sonni
Hero in training
Posts: 26
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Post by sonni on Jun 21, 2008 21:33:21 GMT -5
I've just been through 2 days of trying to get rid of whatever attached itself to my computer. I sort of have a grip on it for now but it was a scary ordeal. Does anyone have a really effective type of software they use on Trojans etc? Just in case it returns, Yikes.
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Post by Connie on Jun 21, 2008 22:43:56 GMT -5
I just went through a malware attack and learned that it can happen if you haven't updated your java platform. So make sure your java is updated if you use it and make sure to run both adaware and spybot weekly at a minimum. I also use AVG as a free antivirus software.
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sonni
Hero in training
Posts: 26
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Post by sonni on Jun 21, 2008 22:54:16 GMT -5
Newbie on the net don't know what java is or not much of anything else for that matter. I have downloaded at least 3 types of counterspy software. When I use Flock I don't have any problems only when I use IE. I still try IE but it doesn't work like it used to. Thanks for the advice. Now somebody please explain java and what that is. Sonni
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Post by audrey on Jun 22, 2008 8:43:23 GMT -5
When I use a chat room or when I play heats, java opens. It's how some programs run. I think I'll wait for Connie to better explain this.
I too use AVG and love it.
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sonni
Hero in training
Posts: 26
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Post by sonni on Jun 22, 2008 13:40:24 GMT -5
Sorry to say I also don't know what avg is. I haven't done anything on the computer but send emails and just recently got interested in doing internet marketing. So I've been going to many websites which I never used to do so I never had any problems till now. Therefore, I don't know where I got this mess and don't know which one of these antispywares are scams and which are legit. I have all kinds of anyspywaremaster pop ups that I can't get to go away even when I click the box, they won't leave so I have to shut down. Then the porno came and I freaked out on that, I mean it's the XXX stuff appearing on my screen. I have no idea how it got to me nobody uses this PC but me. I live alone, I'm clueless. IE won't work anymore I'm on a Flock browser, for some reason it works. I downloaded something called counterspy and it helped some but not completely, Internet Explorer still freezes, hesitates, kicks me off etc. I'm looking for a solution but am clueless. I'm very technologically challenged so whatever advice anyone has please break it down to my level. Thanks, Sonni
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Post by audrey on Jun 22, 2008 17:33:20 GMT -5
Sonni,
It truly sounds like you have something on your computer. AVG is a virus protector. Many computers have something, either AVG or Norton or....Do you have virus protection? If you do, please run that.
For anti spyware....I recommend the same two as Connie adaware and spybot. If you have an anti spyware program on your computer, please run that also.
Keep us posted.
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Post by Organized Chaos on Jun 22, 2008 18:20:11 GMT -5
Sonni, like a few others have said, 2 of the best anti-spyware, anti-adware softwares out there are Ad-Aware & Spybot Search & Destroy. Ad-Aware: www.lavasoft.com/ (Be sure to download "Ad-Aware Free") Spybot S&D: www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html (You don't have to donate, just scroll down to the Download section and download Spybot Search & Destroy 1.5.2) Once you've downloaded them both, if they didn't prompt you to already, reboot your PC. Use these 2 to run scans once a week or so, more often if you think something's wrong. AVG is anti-virus software. You should have anti-virus software installed on your PC, it's absolutely necessary if you use the internet. Others you might've heard of are Norton or McAfee, both of which you have to buy. But AVG does have a free version and it is very highly rated. Just make sure you don't put 2 different brands of anti-virus software on 1 PC because they will conflict with one another. AVG Free can be downloaded here: free.grisoft.com/ Once you have anti-virus, you should run that scan on a regular basis too. It does sound like you've got some spyware that's causing the unwanted pop-ups. The 2 programs at the top will help with that. If you get rid of whatever bug you have, it'll also more than likely help keep your IE from freezing. I've never heard of Flock browser. Many people who don't want to use IE prefer Firefox, it's claimed to be a more secure browser. If you'd like to try Firefox, you can get it here: www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/One question, how old is your computer? If it's older, some of the freezing problems can be caused by the fact that it may have simply passed its prime. I hope some of this is helpful. We'll help you as much as we can. It's a lot to take in as a beginner but you'll do just fine.
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sonni
Hero in training
Posts: 26
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Post by sonni on Jun 22, 2008 20:39:47 GMT -5
Update, I finally have a little peace. I found 2 forums, Spyware Warriors and Windows XP forum aka Cnet forum. I downloaded Adaware and counterspy. I already had Norton. Whatever got hold of my computer blew Norton out of the water. I have consistently worked on it for several days and nights. It is the first time I've ever encountered such nasty material, porno, YUK! Never been to a porno site and nobody else on my PC so I'm clueless on that. IE still doesn't work right and I don't care. I'll use Flock and I also have Firefox. Actually the advice from the computer guru's was to leave IE alone, it has multiple security risks that aren't worth the trouble. Thanks for the advice it was just as I was told by Spyware Warriors. Sonni
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Post by audrey on Jun 23, 2008 7:53:05 GMT -5
Glad to hear you're getting it fixed. Norton does not always catch everything. I've had one virus that I couldn't kill I have a friend who specializes in computers. She came over and was able to kill the darn thing. You do not have to visit porn sites to get those darn popups. It can be the result of these popup viruses. Keep us posted.
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sonni
Hero in training
Posts: 26
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Post by sonni on Jul 3, 2008 23:27:24 GMT -5
I now have Norton 460 it's not great but it does work for the anti-virus part. Then I have Malwarebytes and Counterspy for the anti-spyware. I use Flock instead of IE and that has been a great change. No problems with it. I try to avoid scam sites, scan and backup often. Now my PC is happy and I am too. Sonni
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Post by audrey on Jul 9, 2008 8:55:24 GMT -5
I use IE. I find it quicker and easier.
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sonni
Hero in training
Posts: 26
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Post by sonni on Jul 9, 2008 23:09:10 GMT -5
I was looking for some free clip art so I googled clip art and that was a mistake. I wound up going in circles from pop ups to banners flashing everywhere and then some porno showed up out of nowhere. I quickly got out of there and did a scan in case it had attached itself to me I won't be looking for clip art again anytime soon. Sonni
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Post by Organized Chaos on Jul 10, 2008 17:41:23 GMT -5
Just as a test, I went to clipart.com and didn't get any pop ups. Also tried clip-art.com and got 1 pop up that Firefox managed to block. Your problem sounds like it may be deeper rooted than just the sites you visit. It sounds like you've got some spyware/adware somewhere in there. The thing with spyware is that not 1 spyware scanner can detect them all, you need a good combo. I recommend Spybot Search & Destroy & Ad-Aware.
Google Images is a great place to find pics, clip art, you name it. Yahoo Images too.
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sonni
Hero in training
Posts: 26
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Post by sonni on Jul 11, 2008 22:04:23 GMT -5
Thanks I'll check those out. I have a combo of 4 anti-spyware and 1 anti-virus. I try to stay on top of it. Sonni
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Post by Organized Chaos on Jul 12, 2008 15:50:10 GMT -5
Sounds like you are doing a good job trying to keep the bad stuff down, but there's something in there somewhere. With the description you gave of being inundated with pop ups (especially porn) just from average surfing, it definitely sounds like you've got a stubborn piece of spyware/adware/malware in there somewhere. Some can be a pain to get rid of. Another good addition is Spyware Guard. It doesn't scan but rather runs in the background & catches spyware before it's even installed to your PC. If anyone would like to try it, you can get it here: www.javacoolsoftware.com/index.htmlI've been using that for a few years now and it (along with my Norton, Spybot & AdAware) has done a great job. I surf all kinds of websites and very rarely have a problem. That site also has Spyware Blaster. I've heard it's good but haven't tried it.
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