Is anyone else having virus/malware issues?

[seeker589]

Is there anyone else having malware issues?

I picked up a Trojan on my PC (I'm typing on my laptop).

The reason I ask - this is one of five websites I've visited in the last two days.

[CAL]

I had one just before Christmas.

It was bad, it seems to have wanted to create it's own partition on the HDD and operate from there. Took out Windows in the process.

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

I doubt you are picking them up from a particular website. I've had two PC's infected with "rogue spyware" that is a form of Trojan. You need to get a good spyware/malware package like Superantispyware from www.superantispyware.com and run it once a week or so. Antivirus software will not pick up any type of spyware/malware.

Good luck!

[elan]

Yes, but it wasn't from this site. Just a wandering Trojan I guess.

[CAL]

They call it in the wild, which accounts for 83% of all trojans currently

[Greg Cullinan]

We had a trojan named Vundo on our desktop. It bombarded us with pop ups that were trying to sell phony spyware programs.

[seeker589]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

This has a bunch of pop-ups trying to sell me downloadable software to clear it up. The selling website is very poorly done. The product has very poor reviews also.

They pretty much hold a computer hostage until your buy their stuff - it removes the pop-ups - but the spywhare stays.

I'm just gonna pay to have it fixed and then go and get a Mac mini.

[Marc @ MPC Motorsports]

You have rogue spyware. Save your money and download Superantispyware from www.superantispyware.com. It will remove the rogue spyware and you can use the money you save on models!!!

[roadhawg]

They pretty much hold a computer hostage until your buy their stuff - it removes the pop-ups - but the spywhare stays.

Isn't that a form of extortion, which is a FELONY? I know a lot of the creeps that write this stuff are overseas, but still, it looks like some people should be going to jail for this.

Anyway....First rule is to make sure you have all your important stuff backed up. Bill Geary recommends Carbonite, an online service, which is priced reasonably and I'm sure its a good company....but as conspiracy minded and paranoid as I am, I simply back my stuff up on flash drive memory sticks (password protected, of course), and update it about every 2-3 weeks, or whenever I add photos or something. Then, no matter what happens, you got your important stuff saved.

Next, buying a new computer because you got a bug in your old one is sorta like buying a new car cause your old one had a flat tire. If it was working fine before, simply fix it, or pay the Geek Squad 50 bucks to fix it. I've seen a bunch of these "DANGER-YOUR COMPUTER IS INFECTED" pop-up scams lately. Some are more difficult than others, but most can be fixed without reformatting. If you don't know much about computers, download Spybot (free) and learn how to start your computer in "safe mode".....then, when you get a bug, you have some ammunition to fight back with.

Now, I have a question for you guys that are getting this malware. Out of curiosity, how many of you are on Facebook? Just askin........

[old-hermit]

ZONE ALARM. It's all in one. Firewall, anti everything, blocks all the ###### BEFORE it gets to your computer.

I've used it for eight years and only had one serious infection and that was my fault.

Plus they are having a 50% off sale right now.

http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us/cdn/za/zaxs-zass-compare.htm?lid=en-us&cid=W200075&source=ggl&medium=cpc&term=zone%20alarm&content=withaddons

http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us/home.htm?lid=en-us

Edited January 19, 2010 by old-hermit

[JamesW]

I currently have a virus, picked it up the other day. The biggest problem is, my anti virus software isn't working.

[Smart-Resins]

we just lost my wifes computer to a trojan! I had to format the drive and start it from fresh. Jody

[Abell82]

I seem to have just caught one. It keeps popping up random windows. I tried the Superspyware stuff, but it did not help?

[Casey]

I seem to have just caught one. It keeps popping up random windows. I tried the Superspyware stuff, but it did not help?

If any of you having problems clicked on this thread: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=27025

...that could've been your source. I cut and pasted the link posted in that thread (pic of an Audi A8 on some video game) in my address bar, went there, and viewed the pic. Shortly after, my computer was turned off for the night.

This morning upon turning my computer on I got the malware pop-ups like crazy, so I did a system retore to a few days prior andthe malware is gone.

Edited January 20, 2010 by Casey

[MrObsessive]

I recently got a virus embedded in a pic from an email attachment. I have AVG which didn't pick it up previously, but I knew there was a problem when I couldn't get updates from Microsoft to download. I decided to reformat the drive myself, and when I reinstalled the latest version of AVG after everything was back on my system, that's when the virus was picked up.

Apparently when Carbonite reinstalled my files, the virus somehow embedded itself in my printer files and had spread from there.

BTW, flash drives and external hard discs are nice, but what if you have a fire, or those things are stolen?? Your pics, music, and other files are still gone forever! That's one reason I recommend Carbonite........your files are safe offsite, so if something tragic happens to your computer and the other ancillary devices, your data is kept safe.

[roadhawg]

BTW, flash drives and external hard discs are nice, but what if you have a fire, or those things are stolen?? Your pics, music, and other files are still gone forever! That's one reason I recommend Carbonite........your files are safe offsite, so if something tragic happens to your computer and the other ancillary devices, your data is kept safe.

Ok, ok, you twisted my arm....guess I'll break down and do it. Lol. I wonder if you would get a bonus if I told 'em you referred me?

BTW, guys. a trojan is: "non-self-replicating malware that appears to perform a desirable function for the user but instead facilitates unauthorized access to the user's computer system."

In other words, all the spyware and virus protection in the world isn't gonna help if YOU let it in, which is usually the case with this stuff. I've seen a rash of this coming from different Facebook applications lately, was why I asked. Here's one tip I can offer. If you see ANYTHING weird pop up that says something like "DANGER, YOUR COMPUTER IS INFECTED", then IMMEDIETLEY turn your computer off....do not pass go, do not collect $200, do not click on anything or try to "X" out of it...just reach for the switch and shut it off (or unplug it, if its a desktop). 9 times out of 10, when you restart, you'll be fine....just clean out your temp files and run your spyware scan. Good luck.

Again, I think people should go to JAIL for doing this stuff.. .