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

[Michael Meltzer]

use
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?lang=en&page=start
now. make up to load the updates before scaning.  still working and I get to the rest latter.

MJM

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Todd Tavares" <sprocket80 at mail.com>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 3:34 PM
Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Dummy with computer needs help--badly


> 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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