[Watchtower]

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This new section could not have come at a better time at my home.

I think our family computer got a virus or some malicious program. It could have been one of the sites the kids visit or something from an email, but from my research there seems to be a pretty big bug going around that attacks through Adobe Acrobat. You visit an infected site and for a flash moment it seems like Adobe Acrobat is opening up. It goes away, but by that point you are infected. I have read all over the net that this is pretty major and expanding. The infected sites normally have no idea that they are infected at all.

My question is what to do or are we already doing enough?

So far we are using a "cocktail" of recommended programs that seem to be working well together and cleaning and catching anything new. Here is what we are using.

1) Paid version of AVG Virus Software Ver 9.0. It updates automatically and runs daily.
2) Running Avast 4.8 daily - free version - updated daily and then run
3) Running Malwarebytes Anti Malware 1.42 - updated daily and then run

These 3 together have really cleaned out a ton of Trojans, tracking cookies and others.

At the recommendation of the computer network tech at my wife's job we also turned off JavaScript in Adobe Acrobat because apparently that is what this new bug uses to get in. I am not sure I understand all of this but almost every article talks about this.

Any thoughts, feedback, or input would be welcome.

 

[BW-1]

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http://www.superantispyware.com/

 

[Spaceview]

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You need one of the virus software programs that runs in the background and screens programs as they enter your computer. It is too late once they install themselves. You need to try and stop them before they install. Programs like Norton, Mcafee, Trend Micro all have this feature.

 

[BW-1]

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I was running AVG and then my comupter guy told me to switch to superantispyware and it found around 20 more trojans than AVG and i also run free Avast and it has always been great, have you ever ran computer downloaded DVDs ? my wife goes to collage and she has flat fried her computer with all the crap they use there, it wont even come on !!!!! she had a free trial of norton.

 

[dedward]

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Viruses, malware, trojans, we all get them at some point.Best thing to do is create a boot disk in case you get bombed.Also get a external harddrive and install acronis.

this program does a complete mirror of your harddrive and will keep adding to it.If you get a virus, you can just reload the image before the virus hit.

 

[maui_freek]

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Watchtower wrote:

This new section could not have come at a better time at my home.

I think our family computer got a virus or some malicious program. It could have been one of the sites the kids visit or something from an email, but from my research there seems to be a pretty big bug going around that attacks through Adobe Acrobat. You visit an infected site and for a flash moment it seems like Adobe Acrobat is opening up. It goes away, but by that point you are infected. I have read all over the net that this is pretty major and expanding. The infected sites normally have no idea that they are infected at all.

My question is what to do or are we already doing enough?

So far we are using a "[email protected])tail" of recommended programs that seem to be working well together and cleaning and catching anything new. Here is what we are using.

1) Paid version of AVG Virus Software Ver 9.0. It updates automatically and runs daily.
2) Running Avast 4.8 daily - free version - updated daily and then run
3) Running Malwarebytes Anti Malware 1.42 - updated daily and then run

These 3 together have really cleaned out a ton of Trojans, tracking cookies and others.

At the recommendation of the computer network tech at my wife's job we also turned off JavaScript in Adobe Acrobat because apparently that is what this new bug uses to get in. I am not sure I understand all of this but almost every article talks about this.

Any thoughts, feedback, or input would be welcome.

Safe computing dictates not only electronic protection of which you seem to have pleanty, but also knowing the sites you are visiting and being VERY careful of is being downloaded. The computer tech is correct , the current exploit in Adobe uses Java Script. The most fortified machine can't protect against unsafe browsing. The most common form of infection is from social engineering sites, the ones that trick you into executing some program on the pretext that it will:
a) Check for viruses
b) Check the speed of your computer
c) check your disk fragmentation

Also not mentioned is what Operating System are you running ? and What browser are you using?

 

[Watchtower]

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maui_freek;

Thanks for the response and info. Thanks to everyone else also.

As requested.

1) I mainly use Firefox
2) Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Version 2002, Service Pack 3.



maui_freek wrote:

Watchtower wrote:

This new section could not have come at a better time at my home.

I think our family computer got a virus or some malicious program. It could have been one of the sites the kids visit or something from an email, but from my research there seems to be a pretty big bug going around that attacks through Adobe Acrobat. You visit an infected site and for a flash moment it seems like Adobe Acrobat is opening up. It goes away, but by that point you are infected. I have read all over the net that this is pretty major and expanding. The infected sites normally have no idea that they are infected at all.

My question is what to do or are we already doing enough?

So far we are using a "[email protected])tail" of recommended programs that seem to be working well together and cleaning and catching anything new. Here is what we are using.

1) Paid version of AVG Virus Software Ver 9.0. It updates automatically and runs daily.
2) Running Avast 4.8 daily - free version - updated daily and then run
3) Running Malwarebytes Anti Malware 1.42 - updated daily and then run

These 3 together have really cleaned out a ton of Trojans, tracking cookies and others.

At the recommendation of the computer network tech at my wife's job we also turned off JavaScript in Adobe Acrobat because apparently that is what this new bug uses to get in. I am not sure I understand all of this but almost every article talks about this.

Any thoughts, feedback, or input would be welcome.

Safe computing dictates not only electronic protection of which you seem to have pleanty, but also knowing the sites you are visiting and being VERY careful of is being downloaded. The computer tech is correct , the current exploit in Adobe uses Java Script. The most fortified machine can't protect against unsafe browsing. The most common form of infection is from social engineering sites, the ones that trick you into executing some program on the pretext that it will:
a) Check for viruses
b) Check the speed of your computer
c) check your disk fragmentation

Also not mentioned is what Operating System are you running ? and What browser are you using?

 

[maui_freek]

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Aloha Watchtower, Happy new year;

I didn't quite understand if you think you are infected at the moment and/or truing to avoid getting infected. It is always a good idea to run a manual FULL virus scan no matter what. Also since you are using XP you can try the system restore function which will bring your system back to an earlier stage (you will have to reload any programs installed in between luckily your data will not be affected. For Firefox I suggest loading the addon WOT, if you haven't already, it warns of "bad guy" sites.

If you are infected and need further help catch me by PM

 

[Chux95]

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It seems that this may be affecting more than one of us.Currently I'm running McAfee Total Protection and have been running it on my system for years. However it appears that something may have been able to sneek through all of my defenses. A few times within the past 30 days, I've expereience the treaded blue screen, the system running slower than ususal, as well as error messages while operating my system.

So I've rebooted it and it is currently running great.

However just to add to what has already been mentioned...

Always back-up your files..

Because you never know when, crazy things like this will/can occur.

I do have a question..

Even though I am running this Total Protection Software, should I also install extra spyware software?

Comments/Thoughts?

 

[sportscenterisnext]

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Watchtower: Running two AV programs concurrently is not good as they throw false positives.

We all spend a good amount of money on our PC's their components and software precautions. Some basic "FREE" precautions a Windows Operating System user can take are listed below.

Some basic precautions everybody needs to have besides an Anti Virus program is a Firewall, if your AV solution does not have one, Zone Alarm offers a very good free Firewall. If your running Windows XP, Vista or 7, a Firewall comes with the OS which is adequate.

Another precautionary add-on for your browser (Firefox or IE) is the McAfee Site advisor.

I also like Open DNS another fine freebie.

Exploits like to fine out of date or unpatched software installed on your PC, another wonderful freebies is the Secunia PSI scan. You'll be surprised whats unsecure within your PC.

If any of you decide to use the tools mentioned above, please READ the instruction as to what each of these do and how to use them to your benefit. If you do have an external hard drive, I cannot stress enough making back-up's of your data on a regular basis.

I purposely did not put the links to the items listed above, a Google search for each entry will take you to their homepage.

Disclaimer: I own and operate a computer related business, all items above I use and recommend to my clients as they are FREE. I'm also an authorized reseller for an Anti Virus product which I will not mention, as not to cause any conflict of interest.

If you have any questions or concerns just ask.

 

[BW-1]

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One day a man told me the same people that make police radar and laser guns for the police departments also makes the radar and laser detectors for the average joe. just a thought.

 

[dedward]

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BW-1 wrote:

One day a man told me the same people that make police radar and laser guns for the police departments also makes the radar and laser detectors for the average joe. just a thought.

Thats true in alot of industries. But the best radar detector isn't going to catch the instant on that a cop can do.