Virus Warning
Magruter
Posted 1/5/2006 10:56 AM (#170859)
Subject: Virus Warning





Posts: 1316


Location: Madison, WI
Sry not about fishing, but i know with all the problems beav has had lately, i'd thought i'd post up where this will get the most views. You can move if needed...

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/912840.mspx

This is the short version:

The flaw, which allows hackers to infect computers using programs maliciously inserted into seemingly innocuous image files, was first discovered last week. But the potential for damaging attacks increased dramatically at the weekend after a group of computer hackers published the source code they used to exploit it. Unlike most attacks, which require victims to download or execute a suspect file, the new vulnerability makes it possible for users to infect their computers with spyware or a virus simply by viewing a web page, e-mail or instant message that contains a contaminated image.

To be really brief:

Until the 10th you can get adware/spyware/virus from just viewing a picture or just opening an email.

Just little scary, but if anyone’s computer starts acting funny let me know right away. I’ll try to keep you posted as soon as the patch comes out.

Scott
Beaver
Posted 1/5/2006 12:06 PM (#170872 - in reply to #170859)
Subject: RE: Virus Warning





Posts: 4266


Yes please........give me a patch!
Beav
Beaver
Posted 1/5/2006 10:22 PM (#170966 - in reply to #170859)
Subject: RE: Virus Warning





Posts: 4266


I'll add another warning to this. I just spent 4 hours on the phone with Microsoft Support after I ran the scan that they recommended. The scan took over 6 hours, and at the end of the scan I had no internet access, no e-mail.......but my Adobe Photodeluxe worked.
The tech and I farted around for hours and hours. My computer wouldn't reboot. We got all sorts of weird messages. In the end, she said "I'm sorry, I can't help you." Keep in mind that this would have cost over $200 an hour, but they did it gratis because they figured that the scan that they ran actually caused more problems than it corrected.
So my dumb Polish head started poking around and checking settings, and tried to reboot it in every configuration, and all of a sudden, it rebooted itself and the desktop showed up. It turned all sorts of colors and left me all sorts of messages, but in the end....I'm typing!
The tech told me to pass on the word to other people, if you're not experiencing nay problems or haven't since Nov and Dec (like I did), don't run the update from Windows Live Safety Center. Besides taking 6 hours, it seems that it can't actually repair corrupt discs and files like they said it could.
If it aint broke, don't fix it.
I'll be happy to limp along with an internet connection and e-mail (sometimes) and a loss of speed, than to try another fix and have it backfire.
Sworrall, you can cancel the "Beav's out of commision" message that I told you to post. I'm never shutting this thing off again.........it was kind of exciting watching it shutdown and restart itself though.
Beav


Phase II- Thought things were straightened out until I tried to reply to an e-mail. When I hit send, the message "DR WATSON-FATAL ERROR" flashed across the screen and then the computer shut itself down again. Glad it started up again. I'll stick with PM, or use my jimslivinski@hotmail account. Haven't had any trouble with that one.

Edited by Beaver 1/5/2006 11:29 PM
The Yeti
Posted 1/6/2006 1:40 AM (#170978 - in reply to #170859)
Subject: RE: Virus Warning


Beav what operating system are you running?
Beaver
Posted 1/6/2006 6:15 AM (#170985 - in reply to #170859)
Subject: RE: Virus Warning





Posts: 4266


Windows 2000 Professional.....which we can't find the OS disc for.
Things are up, but still not right. The display "blinks" every ten seconds or so.....not the monitor setting shaky screen, it actually flashes. I can't read the tabs on the message board because there is no writing in the boxes and some images are just names with red x's in a box.
The neighbors just might hear some gunfire today.
Can you get arrested for shooting your computer?

Edited by Beaver 1/6/2006 6:26 AM
Stan Durst 1
Posted 1/6/2006 6:36 AM (#170989 - in reply to #170859)
Subject: RE: Virus Warning





Posts: 1207


Location: Pigeon Forge TN.
Beav,
I have the same windows on this puter but I don't use Outlook Express any more, and I use Firefox to go online. I ran scans the other day ( I do often) and had three viruses stopped and got them deleted safely. Now if only I could fix the "virus" in my two finger typing and hit the right keys at the right time I wouldn't mispell and have to go back and fix the spelling.
hhhmmmm, I wonder why it takes me so long to type a message in the first place.
Magruter
Posted 1/6/2006 6:54 AM (#170992 - in reply to #170859)
Subject: RE: Virus Warning





Posts: 1316


Location: Madison, WI
Beav, the option is still open to help ya out. Let me know. I'll be in milwaukee saturday 14th and sunday 15th.

Edited by Magruter 1/6/2006 9:43 AM
Magruter
Posted 1/6/2006 9:31 AM (#171015 - in reply to #170859)
Subject: RE: Virus Warning





Posts: 1316


Location: Madison, WI
Alright they (M$) has the patch up for XP USERS ONLY, sry beav... but i don't know if you would run it any, since your machine is limping already.

If your using firefox, close it and open IE... ...Run a windows update. (tools>>Windows update) Follow the steps for installation.

Edited by Magruter 1/6/2006 9:42 AM