Monkey

Gra, you need to patch for this worm (and so should everyone who uses Windows NT/2000/XP/2K3):

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tre...n/MS03-026.asp

Paul

unrefined_mind

We had exact same problem on home computer last night, and missus only went on expats, tried clearing cookies, temp files - didnt work - have not tried defragment yet (it was time fior bed), glad it is not just us with this problem.....

Regards
UM

BritboyNZ

Paul's advice is well worth heeding - I've spent nearly the whole day today removing a bl**dy worm (W32.Blaster..not a particularly nasty one, it just makes the computer unstable & constantly causes it to reboot) that takes advantage of this vulnerability. If you are using Windows 2000, XP or 2003 you should install this patch NOW!

Best advice I can give you to keep your PC free from viruses/worms/pop ups etc is:

1. Make sure you have anti-virus software installed, and that the virus definitions (an update issued by the AV software company that tells the anti-virus software what to look for) are bang up to date. Configure your AV software to look for updates at least daily. It is also a very good idea to make sure you are using an upto date version/engine of AV software. New viruses come out ALL THE TIME! so in order to keep your computer virus free, you need to keep your AV software current. A copy of Norton/McAfee etc that is 3yrs old (even if the definitions are up to date) won't protect you as much as Norton 2003 or McAfee VirusScan 7 for example. AV software doesn't cost much, and Will save you a lot of grief sooner or later.

2. Make sure you have ALL of the latest patches for your software installed - run Windows Update on a Regular basis. If you are using an old copy of Internet Explorer (ie 5.0/5.5 or earlier!) I strongly recommend you install the latest version (6SP1) as there are vulnerabilities in older versions (even browsing infected/compromised websites can infect/do nasty things to your PC) IE6SP1 is available from Microsofts website: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/...p1/default.asp Once you have installed it & rebooted your computer, run Windows Update again as Microsoft have released patches for IE6SP1 (good old microsoft...can always trust them to release software with more holes than a sieve)

3. Spyware / Parasites: If you have the latest patches/updates installed, and are carefull when visiting websites (always respond NO) to any popups that ask if you want to install our 'free calendar software, toolbars etc etc) spyware shouldn't be a problem, although some are particularly sneaky and install themselves without you knowing. Once installed, things like Gator (precision time/date manager) can be a pain in the a*se to remove. The vast majority of peer-peer music/file sharing software like Kazza / iMesh etc comes with spyware built-in so if you use peer-peer applications, popups are a fact of life. Have a look at www.doxdesk.com/parasite for removal instructions. Another excellent site that tells you how to get rid of this junk is: www.cexx.org/adware.htm AdAware is also very good, as someone previously mentioned.

4. Spam. If you give your email address out to all and sundry (ie when registering for access to sites, online surveys etc etc) then you can expect tons of spam. I maintain 2 email addresses - my main one only given to close friends/family/trusted companies. The other one I use when registering for access to sites on the web (eg british expats!), downloading software etc etc. Not suprisingly this one gets tons of spam - i check it every now and then & delete all the rubbish. When the volume of spam gets too great I simply close/let that account lapse & open another one. Having a second 'disposable' email address keeps my main email address spam free.

5. Backups! I can guarantee the vast majority of you aren't backing up your home PC at all. Obviously it's a free world and if you don't backup your data that's upto you, however I see dead PC's/virus outbreaks/failed hard disks all the time & can tell you that they are far more common than you think. doing backups doesn't usually mean you have to spend huge amounts of money on expensive tape drives/backup software - most people have CD Writers attached to their PC & CD-R's are so cheap cost isn't usually an issue. If you have more than 1 PC at home (eg a small network) just copy all the important stuff on a regular basis to the other machine. It's possible to setup a schedule so your PC does this automatically. Backups are like car/house insurance - you think you will never need them & but when (not IF but When!) something bad happens they are a lifesaver. If you have irreplaceable data (digital pics/personal or business files etc etc) doing a Regular backup is essential.

Hope all this doesn't sound too off putting (& apologies if anyone thinks I'm lecturing to them!) - but with a little regular maintenance (only takes 10-15 minutes a week) its quite easy to keep your computer virus/spam/problem free.

All the best

Russ

HUP

Hi Gra

One piece of advice when using Adaware is to make sure you backup the files that you are removing. The program can do this for you automatically. Then if you have any problems you can locate the relevant bit and restore it.

With regards to your current problem then I'd suggest you look at what programs are actually running (Ctrl-alt-del). If this is only happening say when you are running Internet explorer then you will have another program running in background which will be causing the problem If you can locate this program then I suggest you uninstall it then reinstall it.

Gra.B

Thanks all, think it's sorted now.

Tried clearing all the temp files, history etc, but still had the problem. Run Norton & found the Win32.Blaster thing that Russ had! Bugger! Was this the problem? Guess so...

Anyway, there's a fixblast prog on Symantec which has cleared it, got my patches too..

Still working....touch wood..

Gra..

unrefined_mind

Good for you Gra.B, up and running here now as well, patched up for now.

question is WHO is hacking?

Tiss someone on this forum without question - Didn't Karrawa have their web site hacked into recently as well?

I promise I will get that I.P. address......and when I do.........

UM

r.bartlett

i use adaware and spybot..

if one ,misses anything -and they do- the other picks it up..
i also use zonealarm pro which should stop them in the first place -but doesn't..

cheers

richard

Gra.B

I assumed it was just something from those spyware programs or similar.

This blaster thing seems quite big now, freeserve have an item on it on their front page today.

rzack

Well, I don't have problems with pop ups since I'm using AOL service and they have free pop ups block. But last week something really annoying happened.

Thats because sometimes I use Internet explorer and few things came up and one of it was a porn AUTOMATIC DOWNLOAD. There is no stop or asking you YES or NO to download. Its get directly into my drive C and then to my desktop!!! I tried to delete it in both and after 10 minutes it start again. Any of you have this experience? This 'live chat porno stuff called 'LIVE GIRLS' with an eye symbol! Its reallly annoying!

Gra.B

No......but I'll try anything once!

rzack

Haaa....I know you guys love it I just wonder, if these ppl can do that, they might can get download viruses just like that too.

HUP

This website is installing some software from a company called Gator. Here is a piece of info I found about it

Gator is one of the most persistent and insidious spyware/adware programs on the Net. It will install
itself onto your computer many times without even asking, chiefly by hiding itself in cleverly-written EULAs (End-User License
Agreements) or tagging itself onto other programs like eWallet. After its GAIN (Gator Advertising and Information Network)
software is installed it starts gathering information on what websites you travel to and especially what you buy online. It
also proceeds to solicit you with online popup ads based on the sites and links you have clicked to in the past. This program
is included in almost all file-sharing programs such as Kazaa, Morpheus and Bearshare, so if you're using or planning on using
any of those programs beware.

Gra.B

I must say it's been worth all the hassle today...no more pop ups ruining my game of Tetris! I had other ones on here that would bring up dodgy search engines whenever I used google. loads of pop ups for adware type programs, I just never trusted them, thought it might get worse!

Anway, much better now thanks,

Gra..

Don

Cheers, Russ!

(Out there with you in NZ but an island apart in just than a month!)

sky

I had the problem with the porn downloading automatically onto my pc screen when I turned it on,I couldnt stop it and it installed itself all over my desktop.Picture just appeared on my monitor was horrified especially as young son was stood next to me waiting to play one of his games on it.Had to put my hand over the screen and send him out of the room .... took me ages to get rid of the stuff was disgusting and Im no prude,was on my favourates list and everything.just installed adware and gator was on my pc I had wondered for ages what that program was as I am definately no expert with pc
This a really helpful thread
Thanks