Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: bustr on April 04, 2005, 03:33:53 PM
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I stopped using IE because of all the spyware\malware\trojans that kept hijacking my system. But! I have Mcafee and it won't allow me to perform updates with FireFox. So it opens IE for me and begins the update. Everytime the update is for Mcafee's Anti Spyware module, it infects my system with a hijack that kills my ping time to the AH game server.
I keep 6 other anti spyware applications updated just to catch Mcafee's little payload. And it's a different one every time. Does anyone catch traditional viruses anymore? Or is it all these hijacks that take advantage of IE? I'm begining to wonder if Mcafee even knows whats happening. Mcafee's antispyware module has never detected these hijacks after it updates itself. The arena menu in AH lets me know when I have one. My ping goes up from 63 to 140-170.
I will be getting rid of Mcafee, are there any Antivirus\Spyware products that actually work out there? I though changing to FireFox would save me from this. I didn't count on Mcafee screwing me.
By the way, last nights Mcafee update loaded me up with something so nasty, nothing I have can detect it. I have about 12 apps now including Microsofts new one that I installed last night out of frustration. AH let me know I had it at the arena menu, my ping was 145. I had to roll my XP back 1 day to turn the hijack off. I need something that can first detect it, then kill it.
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For the lub of all that is coad! Why don't you just adjust the security settings in IE?
What is it with people? Everyone want to bash MS so bad they simply ignore the tools (what few we have) at your own fingertips?
Sorry bustr,..nothing personal. It's not you.
Tools->Internet options
Adjust the security settings for the "Internet' zone to the highest possible, then manually adjust them tighter. McAfee update will not work anymore after that (I already sent them a nasty email about the security problems involved in using ActiveX for their updates. They do not seem to care).
Intuit updates will also break (another bunch of ActiveX idiots).
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That MS anti spyware beta thingy is awesome.
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bustr, I was having many problems with hijacker/spyware on puter, had Norten and it would not detect it or kill it, downloaded AVG for free and it picked it out and killed it. SO I dumped nortan like an uguly chick on a sunday moring.
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Skuzzy,
None taken, I think I downloaded a script that locks IE down as you have discussed before. If you are inclined though please repost your lockdown method for IE. I use FireFox and find it works better than IE. It just pisses me off that McAfee is requiring IE for auto updates. I'm hoping to find some other filter application to replace it that does not require IE for definition updates. I need to get rid of the current hijack, it hid itself quite well. No footprints that I can find.
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Originally posted by medicboy
bustr, I was having many problems with hijacker/spyware on puter, had Norten and it would not detect it or kill it, downloaded AVG for free and it picked it out and killed it. SO I dumped nortan like an uguly chick on a sunday moring.
What is AVG?
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Grab Adaware (not Adware) from Lavasoft (Google it). Install Adaware, run it and let it update its defination files, then run a scan.
Reboot to safe mode (pressing F8 while Windows starts to boot), run Adaware again to let it finish cleaning up.
Now, unplug your computer from the Internet (physically bust the connection). Start Windows up, start up IE.
Under Tools, then Internet Options, you will find a tab named 'Security'. Each of the ICONS represent zones. The 'Internet' zone is the security settings for the Internet.
Press the 'Cutstom' settings button and look at them. If they smack of downloading, installing, updating, active anything, then disable it.
Pay particular attention to ActiveX, Java, scripting, and downloads in general.
If you have a question about a particular setting then ask.
Once you have them all adjusted, plug back into the Internet and you should be fine. Now, if you want to use the MS Updater, you will need to add *.microsoft.com to your trusted sites list.
Select the 'Trusted' zone, then type in
*.microsoft.com
Press the 'Add Site' button and your updates from MS will work. You can do the same for our site too *.hitechcreations.com and so on.
By the way, make sure you have all the security updates from the MS updater.
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my ISP (earthlink) catches most hacks and e-mails me with what they stopped, and what they miss (very few) McAfee gets, i have auto updates turned off.
i also turn off virus scan when in AH.
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Thank you Skuzzy......:)
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All of these are free to home users.....
Warning Avoid Spyhunter it is spyware itself. Loads a spy program on your system and then wants you to pay them to remove it!
FREE to home users.........
AdAware
http://lavasoft.element5.com/software/adaware/
AntiVir ... best free anti virus I've found! removes stuff everything else has missed!
http://www.free-av.com/
Very good FREE software firewall
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp
Might wanna look here for SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard and Spybot S&D and other goodies ... also FREE.......
http://www.majorgeeks.com/
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Originally posted by NUKE
That MS anti spyware beta thingy is awesome.
I'm with you here, i tested many, MS anti spyware beta is awesome.
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I recommend Spybot - Search & Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html)
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ran ad-aware, it found 141 data miners, other than track my internet moves what harm do they do? i quarentied them btw.
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Its not just that they track your internet moves, those types of programs can also record when you enter passwords, credit card data, etc. But beyond security concerns, they really F up your internet connection when you do online gaming. Those things send updates out to whoever planted them, thats eating up your bandwidth. Its also eating up your CPU time.
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Originally posted by bustr
“Does anyone have a similare problem?”
Yea, I can’t spell simeler either.
eskimo
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I like a combinataion of:
Avast antivirus -- free (home users), and it caught things and cleaned things that Nortons and others missed. Auto updates as well. Great product.
Adaware and Spybot - get the job done.
Mozilla - IE is fine dumbed down, but why bother. I don't mind supporting an alternative.
YMMV
Charon
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thanks star, thats what i wanted to know, i deleated them.
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http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/downloads.html - download and install : SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard FREE
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download - Download and install Spybot - Search & Destroy FREE
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html - Download Hijackthis. Put it in a new folder named "Hijackthis". Put the folder on c drive. This is important for proper logging of info when you get hijacked. Do not use this program unless you completely know what you are doing. FREE
http://www.intermute.com/products/cwshredder.html - CWShredder . Download the standalone version. FREE
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/ - Download the free version of Adaware and install. Or pay for the advanced version if you want. FREE
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx - Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) FREE
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php - If you don't have an antivirus program and don't want to pay for one then get AVG . It is free and good. FREE
http://www.free-av.com/ - another antivirus FREE
http://www.ccleaner.com/ - Crap Cleaner. Windows system cleaner like Window Washer FREE
If you dont have an antivirus you can do free scans at
Trend Micro - Free online virus Scan
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
http://housecall.antivirus.com
McAfee Security - FreeScan
http://www.mcafee.com/myapps/mfs/default.asp
Panda ActiveScan - Free online scanner
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm
Computer Associates:
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
DialogueScience:
http://www.antivir.ru/english/www_av/
F-Secure:
http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml
BitDefender
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php
Freedom Online scanner
http://www.freedom.net/viruscenter/index.html
All the downloaded programs need updating regularly.
If you have a problem, you can contact me for help or go to the http://help.lockergnome.com/index.php?showforum=50 and click on the "HIJACKTHIS LOGS" forums. Register and post your problem. An expert will get to you within a few days to guide you to a clean machine :)
Contact me if you need help:) I can call you.
Lew/+Silat
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Originally posted by Skuzzy
For the lub of all that is coad! Why don't you just adjust the security settings in IE?
What is it with people? Everyone want to bash MS so bad they simply ignore the tools (what few we have) at your own fingertips?
Sorry bustr,..nothing personal. It's not you.
Tools->Internet options
Adjust the security settings for the "Internet' zone to the highest possible, then manually adjust them tighter. McAfee update will not work anymore after that (I already sent them a nasty email about the security problems involved in using ActiveX for their updates. They do not seem to care).
Intuit updates will also break (another bunch of ActiveX idiots).
Word :)
:rolleyes:
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I switched from IE to Netscape 7.2 a while back. Not only is it relatively free from malicious hack/virus attacks, it is (IMO) a much, much better and more user friendly product. And there's now a new beta which makes it even better.
In addition to that - TrendMicro PC-Cillin Internet Security 2005, and Microsoft anti spyware beta.
I never have an ounce of trouble.
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I tried McAfee after reading that it did a better job with detecting some viruses. That was a mistake. McAfee anitvirus is spyware. I never did figure out how to make it stop 'calling home' and system performance took a noticable hit. It was removed and Norton Anit-virus put back on. While Norton AV is not unintrusive, it does not seem to give the same system performance hit as McAfee. You probably already knew all this, but though I'd mention it.
I found the Microsoft Anti-Spyware Beta and Adaware (Lavasoft) work well to get rid of pesky spyware. I use only Mozilla-Firefox anymore for web browsing because I don't like to continually fiddle with the security settings. IE is necessary if you want to upgrade your windows security settings. It's annoying that MS uses IE for online updates.
Unfortunately, repairing a Windows system which has IE corrupted or infested is not easy. The 'hooks' IE has in the low level kernel (that were all part of the lawsuit against MS back in the 90's) make IE part of Windows. Upgrading (if you can) to the latest version of IE may help. Skuzzy's suggestions sound good and certainly can't hurt. Good luck!
Regards,
Malta
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Its getting so I about to say to heck with online anything. I think I'll go out and buy on of those ball and paddle toys and sit on the porch, and slap my ball around.
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I too will be getting rid of McAfee after my one year subscription runs out. Having to enable ActiveX is a pain in the arse and there have been quite a few things that it didn't catch that I had to remove manually.
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I guess I've just been lucky. I've used McAfee for years and never had one ounce of trouble from them. They have continuously outperformed Norton every time I've tried a comparison. No, they dont find EVERYthing, but no service does, in my experience. Maybe there is one, but I've never tried it. Of the A/V programs I've used, Norton has always been the worst. Of course, I keep the Internet settings pretty tight too, and complement my A/V with a router firewall, software firewall (also McAfee) and port manager. I've had ONE virus sneak thru in the last year, and while McAfee couldnt get rid of it for me, it did at least detect it (which is more than Norton did when I tried it as a comparison). I suppose it must depend on what you are exposed to and perhaps location (or maybe just what ISP you use), but I rarely even see people ping me anymore, let alone have to worry about anything getting in. And if it does, it dont get out again.
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Originally posted by bustr
Skuzzy,
None taken, I think I downloaded a script that locks IE down as you have discussed before. If you are inclined though please repost your lockdown method for IE. I use FireFox and find it works better than IE. It just pisses me off that McAfee is requiring IE for auto updates. I'm hoping to find some other filter application to replace it that does not require IE for definition updates. I need to get rid of the current hijack, it hid itself quite well. No footprints that I can find.
Download AVG for your anti-virus needs, better than Norton or McAffe imo, and I have used both of those. I use AVG now, plus it's free. Also, the Microsoft Antispyware proggy is pretty sweet, might want to give that a shot as well.
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Originally posted by Bodhi
What is AVG?
most useless antivirus system
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Originally posted by lada
most useless antivirus system
It does a better job than either McAffe OR Norton, the program itself is free and so are the updates...ie no one year subscription for crap updates that dont help you anyways.
It's a very good anti-virus program.