Got Spyware? i did...

DiscusIt'sWhats4DinneR · 11-18-2008, 10:42 AM

so today i caught spyware.

the stuff was called Antivirus 2009, its a fake windows antivirus kinda thing that is absolutely no good. i googled to find out how to get rid of.

i installed MalwareByte's Anti Malware.
it's a free software that i found reccomended on a forum when i did the google search.

so, i let the anti malware do it's thing, and i think it ate Spyware4Dinner, i dont see any of the crap things popping up or any visible signs anymore. i deleted all cookies and things too just for fun.

Is there anything else that i should be worried about or do to make sure that all evil is gone?

I THINK its gone, but dont want to find out after somebody the identity theives steal my credit card number and my soul.

Ever seen those commercials on tv?

ive got a thing that says Automatic Updates with a little yellow badge symbol. is this bad spyware type stuff?

Veloth · 11-18-2008, 10:57 AM

If you're running windows software, the little yellow badge usually means that windows needs to be updated. What happens when you let your pointer hover over the badge?

jake · 11-18-2008, 05:09 PM

Adaware and Spybot are also free programs, useful for removing such junk. I think they offer a premium program too, that actually prevents them from being installed.

Spybot has an "immunization" program that can block a lot of garbage automatically, permanently.

One of the best things you can do to avoid malware/spyware is stop using Internet Explorer. Switch to Firefox, Opera, or just about anything else. I did so and spyware scanners have nothing to delete. Some websites are IE only or you can't view them, and I can always tell when I've used Internet Explorer a lot that week by the junk I have to delete afterwards.

Church · 11-18-2008, 05:11 PM

The AV2009 virus cares not about what browser you use. Firefox users get infected with it all the time. Google Chrome is too new, so I haven't seen any examples of it yet.

Syris · 11-18-2008, 07:00 PM

Yeah I see that one a lot at work (I work in IT)
Spybot Search&Destroy is good but also try AVG (free) to check for viruses as well.

**fishscale** · 11-18-2008, 08:33 PM

I've seen a variant that puts a password on your hard drive. Not a BIOS password, a hard drive password, so if you take the hard drive and try to access it from another computer, you won't be able to. Be careful with this one.

Hijack This is always the old standby, but it's got a bit of a learning curve.
Personally, I'd make a live CD and scan from there. Check for rootkits while you're at it. (You might get false positives, or you might not find malicious rootkits either. I try not to think too much about security anymore.)

**redfalconf35** · 11-18-2008, 09:27 PM

a new update for windows XP just came out (i haven't installed it yet), so the yellow badge would seem to be legit. The best way to make sure your computer isn't still infected is to watch it. if you notice weird lags or hang-ups that weren't there before, that's usually a sign that there's something fishy going on.

DiscusIt'sWhats4DinneR · 11-19-2008, 03:59 AM

Thanks guys, i think its all okay now, i havent noticed any thing strnge since i got rid of the stuff.

whoever creates these things should hang themself.

**redfalconf35** · 11-19-2008, 04:12 AM

there are some dark and dirty people who know their way around a computer. that's why i'm training to fight the good fight against them.

mistercoffee · 11-19-2008, 06:42 AM

ad-aware and spybot search and destroy- get them!

fishyface · 11-19-2008, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistercoffee

ad-aware and spybot search and destroy- get them!

i used to use those too till i found superantispyware. i don't know of anything else that works as well, you may want to look into it.

mistercoffee · 11-19-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishyface

i used to use those too till i found superantispyware. i don't know of anything else that works as well, you may want to look into it.

Sounds good... or you could just get a Mac!

Church · 11-19-2008, 10:01 PM

Or if you have the money for a Mac, you could just buy 5-7 PCs with that money, each one having better specs than the Mac, and that way you would have backups for when one gets infected and has to be cast aside.

This way, you wouldn't HAVE to get a computer that is limited in the amount of software it can support.

fishyface · 11-19-2008, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Church

Or if you have the money for a Mac, you could just buy 5-7 PCs with that money, each one having better specs than the Mac, and that way you would have backups for when one gets infected and has to be cast aside.

This way, you wouldn't HAVE to get a computer that is limited in the amount of software it can support.

**Lnb** · 11-21-2008, 03:14 AM

I got that and it toasted my PC.

Looking for a replacement, might go with the mac. It's just sooooo pretty.

11-18-2008, 10:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
DiscusIt'sWhats4DinneR Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 697	Got Spyware? i did... so today i caught spyware. the stuff was called Antivirus 2009, its a fake windows antivirus kinda thing that is absolutely no good. i googled to find out how to get rid of. i installed MalwareByte's Anti Malware. it's a free software that i found reccomended on a forum when i did the google search. so, i let the anti malware do it's thing, and i think it ate Spyware4Dinner, i dont see any of the crap things popping up or any visible signs anymore. i deleted all cookies and things too just for fun. Is there anything else that i should be worried about or do to make sure that all evil is gone? I THINK its gone, but dont want to find out after somebody the identity theives steal my credit card number and my soul. Ever seen those commercials on tv? ive got a thing that says Automatic Updates with a little yellow badge symbol. is this bad spyware type stuff? __________________ Discus, (The Other White Meat.)

11-18-2008, 05:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
jake Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (14/100%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Clarinda, IA Posts: 746	Adaware and Spybot are also free programs, useful for removing such junk. I think they offer a premium program too, that actually prevents them from being installed. Spybot has an "immunization" program that can block a lot of garbage automatically, permanently. One of the best things you can do to avoid malware/spyware is stop using Internet Explorer. Switch to Firefox, Opera, or just about anything else. I did so and spyware scanners have nothing to delete. Some websites are IE only or you can't view them, and I can always tell when I've used Internet Explorer a lot that week by the junk I have to delete afterwards. __________________ Jake's Planted Aquarium Pages... a work in progress. "You have your way, I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist." - Friedrich Nietzsche

11-18-2008, 05:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
Church Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 2,359	The AV2009 virus cares not about what browser you use. Firefox users get infected with it all the time. Google Chrome is too new, so I haven't seen any examples of it yet. __________________

11-18-2008, 07:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
Syris Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Epping,NH Posts: 46	Yeah I see that one a lot at work (I work in IT) Spybot Search&Destroy is good but also try AVG (free) to check for viruses as well. __________________ 40g Breeder (36x18x16)Med Tech - 96w PC strip light, pressurized 10# CO2 w/powerhead injection, Penguin 280 filter, Flourite Dark substrate. 20g Long Low Tech - 36W T5 Fluorescent strip light, Excel + Flourish dosing only, gravel substrate, Aquaclear HOB filter.

11-18-2008, 08:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
fishscale King of the Noobs (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 3,793	I've seen a variant that puts a password on your hard drive. Not a BIOS password, a hard drive password, so if you take the hard drive and try to access it from another computer, you won't be able to. Be careful with this one. Hijack This is always the old standby, but it's got a bit of a learning curve. Personally, I'd make a live CD and scan from there. Check for rootkits while you're at it. (You might get false positives, or you might not find malicious rootkits either. I try not to think too much about security anymore.) __________________ Eheim Pimp #254, Eheim Wolverine #1 55 Gallon Work in progress 10 Gallon Shrimp Tank 10 Gallon Planted QT 20 Gallon Shrimp Tank (Work in progress)

11-18-2008, 10:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
Veloth Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pelion, SC Posts: 338	If you're running windows software, the little yellow badge usually means that windows needs to be updated. What happens when you let your pointer hover over the badge?

11-18-2008, 09:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
redfalconf35 My plants hate me! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Purdue University Posts: 807	a new update for windows XP just came out (i haven't installed it yet), so the yellow badge would seem to be legit. The best way to make sure your computer isn't still infected is to watch it. if you notice weird lags or hang-ups that weren't there before, that's usually a sign that there's something fishy going on.

11-19-2008, 03:59 AM	#8 (permalink)
DiscusIt'sWhats4DinneR Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 697	Thanks guys, i think its all okay now, i havent noticed any thing strnge since i got rid of the stuff. whoever creates these things should hang themself. __________________ Discus, (The Other White Meat.)

11-19-2008, 04:12 AM	#9 (permalink)
redfalconf35 My plants hate me! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Purdue University Posts: 807	there are some dark and dirty people who know their way around a computer. that's why i'm training to fight the good fight against them.

11-19-2008, 06:42 AM	#10 (permalink)
mistercoffee Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 18	ad-aware and spybot search and destroy- get them! __________________ 10g planted: Gold Gourami Lyretail mollie Oto 20g long planted: Gold Gourami Red Tail shark 6 Neon Tetras Oto

11-19-2008, 10:01 PM	#13 (permalink)
Church Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 2,359	Or if you have the money for a Mac, you could just buy 5-7 PCs with that money, each one having better specs than the Mac, and that way you would have backups for when one gets infected and has to be cast aside. This way, you wouldn't HAVE to get a computer that is limited in the amount of software it can support. __________________

11-21-2008, 03:14 AM	#15 (permalink)
Lnb At 36,000' (View User Tanks) PTrader: (16/100%) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SI NY Posts: 988	I got that and it toasted my PC. Looking for a replacement, might go with the mac. It's just sooooo pretty. __________________ Eheim #293 ~ 2 x 2217 ~ 1 X 2215 ***** Filstar #138 ~ XP 1 x 2**

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