[Rhodes22-list] Dummy with computer needs help--badly

[Todd Tavares]

Mark,


    I just talked to my ISP tech guys and they said this software can sever my connection with them and connect to the bogus server, and I may not even notice it-it is so fast.  I could continue surfing on their dime and not know it.  He said to check out some of the smat sites you suggested, esp zone alarm.  I will still probably get DSL if it is offered in the area of the new house.

Thanks

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Kaynor" <mark at kaynor.org>
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2003 15:06:31 -0500
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Dummy with computer needs help--badly

> Todd,
> 
> Could be a worm, could be spyware/trackware. Some of those tracking things
> take over your IE and send out all kinds of stuff.
> 
> Sounds like  trackware - check out Ad-Aware - http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ -
> it will scan for and remove a lot of the nasty, intrusive, #%^&#%^&*$&*
> "Trackware" scum. Some of these things can be difficult to remove, and often
> it's very difficult to do w/o breaking something else.
> 
> Many of the newer virii/Trojans/worms seek out and attempt to disable virus
> scanners. Many are "polymorphic" (meaning they can mutate over time, making
> it more difficult to identify them), and many are "stealthy" (meaning
> they're configured to hide themselves from the user).
> 
> They can "phone home" to an IRC chat group or web address and download
> updates, new "tools", and send info from your computer to the bad guys.
> 
> One of the most effective preventatives is an educated user - make sure you
> practice "safe hex":
> http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/articles/safehex.html
> 
> A couple of excellent (free) personal firewalls:
> 
> Sygate Personal Firewall
> http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm
> 
> ZoneAlarm
> http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.js
> p?lid=zadb_zadown
> 
> Hope this all helps,
> 
> Mark
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
> [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]On Behalf Of Todd Tavares
> Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 2:40 PM
> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Dummy with computer needs help--badly
> 
> 
> HELP MJM, Mark, Will, Steve, Rik, or any of you smart computer guys, HELP!
> 
>    I am ready to trash my computer and start over and do not want this
> particular problem to reoccur with a new computer.
> 
> I have been having problems with my computer for about a month now.  I use
> win98SE and have slow dial-up service.
> 
>    About a month ago I started getting pop-up ads trying to connect to the
> internet, even when I was sitting down watching TV and not near the
> computer.  I had no idea where they were coming from. Deleting the history,
> cookies, changing my security sett
> ings didn't stop them.  I brought the task window and viewed the properties
> for the files running, but when I did a search in the directies
> named...these files did not exist...not hidden, archive..nothing.
> 
>    I have a Norton 2000 maintenance software package (Norton Works 2000?)
> that monitors, cleans, defrags etc.  Half or more of the Norton items
> wouldn't run.
> 
>    I deleted all unfamiliar downloaded programs and items.....still the
> pop-ups came.   They only stopped after I went through windows explorer and
> deleted or uninstalled unfamiliar files/directories.
> 
>    I thought I was a genius until I opened my telephone bill and today found
> a $398.00 internet charge.  It seems that I had picked some sort of
> downloaded software that dialed up and connected to the internet at 2:00 AM
> while I was sleeping and went to
>  a pay site somewhere in the Camoros Islands off the coast of West Africa.
> I know it wasn't wifey or the kids.
> 
>    This charge was an add on from ATT.  I do not use ATT.  ATT CSR said this
> is happening with increasing frequency, but refused to remove the charges
> from my bill.
> 
>    So my questions are  (yes there is a question in here somewhere) what can
> I do to stop this from happening again?  How can I be sure this software is
> not still in my computer hiding? Is there software that I can buy to prevent
> this?  Can my McAfee Vi
> rus or Norton firewall software be configured to catch it?   Short of
> trashing the computer and getting a non-telephone internet service...what
> should I do.
> 
>     And a second subject,  my windows defrag keeps restarting because a file
> is trying to write to disk.  How can I stop this?  Are these two problems
> related? (hopefully this is an easy fix)
> 
> 
> Todd
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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