Do not worry, it has been fixed for now, but I am open to suggestions for prevention.


Symptoms: Internet Explorer would crash attempting to open a web page, and would also cause my computer to crash
                Windows Explorer would only stay open for about 30 seconds, then crash
                  System Restore crashed upon attempting to open (this one was a little scary)

Thankfully, my stepfather is pretty good at dealing with computer probelms, but we both came to the same conclusion: the corrupted files would need to be reinstalled.

Thanks to his wizardry, we managed to perform a reinstallation of Windows XP without the hard drive being wiped clean, and the virus seems to have been erased.

Any suggestions on how to prevent this in the future? Any and all suggestions are welcome.

Another side effect of being cured is my computer does run noticably quicker now, sort of proving it was a virus.

Quote:




You've got quite a cheek.

Nick N wrote on Aug 5^th, 2007 at 7:46pm:


Now there's something I need - a virus utility that doesn't kill resources. McAfee sure does a number on that

Downloading now.

Nick N wrote on Aug 5^th, 2007 at 10:47pm:


Well, I didn't fall for the porn bit: That's not my bag, baby8-)

I've known that McAfee is a resource hog, but now that someone with a good head on their shoulders has recommended something they use and trust, I can get rid of it.

BTW it doesn't take a porn site to get a virus. Malicious code can be implemented on any website - including this one:O

Nick N wrote on Aug 5^th, 2007 at 11:39pm:


I know - that's what I like about this forum

Quote:


Working faster? You bet! I just checked the processes running and it's now 34 (down from 44). Start-up is now 7, down from 10.

I have slayed the dragon8-)

Nick, you the man!!!

I don’t want anyone doing anything unless they want to but I am here to tell you that you don’t need all that junk running if you have the following things in order:

1.      NOD32 installed and properly updated

2.      Spybots Search and Destroy installed, properly updated monthly, and scan run monthly.

3.      The Windows XP SP2 <--- must be SP2 or higher, XP 2003 server SP2 or X64 (any version) or Vista firewall properly turned on and the exclusions are correctly set.

4.      If on high speed internet a HUB or Router such as a Linksys or Netgear unit that has a NAT hardware firewall built into it. Most modern cable or DSL MODEMS also have hardware NAT firewalls in them.

5.             IE7 properly installed and properly UPDATED from Windows Update on the monthly basis



So you have 2 hardware firewalls before it even gets to Windows, the Windows firewall and NOD32 which also installs a FULL BROWSER scanner and will nail even the trickiest JAVA, messenger, macromedia, shockwave, xml or just about any other critter that may try to get past the internet cache.

Hackers dont mess with dial up modems they are too slow and not worth the odds of being tracked. But you still need to be internally protected.

Spybots is the 2nd line of defense just in case NOD32 may miss something in the way of simple adware or browser hijacks


Now, lets talk about that useless trash FIREFOX  (NOTE: It has features which are nice but it is NOT safer)

Go ahead, line up to paddle me, but I am here to tell every single one of you who believes Firefox is safer than IE, you’re either misinformed, or a fool.

Firefox monitors your internet activity just like AOL or any other browser out there. It grew on the heels of the Microsoft haters or the world and the conspiracy nuts who think MS is unsafe and spying on what you do.

I have news for you, LiarFox is no different. As a matter of fact you don’t get on the internet with the Firefox browser, you are using a SHELL that is installed OVER Internet Explorer and using the core elements of IE and the Windows networking system to get online.

If you are using Firefox because you think is it safer… LOL  you bought into the rubbish that MS haters and conspiracy nuts have been posting on the net. You are actually LESS safe on FF because of its relationship and use of the core elements of IE.

Now, the safest browsing is done from a Linx system and NOT because of the browser but because of the OS and its lack of popularity to internet hackers. They go after the Linx systems for high level data, not internet porn.

I am not going to tell anyone what to do, but I use IE7, properly set up and properly secured. I run blazing fast and never, EVER have been nailed ONCE. Not even close.


If you uninstall zone alarm after a reboot, check the following…

Go to:

CONTROL PANEL - ADMINISTRATIVE TOOLS - SERVICES

Scroll down to: Windows Firewall/ICS (Internet Connection Sharring)

1. Double click the service.  

2. STARTUP TYPE: if it is not already ENABLED, change it to ENABLED, click APPLY.  

3. LOGON TAB: HARDWARE PROFILE BOX – Check and make sure it says ENABLED in the hardware profile box. If not, double click your hardware profile and it should change the login under the SERVICE column to ENABLED, click APPLY and OK.

Reboot

Go to

CONTROL PANEL – WINDOWS FIREWALL

Make sure it is set to ON

Click the EXCEPTIONS TAB

Make SURE there are NO PROGRAMS in that list that are getting access which you did not authorize. If you don’t know or are not sure, UNCHECK the item, don’t delete it and see how your system runs. If you discover a legitimate program that is not working anymore it may be because you disabled a name in the exceptions area. If after some weeks you are not having any trouble, delete the list of items. Some will not allow you to delete because they are system items’

UNCHECK REMOTE ASSISTANCE and REMOTE DESKTOP

You ONLY need FILE AND PRINT SHARING enabled if you are on a home NETWORK, otherwise UNCHECK IT

CLICK APPLY if its there and then OK

Reboot

With all of the above in order you can go see Osma Bin Laden on the net and not worry about a single attack.

School computers?


Where every virus known to man has several thousand walking sources accessing it from inside the network?

LOL

School systems are probably the most vulnerable systems out there no matter what protection is being run simply because of the nature of the environment and the people who are using them.

Kids tend to try and circumvent the network security so they can get on myspace, view porn, P2P, web email, etc. They also bring in disks with their music and files.. which can also be infected. You cant use a school as an example. Security in those environments is only as good as the network engineer who desings and monitors the system. Some are simply idiots.  LOL

Slow was more than likely because of something else on or about the computers at a school, not NOD32.

There is nothing wrong with Avast or AVG. You do get what you pay for. I can tell you that NOD32 has and is being used in mission critical systems because of its kill rate, advanced browser scanner and the fact that it has one of, if not the smallest footprint on the system for resource use.

Any computer can get a virus or be attacked if the user is executing things on the local system they should not such as email attachments, etc. Even images that come in email can have code in them that can do everything from tell the person at the other end when and where the email was opened and start a chain of events that can lead to an infection or hijack.

Freeware AV works. But as more advanced and slick techniques are developed freeware tends to be behind where AV such as NOD32 will be updated within hours of a new process or threat being introduced.


If it works for you, that’s fine. I can tell you systems at Boeing are using NOD32 now along with many other high security corporate networks on this planet. I would prefer to stick with what the big guys use.


You get what you pay for... well, thats true if you know what to buy. Sometimes you get ripped of like with Norton products because of the amount of resource killing it does and the amount of spying it does. Or buying a power supply that is rated for 650watts but can only really deliver 480. Experience and education of the products is the best source of being in the know.

I know PC Power and Cooling will sell me a 610watt PSU and I will get 610watts.

I know NOD32 will sell me an AV that will not crush my system resources, spy on me and will provide the best protection for my money.

Thats all I can say

I've weighed up the odds, nick, and I think I'm going to stick with Avast for now, but only because I'm sort of broke right now. When I have a free thirty quid that isnt going to be spent on more RAM or more monitors for my system, I'll look into Nod32 again.

Hopefully Avast will keep me upright for a few months.

And I understand about my school's network being bugged over; I get the feeling I've managed to land a few of them accidentally by giving my classmates the power of getting around filters... oops