Got a nasty virus...

Jonny69 · 19-07-2008, 12:40

I suppose it's my fault for not having AV or AS installed but I finally managed to pick up a computer virus last night. Ironically it wasn't me that got it, even with all my dodgy surfing, it was her using Facebook in IE. So I reckon it must have been a dodgy app or advert that did that.

Nasty one it was, came up as a red X in the system try and pretended to be Windows Security Center. I have all that stuff disabled so I knew it wasn't legit. Couldn't install AVG and coudn't run HijackThis or Spybot, it didn't show in Task Manager, msconfig or the obvious places in regedit so I was kinda stuck. It's been too long since I last hunted down virii and it looks like they have got a bit trickier to spot

Ended up reinstalling one of my disk images, only problem is it was from 2006 so it's taken a bit of setting up again and I've lost all my bookmarks in Firefox, should be ok, I'll take a copy from work and I'll be back to normal.

Haven't lost any data because I keep it on another partition for exactly this reason.

Probably about time I took another disk image I think. Moral of the story is keep your AV installed and up to date!

Daz · 19-07-2008, 12:45

I dont use AV, haven't for years

I'm in Linux 60% of the time these days, but the 40% of the time I'm in Windows I'm just careful, and never use IE. Dee's the Windows user, and doesn't like Firefox, but she doesn't run with an admin account (and on Vista), and touch wood so far we've been spyware free. The odd dodgy thing I download (keygens etc) I virus scan on a Linux box then run it in a VM in case it is dodgy.

Out of curiosity, you still running XP Jonny? Glad you got it sorted either way

Jonny69 · 19-07-2008, 13:02

Yup, XP and virgin SP2 with Firefox instead of IE but it's still on there because she likes to use it. I haven't had AV installed for years either!

Basically hide behind my router which stops worms, internet based viruses don't work through Firefox and I've got Yahoo mail which catches all the email based viruses. I don't tend to download software that isn't from a trusted source.

divine · 19-07-2008, 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonny69

internet based viruses don't work through Firefox

I wouldn't be quite so cavalier about that.

The last three trojans that my AV has caught have all been as a result of using Firefox, it's not some kind of magic wonder browser.

Glaucus · 19-07-2008, 15:33

You will have loads of spyware if you don't run protection. With pc's being so powerful it is just stupid not to run protection.

Oh and firefox has a huge market share there are more than enough threats for FF and IE.

If you don't run AV, or antispyware. You wouldn't have any idea if you picked any up as most have no visible signs.

Daz · 19-07-2008, 16:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by AcidHell2

You will have loads of spyware if you don't run protection. With pc's being so powerful it is just stupid not to run protection.

O RLY?

It's perfectly possible to safely use the internet without sacrificing a lot of resource to one or a number of apps second guessing everything I click on. I'm capable of doing that myself.

I agree that for most of the web population they need it (as they dont understand the technologies and the risks), but to say that you cant have a clean machine without anti-whatever programs just isnt the case.

divine · 19-07-2008, 17:18

They'll only take up a 'lot' of resources if you're running a PC from the stone age anyway. I don't see the bother in letting an AV take up 6MB of RAM keeping it's eye on things and having a spyware program keep a check on things every now and again.

I'd say chances are, if you have no AV, no firewall, no anti-spyware etc. that unless you strictly use about 5 websites and nothing else, you've probably got something somewhere, lurking.

Glaucus · 19-07-2008, 17:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daz

O RLY?

It's perfectly possible to safely use the internet without sacrificing a lot of resource to one or a number of apps second guessing everything I click on. I'm capable of doing that myself.

I agree that for most of the web population they need it (as they dont understand the technologies and the risks), but to say that you cant have a clean machine without anti-whatever programs just isnt the case.

you WILL have tracking cookies on at the very least and problem have many more slightly more serious stuff although still low risk.

an anti virus and anti spyware willl take no resources compared to a modern computer. As I said how do you know you are clear? Most virus, trojans etc do not show any noticeable signs.

Mark · 19-07-2008, 17:48

Daz is right - careful users who know what they're doing can avoid most of the pitfalls. Tracking cookies aren't so bad unless you're paranoid. I clear my cookies down each time I use Quidco anyway which kills off any aspirations trackers might have. Having a very thorough hosts blacklist helps too (on Linux, though Windows will do the same job providing you're reasonably patched).

I do run AV - NOD32 to be precise - on all my Windows boxen, but that's far more to do with peace of mind than infection risk - the only route I've had infections come in the last five or so years is via email, and 99% of those get caught by my anti-spam chain anyway. As for the rest, I don't open random attachments.

Jonny69 · 19-07-2008, 18:54

Sorry Acid, couldn't disagree with you more there. I'd run AV for years before and run regular checks with AVG, Spybot S&D and Adaware and none of them ever found anything. It boots and runs faster on most stuff without an AV installed.

Anyway, now I know how easily it can get in maybe I'll stop blaming all the dads who's 'kids filled the computer up with viruses' as maybe it was the the kids after all, not dad surfing on porn sites

19-07-2008, 12:40	#1
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	Got a nasty virus... I suppose it's my fault for not having AV or AS installed but I finally managed to pick up a computer virus last night. Ironically it wasn't me that got it, even with all my dodgy surfing, it was her using Facebook in IE. So I reckon it must have been a dodgy app or advert that did that. Nasty one it was, came up as a red X in the system try and pretended to be Windows Security Center. I have all that stuff disabled so I knew it wasn't legit. Couldn't install AVG and coudn't run HijackThis or Spybot, it didn't show in Task Manager, msconfig or the obvious places in regedit so I was kinda stuck. It's been too long since I last hunted down virii and it looks like they have got a bit trickier to spot Ended up reinstalling one of my disk images, only problem is it was from 2006 so it's taken a bit of setting up again and I've lost all my bookmarks in Firefox, should be ok, I'll take a copy from work and I'll be back to normal. Haven't lost any data because I keep it on another partition for exactly this reason. Probably about time I took another disk image I think. Moral of the story is keep your AV installed and up to date! __________________

19-07-2008, 12:45	#2
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	I dont use AV, haven't for years I'm in Linux 60% of the time these days, but the 40% of the time I'm in Windows I'm just careful, and never use IE. Dee's the Windows user, and doesn't like Firefox, but she doesn't run with an admin account (and on Vista), and touch wood so far we've been spyware free. The odd dodgy thing I download (keygens etc) I virus scan on a Linux box then run it in a VM in case it is dodgy. Out of curiosity, you still running XP Jonny? Glad you got it sorted either way __________________ apt-get moo

19-07-2008, 13:02	#3
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	Yup, XP and virgin SP2 with Firefox instead of IE but it's still on there because she likes to use it. I haven't had AV installed for years either! Basically hide behind my router which stops worms, internet based viruses don't work through Firefox and I've got Yahoo mail which catches all the email based viruses. I don't tend to download software that isn't from a trusted source. __________________

19-07-2008, 15:33	#5
Glaucus Absinthe Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,855	You will have loads of spyware if you don't run protection. With pc's being so powerful it is just stupid not to run protection. Oh and firefox has a huge market share there are more than enough threats for FF and IE. If you don't run AV, or antispyware. You wouldn't have any idea if you picked any up as most have no visible signs. __________________

19-07-2008, 17:18	#7
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	They'll only take up a 'lot' of resources if you're running a PC from the stone age anyway. I don't see the bother in letting an AV take up 6MB of RAM keeping it's eye on things and having a spyware program keep a check on things every now and again. I'd say chances are, if you have no AV, no firewall, no anti-spyware etc. that unless you strictly use about 5 websites and nothing else, you've probably got something somewhere, lurking. __________________

19-07-2008, 17:48	#9
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Daz is right - careful users who know what they're doing can avoid most of the pitfalls. Tracking cookies aren't so bad unless you're paranoid. I clear my cookies down each time I use Quidco anyway which kills off any aspirations trackers might have. Having a very thorough hosts blacklist helps too (on Linux, though Windows will do the same job providing you're reasonably patched). I do run AV - NOD32 to be precise - on all my Windows boxen, but that's far more to do with peace of mind than infection risk - the only route I've had infections come in the last five or so years is via email, and 99% of those get caught by my anti-spam chain anyway. As for the rest, I don't open random attachments.

19-07-2008, 18:54	#10
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	Sorry Acid, couldn't disagree with you more there. I'd run AV for years before and run regular checks with AVG, Spybot S&D and Adaware and none of them ever found anything. It boots and runs faster on most stuff without an AV installed. Anyway, now I know how easily it can get in maybe I'll stop blaming all the dads who's 'kids filled the computer up with viruses' as maybe it was the the kids after all, not dad surfing on porn sites __________________

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