Simviation Forums

Has anyone heard of a virus called StartPage.AX?  I have it on my computer, and McAfee can't seem to get rid of it.

It started when McAfee downloaded and installed a new update.  This must have been sleeping in my system, because as soon as the update finished installing, I got a virus warning.  I followed the usual methods for removal, but the same messages kept popping up on my screen.  It tells me a trojan has been detected, and then I quarantine the file.  It then tells me the trojan has been detected and cleaned and I click continue.  Then the whole thing starts over again.

I have run McAfee virus scan three times now, and it has found at least five viruses on each try, but never the StartPage.AX one.

Does anyone have any suggestions?  And please, no comments on firewalling and such, I know I should have done all that, but right now I just want to get it working again.

I use to have a Trojan that was once sleeping in my system. I found it WHILE it was still sleeping. I quickly acted and began to clean out my entire system.

After a full reformat and a full install Windows XP, the Trojan is finally gone.

After a series of recent updates, I have still not seen one virus in my system after a full system scan.

I use Norton Anti-Virus from Symantec with all recent Windows Updates and Anti-Virus Updates.

I'm sorry to say this, but I'm afraid that you are looking at a complete reformat of your hard drive.

I'm not familar with how McAfee's works but I do assume that it will show a list of infected files?
If so you might want to go and remove those files manually and not depend on the software to do it for you
The only thing I know about startpage is a version of the trojan that will attempt to change your IE homepage.
But one thing you might want to do is disable your system restore (xp) run a scan and then remove the infected files manually when you locate them. If besides the virus your system is running good I would recommend removing all previous restore points and then create a new one once you clean your system!! Remember system restore will hold back ups of viruses!
If your uncertain if it is located in "needed files", make a copy of the infected files for back up and then delete them and see if removing them affects your computer.
I don't think a reformat is needed and might be a little overkill.
But then again I'm no expert but this is something I would try especially if reformating is a issue!!!!!

Here try this link, it explains what it is and does, it is also from the makers of your software

http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default. ... s_k=100973

Hope this helps, and good luck!!

Use current engine and DAT files for detection.

Due to the nature in which this trojan modifies the system such that the DLL is loaded by other (legitimate) programs on the machine, simple deletion of CTRLPAN.DLL is not possible (access denied). Restarting the machine in Safe Mode does not solve this issue.

Full cleaning will be available in the 4318 DATs. It is currently available in the daily DAT files .