problem precisely and provided a fix.

serious applause to symantec.

sarcastic applause to microsoft.