Bleepingcomputer.com

[3oneday]

Some of you may know I was attacked by a virus tonight, spent $50 on a Spyware piece of whatever to ultimately work out that, yes, you guessed, it was a waste of money....

Anyway, I ended up at Bleepingcomputer.com. If my Mother In Law wasn't staying it would have been much worse than bleeping computer, I can ****ing well promise you that !!!

Anyway, it was an antispynet.com or antispywaresoldier, basically it is one that tricks you into clicking to update or purchase spyware. It also removes your home page address and changes it to blank.....

The guys at Bleep had already solved it yesterday, I have the thread saved on my work pc and I can link it tomorrow if anyone is interested. I don't claim to understand it all, but it was so simple to follow and best of all... it worked !!!!!!!!!! yay...

Anyway, got there in the end, only took me about 3 and a half hours :evil:

Fairdinkum, you feel like slamming these people at times !!!! All for them trying to force you into buying their crappy spyware !!!

Pete

[markTHEblake]

False Positive spyware detectors have been around a long time, attracting people with popups that say click here to avoid popups.

Off the top of my head a couple of the best Spyware prevention tools are still free
Ad-Aware
Spybot

AntiVirus
AVG www.grisoft.com

[Ducky]

Yup, I use to have a lot of fun at my old employer trying to repair computers that people using the internet for the first time use to get infected with all sorts of adware, spyware, and viruses. We were under no obligation to fix their computers (as we were operating as an ISP, not computer technicians) but we would try to help them out to save them some money.

The problem with the pop-ups that claim such things as 'you have spyware' or 'remove spyware now' is that they can look quite convincing to individuals that are unfamiliar with computers (I'm not putting you in this category). Worst of all, when you try to close them down they open up in full screen windows.

I mentioned in a thread recently that people should stop using ImageShack to host images unless they know how to directly link to the images. This is because ImageShack has started to use similar pop-ups to those that I have mentioned above.

There are several applications that you can download and install to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. Blakey has mentioned some of them above, however I would advise purchasing a retail anti-virus application (alternatively, send me your address details via PM and I will send you a license for Symantec Anti-Virus Corporate, which is so good it is used among most medium-large business environments).

Browser

If you're not already doing so, start using Mozilla Firefox (http://www.mozilla.com/). It has became an internet buzz word, but it really is a lot more secure than Internet Explorer and features an inbuilt pop-up blocker that will prevent the majority of pop-up windows.

Adware/Spyware Scanners

There are many retail products claiming to do a better job than Adaware and Spybot Search and Destroy, but in reality, none come close. Best of all, Adaware (personal SE) (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/) and Spybot Search and Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/home/index.html) are freeware. Be sure to download both applications, as they are good for cross-checking each other.

Anti-Virus

Most mainstream (retail) anti-virus applications can be quite bloated (i.e. it will affect system performance). These include McAfee, Norton, etc. However, if you were to purchase a retail anti-virus application Kaspersky (http://www.kaspersky.com/) is regarded as being quite effective/efficient.

Basically, retail products do not even compare to corporate products. So I would recommend taking me up on the offer mentioned above.

Pop-up Blocker

As mentioned previously, Mozilla Firefox will stop the majority of pop-up windows. However, there are already methods of circumventing its protection. If you want a dedicated pop-up blocker, you may want to install Google Toolbar (http://www.google.com/tools/firefox/toolbar/index.html). It also has some other handy features, such as integrating with Gmail.

Firewall

This is personal preference. However, its always a good idea to have a software firewall if you're using a connection that isn't running through a router. Most anti-virus applications can be purchased as a package that will include a firewall.

System Restore

System Restore should be on by default (i.e. unless you have manually turned it off), and will automatically backup your system files at significant intervals (such as when you have updated windows, drivers, or installed new applications). Although it is not the most robust restoration method, it can get you out of tight situations by allowing you to restore to an earlier checkpoint. It can be accessed by going to 'Start', 'All Programs', 'Accessories', 'System Tools', 'System Restore' within Windows.

Hope this helps. If you need any help I am only a PM or phone call away.

[Jarro]

glad to hear you sorted it out Pete, the people at Ebay were starting to get a bit worried ;)

I use Ad-Aware and have found it great ... no problems so far 8)

[3oneday]

I downloaded adaware and spybot, and I pay annually for a virus protection, none of which protected me in this instance. This is the first problem of its type since I have had a home PC.

My thinking was if I actually bought a spyware it might be stronger or more meaningful ?? but it was also useless.

I attempted system restore twice, but both times it wouldn't work. Also, when I tried the Control Alt Delete to see what was running, I couldn't access that either, I could see it, but I couldn't click anything.....

Also, when I attempted to login to Gmail, I could login but get no screen to display, if I googled it from my PC it would throw me to the spywarenet site.

Even with the spyware program I purchased, it threw alarms in my windows and slowed it down some, but all this did was change the viruses warning messages !!!

From a non IT perspective (ie, I'm non IT), I feel as though there was little more I could have done, except for this Firefox thingo, which I will look at tonight.

Thanks guys... oh and Jarro, I had a sale during all this mess too, luckily I could access my work PC to get it sorted ;)

Pete

[Jarro]

Thanks guys... oh and Jarro, I had a sale during all this mess too, luckily I could access my work PC to get it sorted ;)



.. i was half expecting to get a panicky late-night call from you asking me to check on at least half-a-dozen auctions :roll: :lol:

[3oneday]

.. i was half expecting to get a panicky late-night call from you asking me to check on at least half-a-dozen auctions :roll: :lol:gee, and I thought you were already looking after at least one !!!!

:p

[AndyP]

Off the top of my head a couple of the best Spyware prevention tools are still free
Ad-Aware
Spybot

AntiVirus
AVG www.grisoft.com (http://www.grisoft.com)
You've named all three that I use.
I use ZoneAlarm as my firewall (free again).

[3oneday]

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic61192.html

[Ducky]

Spyware Doctor, why someone hasn't stabbed these f**kers yet is beyond me.

[Fishman Dan]

Never did like the guy...







Oh $hit... he's got his internet access back?!

[markTHEblake]

Browser
If you're not already doing so, start using Mozilla Firefox (http://www.mozilla.com/). It has became an internet buzz word, but it really is a lot more secure than Internet Explorer and features an inbuilt pop-up blocker that will prevent the majority of pop-up windows.

Internet Explorer has a pop up blocker too, turned on by default for Newbs.

[AndyP]

AntiVirus
AVG www.grisoft.com (http://www.grisoft.com)
Looks like the free version stops in January.
Now what? Any other good reliable freebie virus protection?

[Ducky]

Haven't used it but it seems popular amongst the cheap ass PC users.

Avast 4 (Home Edition) (http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html)

[AndyP]

cheap ass PC users.
That's me. Thanks, I'll check it out.

[Ducky]

Cool. :D

[shavey]

I used Adware for ages only to find Spy Sweeper picked up some other nasties left behind.

Give it a try...