Need some computer advice

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by easysurfer My computer got infected with the "Antivirus Live" rougue anit-spyware program today. Luckily, recovering was pretty painless as I have rollback software which allowed to me rollback my system to a point before the infection. Ironically, I was infected not by viewing a naughty site but while I was at USA Today and browsing an article on universal health care

Easysurfer, I was reading about malware a few weeks ago and was surprised to read that some very reputable sites like the New York Times website have had severe malware problems, sometimes linked to ads that unknowingly bring malware onto websites. And now, from what you experienced, the USAToday was infected with malware as well. Amazing. Guess one never knows.

Glad you were able to get rid of it easily!

[easysurfer]

W2R,

That "Anitvirus Live" rougue spyware is pretty aggressive. As soon as my computer was infected, it deactived my antivirus, and I couldn't do a CTL+ALT+Delete to get in task manager or another process manager program I have running, and started scanning my hard drive.

I had to do a manual power off. Then I did my rollback to recover.

Just for grins, I'm also scanning my hard drives with Malwarebytes to make sure there are no more traces of the spyware.

That is something about everyday websites which one would think as safe being infected also.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by easysurfer W2R, That "Anitvirus Live" rougue spyware is pretty aggressive. As soon as my computer was infected, it deactived my antivirus, and I couldn't do a CTL+ALT+Delete to get in task manager or another process manager program I have running, and started scanning my hard drive. I had to do a manual power off. Then I did my rollback to recover. Just for grins, I'm also scanning my hard drives with Malwarebytes to make sure there are no more traces of the spyware. That is something about everyday websites which one would think as safe being infected also.

The malwarebytes scan will probably come up clean, since you did that rollback. But it's not a bad idea anyway. I have always had Norton Internet Security, which I update and scan with frequently, but during the past few weeks I have been updating and using malwarebytes, spybot, and ccleaner several times a week. I haven't found anything since the recent scares here on the board, but I do feel more secure just knowing that everything comes up clean. Another thing that helps me feel more secure is to use the Windows on-screen keyboard to enter my passwords with just mouseclicks, just in case I missed a keylogger somehow.

That spyware sounds terrible! I am glad you were able to successfully accomplish a rollback.

[easysurfer]

Yes, the scan came up clean . BTW, the rollback software that I've been talking about is called Rollback Rx in case anyone is wondering.

[harley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by easysurfer Ironically, I was infected not by viewing a naughty site but while I was at USA Today and browsing an article on universal health care

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R Easysurfer, I was reading about malware a few weeks ago and was surprised to read that some very reputable sites like the New York Times website have had severe malware problems,

I'm not sure what makes y'all's pornography sites better than anyone else's. Naked women, lying politicians, who's to say which is dirtier.

[RonBoyd]

I was, first, going to submit the link only and then decided it may get bumped as SP*M so I am adding all of this superfilous babble to make it seem legitimate -- which it is. A well-written article, in fact.

Get Free Microsoft Antivirus Software For Your Windows PC

[REWahoo]

I've been led to believe that non-superfluous babble is distinguished from superfluous babble by the absence of superflui. Then again, that might be incoherent prattle.

[RonBoyd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo I've been led to believe that non-superfluous babble is distinguished from superfluous babble by the absence of superflui. Then again, that might be incoherent prattle.

Or, specific to most of my posts, incomprehensible blather.

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

I depend on ZoneAlarm Security Suite (paid for the upgrade after trying to juggle it and free antivirus programs for years) which is an excellent firewall (better than Microsoft's) and has Kaparsky antivirus built-in. They have a free version of the firewall: Free Firewall by ZoneAlarm

and SUPERAntiSpyware SUPERAntiSpyware.com | Remove Malware | Remove Spyware - AntiMalware, AntiSpyware, AntiAdware! that found and killed a particularly well-hidden malware program on my personal machine hiding in another program of dubious heritage that other software couldn't find/touch (it probably de-activated them). They also have a free version (see above) but I bought the perpetual update as they gave me a deal.

I also use FireFox and keep it updated and don't use IE unless forced. (Love the pop-up blockers, too!)

I also use AdAware, Spybot Search and Destroy and SpywareBlaster (Google for details) and keep them updated.

I also have a hard-wired router (I do not trust wireless) that provides a level of hardware firewall protection AND I turn the machines off when not in use.

So, even with an undisciplined son and computer illiterate DD and DW (we do have rules for websites and e-mail though), the only problem we have ever had was that one malware (my fault), and it did no damage that I can determine.