Massive internet usage in 10 days.

I have redundant backup images of all of my machines on external storage devices. No way i'm loosing my data unless I have water or fire damage. God forbid! I don't have much of my data stored offsite. I always store anything valuable on external storage instead of the drive containing my OS.

 

exactly!!!!!

 

Hey, I'm not saying that backup images aren't important!

I'm suggesting that, in OP's present circumstances, simple file backups of key stuff are a priority. If he wants to also create a current backup image, that fine. But i'd do that after saving a couple copies of key files, using a Linux LiveCD.

 

Good to see the issue fixed, so it was a hidden trojan. I recommend Avast for anti-virus as well, but that's not enough by itself for full security.

 

The trojans looked to be in the user directories. Maybe an anti-executable approach? Unless something was deliberately installed that shouldn't have been, like a codec, but this is only pure speculation.

 

do you know how you got infected? if not it may come back...

what's your security setup right now? you probably need a stronger firewall + antivirus than what you had before. comodo internet security (free version) should do although it can be resource hog on older computers and the popups can be annoying, but that's the cost of doing business these days.

also, what did the trojan download and upload? you might want to be prepared for the possibility that it was able to grab some sensitive data from your computer (passwords, banking details, etc.).