virus

[Anonymous]

I use McAfee ($20 per year) for virus protection and a firewall. Seems to work great and updates continually. Checks all e-mail coming in and fixes incoming virus or it never gets to the in basket. The Google tool bar is great for blocking pop-ups. I still get a few but it has blocked thousands (it keeps count for you if you want).

[lupo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Snake

Doggy,

I don't open Spam either... It tastes nasty!!! [:D]

[:D] Dave maybe you should add some HP-sauce [:D]

[Anonymous]

Doggy,

I don't open Spam either... It tastes nasty!!! [:D]

[Anonymous]

I never open Spam

DOGGY

[Anonymous]

I unfortunately don't have anti-virus software yet[xx(], but I don't get too many viruses-- just parasites. I get over a hundred pop-ups a day. I have two pop-up stoppers: Pop-Up Stopper Professional and a Yahoo! pop-up killer that can be added onto the Yahoo! Companion toolbar. The Yahoo! program kills the pop-ups that are in browser format, and the other program stops the smaller applet pop-ups. It keeps most, or all, pop-ups out. Also, each program can easily be turned on/off, so if you need to have a pop-up (such as a music file in a Java applet) u can easily turn it off to open it.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

QUOTE: Originally posted by dougal

It only show up on the two sites I visit the most. I have 11 detected files so far, and this site, which I ALWAYS get pop ups on, I have only had 1 come up, saying I won a suitcase [:(!]

Keep the suitcase...You'll probably get another pop up telling you won a free trip.

Free suitcase

Free trip

don't forget the 2 free airline tickets

<do you plan on taking me on this free trip> [:p] [}:)] [;)] [:)] [:D]

[Anonymous]

Yep! Those folks with nuttin' better to do in life than irritate the rest of us have developed software that comes in and modifies your browser, drops cookies or even worse they plant software that will run every so often. I came across one the other day that if the browser wasn't running it would autorun the browser then pop-up the ad.

I have cable connection so am so am connected to the internet 24/7. I use McAfee's firewall and antivirus software (not free) which stops the majority of these issues. I use Checkit 86 to stop ad pop-up's like the one you get every time you visit a Kalmbach site. However, for the tricky programmer that finds a way through I use both Ad-Aware and Spybot to check and remove them. Both Sypbot and Ad-Aware are freeware. Each program has its own list of Spy/Ad ware to search for so I recommend using both. I ran Ad-Aware first, removed everything it reported. Then ran Spybot and found more to be removed. The funny part is that if you run both, Ad-Aware sees Spybot as Spyware. [:D] If I get a pop-up that Checkit 86 dosen't block then I know I have gotten some sorta Adware and run both Spybot and Ad-Aware to ensure removal.

Spam is a whole other issue. As Lupo says, don't unsubscribe. The marketeers sell these unsubcribe lists as "guaranteed active e-mail addresses" and you'll end up on even more lists.

I have 18+ years in computer technology and will asure you that we'll never get away from the "Spy vs Spy" technology. All we as users can do is keep up our guard and delete 'em when we find 'em.

---

Dougal, let your Dad know that although both Ad-Aware and Spybot are freeware, they work, and are not Spyware themselves. If he has any questions e-mail me (see my profile) and I'll be glad to talk with him.

[lupo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Eriediamond

I don't have a solution here, but want to thank all for some help for me even though I didn't post this virus thing. I just installed the google toolbar, really neat, and will see how it works. Now if I can get rid of all that junk e-mail!!!!

One advice to get rid of the spam:
Never activate the "unsubscribe" or other similar named links in these mails, they are used to verify if the e-mail adress they send it to is activated, so instead of getting out of spammers maillist it wil get you IN spamming lists
if nobody will react to this C[censored]P there will be no benefit for these spamming companies.

[Anonymous]

The dreaded virus.

Norton should tell you how to get rid of them.

Microsoft and Google have popup stoppers.....FREE

Also you could try PestPatrol from Sunbelt.com

[Eriediamond]

I don't have a solution here, but want to thank all for some help for me even though I didn't post this virus thing. I just installed the google toolbar, really neat, and will see how it works. Now if I can get rid of all that junk e-mail!!!!

[Anonymous]

I hope these things work because my dad said if the free stuff doesn't work and he has to buy something he'll uninstall MSTS and won't let me on any railroad forum, MSN, and my Yahoo groups and he means it![:(]

[Anonymous]

Dougal, download the GOOGLE TOOL BAR, on that tool bar, you'll find a pop up blocker. If you use it , you won't have anymore trbl. I've been using it for 6 or 7 months now and it's blocked over a thousand pop ups for me, and I don't have a virus problem. Also don't even crack open any e-mail from anyone that you're not familiar with. Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

I've got norton, zonealarm, and a pop-up blocker, but I still get them sometimes.

jeeze what don't you have?

[Anonymous]

I've got norton, zonealarm, and a pop-up blocker, but I still get them sometimes.

[bluepuma]

The nasty stuff my wife got on our home computer was GATOR which did pop ups and didn't want to be eliminated. Had to stop it from runnning first. Eliminate it, it had installed itself in Programs, but was sill in the temp folder for next install. Lucky I have XP so was able to clean up the mess and roll back the registry. A few days later I was going through junk mail at work, saw Gator wanting to instal, but canceled. Something had taken me to a site where I was closing down junk ads, but something else was under the close box.

[Anonymous]

Another thing is Spyware Blaster. (www.spywareblaster.com) it is free and works by removing the first bit and the last bit of a packet string from known spy ware vendors.

Pop up ads are being increasing thru your MSN messenger. Search for and download 'Shoot the messenger" it is a free utility that will disable messenger's ability to deliver ads.

You spoke of temporary internet files. If I remember correctly, go to internet options in your tool bar, and find a check box and have the browser empty temporary files when you close.

Norton Internet Security 2003 does a good job, but is dependant on daily updates and daily scans. Email scams and phishing is another route to deliver virueses to your system. If you do NOT know the sender and the file size is (Example 24k) chances are it is a virus or worm. delete on sight and do not even open.

If you understand emails, use 'Plain Text" instead of HTML. This prevents the sender from knowing if you even opened it. And prevents (To a point) executable files from loading and running.

For a small fee Adaware will greatly "Bulk up" and intercept cookies and spyware as you browse. Your ISP such as Yahoo may offer a Popup blocker. set it to medium or high and it will assist greatly.

Firewalls also close your ports and help hide your computer from detection and subesquent infection. Stay clear of Zone Alarm as a simple flood attack on it will disconnect you. And Black ice was recently found to have security problems which are being fixed.

Also stay updated by visiting sites such as www.f-secure.com (A finnish security company that is very very fast in finding new problems as they occur) and www.sans.org and thier reports on the Internet storm center will provide the latest scams and viruesss etc.

www.symantec.com will be a good source for latest problems. Your "Live update" can be broken by some worms and viruese so if in doubt use the "Intellegent updater" to download and run the latest files against new virueses.

Lastly and not the least (Phew) Update your Windows using "Windows Update" manually. Scan for updates and download and apply the critical updates. If you have Office on that machine download 'Service pack 3" will greatly assist in security.

Nothing made by man is secure. Better to keep a copy of your valuable stuff so if you do get infected you can as a last resort, reformat and reinstall everything off that back up. For example, your school work can be burned onto a cd and kept safe.

That is my two cents for now

Lee

[fiatfan]

Another good tool is Spybot Search and Destroy. It's very effective when used in conjunction with AdAware. A small caveat though. Sometimes when a legitimate site is trying to load, Spybot will detect something that it doesn't like and will prevent the page from loading. Specifically, Spybot prevents SiliconValley.com from loading, even though it is a very respected IT web site. That's the only siye I've found so far but that's not to say it's the only site which conflicts with Spybot.

Tom
(professional packet herder)

[Big_Boy_4005]

I just had the same thing happen to me, and it was[censored][censored][censored][censored]NASTY. I ended up reloading a previuos version of my registry, and then going back to the original, and that crap dissappeared. I think I got lucky, and only had a few small easy things to fix after all that.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

QUOTE: Originally posted by dougal

It only show up on the two sites I visit the most. I have 11 detected files so far, and this site, which I ALWAYS get pop ups on, I have only had 1 come up, saying I won a suitcase [:(!]

Keep the suitcase...You'll probably get another pop up telling you won a free trip.

LOL![:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

I finished scanning and they were all from those popups and it looks like spyware.

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dougal

It only show up on the two sites I visit the most. I have 11 detected files so far, and this site, which I ALWAYS get pop ups on, I have only had 1 come up, saying I won a suitcase [:(!]

Keep the suitcase...You'll probably get another pop up telling you won a free trip.

[Anonymous]

It only show up on the two sites I visit the most. I have 11 detected files so far, and this site, which I ALWAYS get pop ups on, I have only had 1 come up, saying I won a suitcase [:(!]

[cjcrescent]

Beat me to it MA! I have had problems with the USA site so I went to the Scandinavian site.

[cjcrescent]

Go to www.lavasoft.de and download the latest version of Adaware. The personal edition is free and they post regular updates. IMHO its the best you can get for the price. They also offer a professional version, but you have to pay for it. Norton antivirus doesn't do anything to spyware. Spyware is currently not considered a virus. It generally comes from legitimate companies who wants to know where you go on the net, so they can tailor the pop-up ads to where you've been. But I wouldn't be surprised if soon the virus writers didn't find a way to plug a virus into one.

[MAbruce]

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Go find yourself one of the free spyware killers. It might help. Norton won't always kill off the spyware/bot things.

Thanks! Were can I get one?

Somebody on another forum said it sounded like spyware since those ads popped up

[dharmon]

Go find yourself one of the free spyware killers. It might help. Norton won't always kill off the spyware/bot things.

[Anonymous]

Norton is in the middle of scanning and it says I have seven lousy virus. I've been having trouble with popup ads (I've been getting overload with them on sites that don't have them) so I decided. Why do people have to sent the stupid things![:(!][:(!][:(!]

By the way 6 of the 7 were from "temporary internet files" so I guess I got them emailed or the ads had them.