Google Warning...

[MdB]

85.234.190.13 is in Latvia again.

 

[Penners]

Just to clarify the 'freeware' thing though, it doesn't (always!) mean something shoddy knocked-up by a geek in their spare bedroom

Oh no, I certainly didn't mean to imply that.

In the past I've used various free security software suites to good effect. The only reason I now run Norton is because it's received such universal acclaim, ever since they re-wrote the core engine a couple of years ago, so that it's a much lighter load on system resources.

I also use all kinds of freeware utilities. My favourites are Ccleaner (an outstandingly good clean-up tool), Recuva (to recover corrupted files), Shrink Pic (automatic image file reduction for emailing), Audacity (sound file editing and management), Open Office (a Microsoft Office look-alike) and The Gimp (image file editing and management).

I nurture an idea - when time permits (if ever!) - of converting my old XP computer to run entirely on free software, starting with a Linux OS. Just for the fun of it.

 

[worms]

My favourites are Ccleaner (an outstandingly good clean-up tool)

Yes, I've been using it for a few years (probably a Penners recommendation) and despite having bought a Norton product that does the same thing, I've continued to use Ccleaner since I can control what it does much better than I can with Norton (I'm sure I should be able to configure Norton to leave the passwords for approved sites but Ccleaner just does it in a simpler way).

 

[Flyfisher]

Oh no, I certainly didn't mean to imply that.

Likewise, I didn't mean to imply you were implying anything, I just meant it as a general comment. Tricky things forums. :wink:

That's a good list of utilities though, especially Ccleaner, a real favourite of mine as well.

Just a quick tip about reducing the size of photos for emailing though; right-clicking on the required jpg file will bring up a menu that includes "send to". Select this option and then the "Mail Recipient" sub-option. This will open a dialogue with options to shrink the photo or keep the original size. Click "OK" and the email program will open with the shrunken photo already attached.

It's much simpler to do than to describe. Multiple photos can also be processed in a single operation. Apologies to those who already know this trick, but it saves bothering with separate utilities to shrink large photo files.

I nurture an idea - when time permits (if ever!) - of converting my old XP computer to run entirely on free software, starting with a Linux OS. Just for the fun of it.

I hope the nurturing works. It's a good way to resurect an old PC and can be 'fun' in that rather offbeat computer definition of the word, if you're that way inclined.

 

[AMc]

Windows XP + Firefox + AVGFree all kept up to date.
I was definitely infected from something on here last week, - got a Java logo flash up the Windows Media Player launched which I killed, AVGFree said it had blocked a threat and I thought no more. I ran a full disk scan on Friday which came up clean.

This morning AVG complained about Trojan infections in a couple of windows system files that it couldn't fix.
Digging for the original windows disc, copying i386 to C: and Start>Run>sfc /scannow seems to have sorted it

Running a full scan again now. Beware!

 

[Moo]

I'm one of those people who just like to use a computer without knowing much about its inner workings (a bit like driving a car, I suppose).

So -
I have a new iMac with Safari built in, plus Firefox as an alternative web browser.
The Malware warning came up when I was using Safari so I quit, removed it from the dock, and set Firefox to be my default browser. So far there's been no recurrence of the Malware warning.
But there is still a niggling doubt: have I been infected, and if so how can I tell, and then what can I do about it?

 

[Penners]

here is still a niggling doubt: have I been infected, and if so how can I tell, and then what can I do about it?

Read this: http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/06/15/how-to-scan-your-mac-for-spyware-malware-and-tracking-cookies/

Macscan is available on a free 30-day trial, so you could use it without cost on this occasion.

NB: I believe this advisory website to be kosher and malware-free, ditto Macscan, but I can't absolutely guarantee it, as I'm not a Mac user (as you will know from our many heated arguments! :wink: )

 

[Penners]

Oh no, I certainly didn't mean to imply that.

Likewise, I didn't mean to imply you were implying anything

I'm sorry you inferred that I was implying that you implied anything.

Shall we call a draw and a truce? :wink:

 

[Flyfisher]

Yes please. Anyway, there's probably a limit on the number of time a sentence can contain 'imply', 'implied' and 'implying'. :lol:

 

[Feltwell]

This has been a very useful thread for me.

I am not into PC's in the slightest - I am very much a user, and have no interest at all in how they work. Not like me at all, in everything else I like to know exactly how it works! Maybe it's because I spend all week using a computer at work.

My (paid for) AVG had expired and I hadn't got around to re-subscribing. Having read this I've put the free Avira Antivir software in, which found nothing initially but has now found something tonight.

I've always been far too scared of breaking the machine to do any cleaning up of old files - but again having read this I put in and used Ccleaner, seems a good tool, everything still works.......

Whilst on the Ccleaner website, I put their Defraggler in (get rid of those pesky Fraggles - send them back to pester Fulton Mackay....). This has taken more than 24 hours to sort out my C drive!

The old machine seems to be a bit quicker now. It's about 8 years old (which I realise is pre-historic in PC terms) and has never had a clear out, so no doubt this was long overdue.

 

[worms]

Just to warn you that this seems to still be around. AVG recognised a threat when I opened PPUK just now. Hopefully "move to vault" then ""empty vault" was the correct course of action?

 

[JohnB]

I'm still getting it too, the same as I reported the other day.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

I am still getting the warning as well. Norton seems to clear ithe threat, but it happens everytime I login.

 

[Lime]

Yes.
A problem is still present on this site.
I have logged on with Safari because this site causes my IE8 to lock up.
The site demands an action of IE8 which my firewall blocks and causes the browser to go into a never ending loop.
It has to be "switched off" with the use of Task Manager.
I run IE8 in a sandbox so it is not dangerous for my computer but I suspect other visitors may have problems which they may be completely unaware of at present.

 

[Moo]

I suspect that I must be more than usually gormless when it comes to computers.
I downloaded and ran the free trial Macscan (thanks, Penners) and it dutifully went through my iMac and reported back what it had found. The trouble is, I didn't know what to do with the information.
There were 44 things called 'Tracking Cookies' and quite a lot of Trojans, with the option of expunging them, but I don't know which of them are nasties and I'm worried about getting rid of something that is useful and benign. So I've left it all as is and stuck to Firefox (which doesn't flag up the original Malware warning), and am struggling to type with my fingers crossed.

 

[skier-hughes]

Moo,
Just because you are using firefox doesn't mean the nasties have gone away, I'm afraid it's more like you've buried your head in the sand.

Cookies are mostly ok, you cna clear them all though and all that'll happen is you'll have to log in to sites like this again whereas previously the pc will have remembered your password.

The Trojans must go and do it now.

 

[Moo]

Ooh, that's what I like to hear. Clear and unequivocal.

It will be done immediately.

xxx M

 

[Simon Wright]

I believe that I have located the cause of the problem and I have quarnantined it. Like a cancer that you cut out, I have had to remove something that appears to be perpetrating the problem, but I don't yet know how it got there.

 

[MdB]

Thanks Simon,

I would suggest you change your server login password if you haven't already and check that all file permissions are 644, 755 and none are 666, 664, 777, 775 etc. I'm sure you know all of this but it worth saying just in case.

 

[Simon Wright]

All valid points and well worth saying and yes I am familiar with these security measures.