Something's happened. I was happily browsing Swinging Heaven, adding to the odd post, and suddenly I'm getting pop-ups - links to porn sites etc - and then loosing my connection to the site. This has NEVER happened before on Swinging Heaven and look how long it is since I joined.
Help needed.
Jezzay.
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Serious PC issue.
Sex God
id check what number is being dialed (control panel, internet options, connection, details)
if its not 08*** & it's 09*** it a premium dialier. log off asap and delete the connection name, recheck before you log on again as they come back. then get broadband
if its not 08*** & it's 09*** it a premium dialier. log off asap and delete the connection name, recheck before you log on again as they come back. then get broadband
Orgasminator
Quote by naughtynymphos1
when in doubt.....format it lol
works for me
Well it works, but it's hardly elegant.
That sounds like scumware of some kind, have you installed any new software recently that might have had a nasty or nasties attached to it? Is your browser set to download and install software automatically?
As Jags mentioned, make sure you've got up to date anti-virus software installed and use a program that checks for unwanted nasties. If you need to know where to find stuff like this, PM me and I'll send you the links. Both of the programs I'm thinking of have paid-for versions as well as free ones, which is why I'm not going to link to them in this post.
Go for some spyware killers asap. I no expert in home PC's, (corporate yes, home no) but Microsoft Anti Spyware is pretty good, and free.
Trouble is if you have spyware deep in the PC they can be a real bugger to get rid of.
Make sure you have a firewall (even on dialup), make sure you visit windows update and everything is patched up, make sure you have a current Anti Virus package.
Worst case reinstall is a last resort, but if you can use the spyware tools to find what you have, google it for advice on removal.
Trouble is if you have spyware deep in the PC they can be a real bugger to get rid of.
Make sure you have a firewall (even on dialup), make sure you visit windows update and everything is patched up, make sure you have a current Anti Virus package.
Worst case reinstall is a last resort, but if you can use the spyware tools to find what you have, google it for advice on removal.
Hello - I'm back. Ran Xsoftspy (after paying for it.)
I was already very clean and haven't looked at anything other that Swinging Heaven, WOMAD and the Radio Times in ages. (How sad does that make me!) So I'm certain the spyware came in through SH.
Be warned. As I say it's never happened before so our defenses may have been breached.
Jezzay.
I was already very clean and haven't looked at anything other that Swinging Heaven, WOMAD and the Radio Times in ages. (How sad does that make me!) So I'm certain the spyware came in through SH.
Be warned. As I say it's never happened before so our defenses may have been breached.
Jezzay.
I've been getting some email, supposedly from my ISP Tiscali, but, I opened the first one to find the attatched file was a virus with a .jpg file extetion.
Fortunately, I have good anti-virus and it was eradicated immidiately, the following 6 I've had, also supposedly from "Tiscali" I have deleted without opening. The subject headings were all account warnings with the last one being a FINAL WARNING.
Also, as someone else on another thread has pointed out, make your email annon in ur ads. This will serve as some protection at lease from unscrupulus parties.
Fortunately, I have good anti-virus and it was eradicated immidiately, the following 6 I've had, also supposedly from "Tiscali" I have deleted without opening. The subject headings were all account warnings with the last one being a FINAL WARNING.
Also, as someone else on another thread has pointed out, make your email annon in ur ads. This will serve as some protection at lease from unscrupulus parties.
Orgasminator
Quote by jezzay
Hello - I'm back. Ran Xsoftspy (after paying for it.)
I was already very clean and haven't looked at anything other that Swinging Heaven, WOMAD and the Radio Times in ages. (How sad does that make me!) So I'm certain the spyware came in through SH.
Be warned. As I say it's never happened before so our defenses may have been breached.
Jezzay.
Spyware generally doesn't get in like this, and it'd be fairly easy for Mark to check if somebody had cracked the server in order to do so.
As TnH said, various worms can get into your system if you're online without a firewall (or even with a firewall if it's not locked down tight).
Depending on your email client (Outlook and Outlook Express being the two worst offenders) it may have come in via email.
Following advice previously on here I switched to Mozilla Firefox ages ago and that has proved 99.9% better than Outlook. I don't even go to my account direct from MSN Messenger because that causes problems.
No dodgy email for ages. No porn-browsing or looking up naughty-knicker catalogues. That's why I posted. I'm fairly sure it was a SH entrant.
BTW - I don't think Ad-aware catches everything. XoftSpy found loads more than Ad-aware did.
But it's definitely OK now.
Jezzay.
No dodgy email for ages. No porn-browsing or looking up naughty-knicker catalogues. That's why I posted. I'm fairly sure it was a SH entrant.
BTW - I don't think Ad-aware catches everything. XoftSpy found loads more than Ad-aware did.
But it's definitely OK now.
Jezzay.
It's almost impossible for it to be SH, it's far, far more likely to be a weakness in whatever version of Windows you are using, there are known ways of remotely infecting every version except possibly the latest WinXp with all the service packs and security updates - and even that's only a matter of time.
Orgasminator
Quote by jezzay
Following advice previously on here I switched to Mozilla Firefox ages ago and that has proved 99.9% better than Outlook.
An excellent choice, I use Firefox for email and Thunderbird as a mail client, mainly so I can use the same software whatever OS I happen to have running at the time.
Sexlightened
Quote by Deviated Prevert
Following advice previously on here I switched to Mozilla Firefox ages ago and that has proved 99.9% better than Outlook.
An excellent choice, I use Firefox for email and Thunderbird as a mail client, mainly so I can use the same software whatever OS I happen to have running at the time.
We use FF and TB as well. No worms, no troians at all.
BTW...pop-ups can be blocked in FF options. I think U caught this from other site. Try some Firewall and free antivir.
Regs
P
Quote by jezzay
No dodgy email for ages. No porn-browsing or looking up naughty-knicker catalogues. That's why I posted. I'm fairly sure it was a SH entrant.
Jezzay, you know what they say... dirty computer, dirty mind
Those little viruses and things are right little buggers at getting in though. In some cases you don't have to actively visit websites to get them. I would also add that you should run windows update regularly.
Sex God
My old pc is totally screwed 
When open for more than twenty seconds IE windows open up at the rate of one every two seconds before I can do anything. Trouble is my entire picture collection is on there (and I mean holiday snaps etc not porn), and I want to get this onto my new pc, while you are all being so friendly and techie any ideas? I was going to open it in safemode but have heard a rumour that you cant save to CDROM in safe mode
Harry Jones
When open for more than twenty seconds IE windows open up at the rate of one every two seconds before I can do anything. Trouble is my entire picture collection is on there (and I mean holiday snaps etc not porn), and I want to get this onto my new pc, while you are all being so friendly and techie any ideas? I was going to open it in safemode but have heard a rumour that you cant save to CDROM in safe mode
Harry Jones
The one-line answer is 'boot from knoppix and disinfect from there". The bad news is that this is NOT the sort of thing that I would recommend trying yourself is you are anything less than supremely confident in your mastery of all things PC and have at least a passing accquaintence with Linux. Owning a PC that's so ruined it opens an IE window of junk every 2 seconds probably means you don't fit into this category! If you have a friendly local geek, ask him to come round and rescue your holiday snaps by "booting from knoppix and disinfecting from there". It shouldn't take long, and everything will be safe when it's done.
Quote by HarryJones
My old pc is totally screwed
When open for more than twenty seconds IE windows open up at the rate of one every two seconds before I can do anything. Trouble is my entire picture collection is on there (and I mean holiday snaps etc not porn), and I want to get this onto my new pc, while you are all being so friendly and techie any ideas? I was going to open it in safemode but have heard a rumour that you cant save to CDROM in safe mode
Harry Jones
If your up for it and your new PC is fully protected then take old HD out of old PC and slave it to new one then just find your pic folder and copy away.
If you have XP then your CD-Rom will work in safe mode. Might be as easy if you had a USB stick.
If you can get into safe mode then you have a good chance of removing most virus/spyware.
Install :- Microsoft Antispyware(XP/2000) - Any paid for virus software - Any Firewall - FireFox(on new PC) -
If your old PC has a ethernet port then get a crossover cable and network both PCs, then transfer files.
If you get someone in to do transfer dont pay more than £30.
Something's happened. I was happily browsing Swinging Heaven, adding to the odd post, and suddenly I'm getting pop-ups - links to porn sites etc - and then loosing my connection to the site. This has NEVER happened before on Swinging Heaven and look how long it is since I joined.
Help needed.
Jezzay.
I 2nd what has been said so far. SO many ways to get pop-ups now. If it was SH more ppl would have posted.
Surfing is like having sex with a stranger, always wear your condom(Firewall/Virus checker/AntiSpyware).
Warming the Bed
If your not into manually removing sypware we have found the following will catch everything. All FREE with FREE updates Google for the web addresses:
1. AVG antivirus - free download and free updates
2. Microsoft Antispyware - for those still on Internet Explorer (why!?) its good for picking up spyware and resetting IE homepage back
3. AdAware from Lavasoft - catches sypware MS AntiSpyware misses
4. Spybot Seach and Destroy - if there are still suckers left on your machine.
If your still bugged by a persistanct problem try googling the symptoms. Often you will find a page that describes how to get rid of it. It usually involves booting into safe mode and removing via command line. Be careful when googling a problem site that you don't click a link that brings you to the offending site. Solutions from forums, symantec, other antivrius sites are a good bet.
1. AVG antivirus - free download and free updates
2. Microsoft Antispyware - for those still on Internet Explorer (why!?) its good for picking up spyware and resetting IE homepage back
3. AdAware from Lavasoft - catches sypware MS AntiSpyware misses
4. Spybot Seach and Destroy - if there are still suckers left on your machine.
If your still bugged by a persistanct problem try googling the symptoms. Often you will find a page that describes how to get rid of it. It usually involves booting into safe mode and removing via command line. Be careful when googling a problem site that you don't click a link that brings you to the offending site. Solutions from forums, symantec, other antivrius sites are a good bet.
Sex God
If your up for it and your new PC is fully protected then take old HD out of old PC and slave it to new one then just find your pic folder and copy away. I'm up for that, Ive got McAfee Security Centre on my new pc so reckon I will be ok, and I can onpen old pc in safe mode and stick everyhing I want i one folder to make it easier, I'll have toopen up my pcs and work out what leads I need to connect them
If you have XP then your CD-Rom will work in safe mode. Might be as easy if you had a USB stick. XP on my OLD pc
Its a pentium one with either win95 or win98 on it, it makes my Spectrums look fastIf you can get into safe mode then you have a good chance of removing most virus/spyware. Too much hassle its old and knackered I just want my files and to run
Install :- Microsoft Antispyware(XP/2000) - Any paid for virus software - Any Firewall - FireFox(on new PC) -
If your old PC has a ethernet port then get a crossover cable and network both PCs, then transfer files. Networking arghh I would be up till about 6am trying to do it.
If you get someone in to do transfer dont pay more than £30.
Quote by jezzay
Hello - I'm back. Ran Xsoftspy (after paying for it.)
I was already very clean and haven't looked at anything other that Swinging Heaven, WOMAD and the Radio Times in ages. (How sad does that make me!) So I'm certain the spyware came in through SH.
Be warned. As I say it's never happened before so our defenses may have been breached.
Jezzay.
you have to remember there is always new viruses,trojans ect out there or just plain spam, go to start/control panel/ad-remove programs/ and look through the list for any thing you havnt installed or dont recognise because somtimes they find a way into your pc install themselves so when ever you start your pc or go on line its actualy programed to pop up from your hard drive
To continue along this thread I would just like to sing the praises of ZONE ALARM firewall and anti virus. Have been having mega mega computer problems since Feb.
Old comp got infected with something (don't know what, couldn't find critter) which would not allow me to connect to the internet, yet I could hear that the modem was active and my computer was clicking away so there were programs running.
Pulled plug on internet immediatley (didn't want anyone to get their hands on any personal info that could be used for identity cloning etc). I was still using Windows 98 at the time and the other half is only good at fixing problems if he is using XP. So had to wipe comp, upgrade the memory and installed XP. This got rid of the little nasty - but (there is always a but isn't there) I was now without any protection.
Plugged in modem, went straight to Symantec to download Zone alarm (other half swears by it) and BAM infected with biggest, nastiest, highest security rating virus that was doing the rounds. Unplugg internet again. Found the infected files, but (yes another but) as soon as one file was deleted another was replicating and we coundn't find master file.
So the only thing we could do was format the comp again, get someone else to download Zone alarm onto disk and installed it from disk before turning on internet. Fingers crossed I have had no more problems and in the month comp has been back up Zone Alarm has found and treated three viruses and deflected 16,000, yes 16,000 intrusions, so it gets thumbs up from me.
Old comp got infected with something (don't know what, couldn't find critter) which would not allow me to connect to the internet, yet I could hear that the modem was active and my computer was clicking away so there were programs running.
Pulled plug on internet immediatley (didn't want anyone to get their hands on any personal info that could be used for identity cloning etc). I was still using Windows 98 at the time and the other half is only good at fixing problems if he is using XP. So had to wipe comp, upgrade the memory and installed XP. This got rid of the little nasty - but (there is always a but isn't there) I was now without any protection.
Plugged in modem, went straight to Symantec to download Zone alarm (other half swears by it) and BAM infected with biggest, nastiest, highest security rating virus that was doing the rounds. Unplugg internet again. Found the infected files, but (yes another but) as soon as one file was deleted another was replicating and we coundn't find master file.
So the only thing we could do was format the comp again, get someone else to download Zone alarm onto disk and installed it from disk before turning on internet. Fingers crossed I have had no more problems and in the month comp has been back up Zone Alarm has found and treated three viruses and deflected 16,000, yes 16,000 intrusions, so it gets thumbs up from me.
Quote by couple_ne2000
To continue along this thread I would just like to sing the praises of ZONE ALARM firewall and anti virus. Have been having mega mega computer problems since Feb.
Old comp got infected with something (don't know what, couldn't find critter) which would not allow me to connect to the internet, yet I could hear that the modem was active and my computer was clicking away so there were programs running.
Pulled plug on internet immediatley (didn't want anyone to get their hands on any personal info that could be used for identity cloning etc). I was still using Windows 98 at the time and the other half is only good at fixing problems if he is using XP. So had to wipe comp, upgrade the memory and installed XP. This got rid of the little nasty - but (there is always a but isn't there) I was now without any protection.
Plugged in modem, went straight to Symantec to download Zone alarm (other half swears by it) and BAM infected with biggest, nastiest, highest security rating virus that was doing the rounds. Unplugg internet again. Found the infected files, but (yes another but) as soon as one file was deleted another was replicating and we coundn't find master file.
So the only thing we could do was format the comp again, get someone else to download Zone alarm onto disk and installed it from disk before turning on internet. Fingers crossed I have had no more problems and in the month comp has been back up Zone Alarm has found and treated three viruses and deflected 16,000, yes 16,000 intrusions, so it gets thumbs up from me.
Traniee plugged new build PC into internet to do updates. Took 27sec to get msblast.
For home use free programs are ok.
Just dont go surfing to deep into web land.
How many ppl do a weekly back up of there files. I dont and i no I should.
Sex God
Quote by PCRepairman
How many ppl do a weekly back up of there files. I dont and i no I should.
I never do hence why I cant get to any of my photos and some were great :cry:
When setting up a new copy of windows XP install at least service pack 1 and preferably service pack 2 from CD before you connect it to the internet or try doing anything else.
New computers will come with either service pack 1 or 2 integrated onto the install CD. For older computers use a disk... u can get it from microsoft... and they were covermount on a load of PC magazines a while ago.
Not keeping windows XP up-to-date with patches and such like is a good way to get some spyware (etc)... trying to get a new copy of windows up-to-date can take a while!!!
New computers will come with either service pack 1 or 2 integrated onto the install CD. For older computers use a disk... u can get it from microsoft... and they were covermount on a load of PC magazines a while ago.
Not keeping windows XP up-to-date with patches and such like is a good way to get some spyware (etc)... trying to get a new copy of windows up-to-date can take a while!!!
Orgasminator
For those of you who haven't seen it there is a section in Advice (look at the menu on the left) to try and help you surf safely. The link is:
http://www.swingingheaven.co.uk/advice/online-security.html
Having written that some time ago the little buggers have become more crafty and can switch off your Anitvirus and Spyware scanners. So you should always scan your computer in "Safe Mode" with networking switched off and System Restore switched off.
Switch off System Restore in Control Panel>System>System Restore and tick the box.
To go into "safe mode" press the key marked F8 on your keyboard as your computer is booting up (usually a black screen with white blocks running along the bottom). Run your antivirus and spybot checks in (one at a time) and allow them to clean any nasties.
Restart your computer normally and switch System Restore back on.
When I get the brush out of my arse , I'll try again get part II written.
http://www.swingingheaven.co.uk/advice/online-security.html
Having written that some time ago the little buggers have become more crafty and can switch off your Anitvirus and Spyware scanners. So you should always scan your computer in "Safe Mode" with networking switched off and System Restore switched off.
Switch off System Restore in Control Panel>System>System Restore and tick the box.
To go into "safe mode" press the key marked F8 on your keyboard as your computer is booting up (usually a black screen with white blocks running along the bottom). Run your antivirus and spybot checks in (one at a time) and allow them to clean any nasties.
Restart your computer normally and switch System Restore back on.
When I get the brush out of my arse
, I'll try again get part II written. 
Warming the Bed
I hate to see vermin like this get on peeps machines... nasty stuff... Good advice here though.
