frEEk
Administrator
ummm... yeah
Posts: 9660
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posted March 05, 2006 11:01 AM
If you aren't running anti-virus software..
Sick of spam? Well if you aren't running any anti-virus software, you are part of the spam problem. For the sake of all that is good and sane in this work, please install an anti-virus program!
I've been meaning to post this for a while, voz's virus problem reminder me.
Many virii and spyware/malware don't just affect you but other people you know too. These days one of the main motivations for writing a virus is to harvest email addreses and send emails. If one of these of these virii infects you, it grabs all the email addresses on your machine (including everyone who has ever emailed you and/or you have sent email to) and/or may use your machine as a drone, sending spam and participating in DOS (denial of service, floods a server untill it crashes or becomes unuseable) attacks. using drone home PCs is probably the #1 reason that spam is as big a problem as it is today, since there is no accountability. if all spam were sent from a real server at a hosting company, companies that allow that would soon be cut off from the rest of the internet as other ISPs refused to connect to them, but u can't deny an entire network because of a few hacked machines. Also, email harvesting means that even if you never posted your email on the web or submitted it to any questionable sites, you will still be bombarded with spam cause someone you know got their machine harvested.
And there are good, free anti-virus programs out there. The one i recommend is AVG, which is a full featured program, including plugins for outlook or any other email program (with a bit of work). They provide a free version for personal home use, including continuous updates. Get it at http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5. I use the commercial version (as i can't really call my use "home use"), which is still pretty cheap.
fish_antlers mentioned http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ which is good if you are already infected and want to clean your machine before installing AVG (Housecall runs right thru your browser, no software installation is done).
ALSO, for those running windows (almost everyone), MAKE SURE YOU HAVE WINDOWS UPDATE SET UP TO RUN AUTOMATICALLY! I think the newest version of windows come with that set by default, but i'm not sure, and i know older versions don't. Set it to run at least once a week, preferable every day, and jsut have it download and install updates (at least critical ones) automatically. There are SO many people running unpatched, out of date copies of windows which can be compromised any number of ways, by opening a web page, opening an email, or sometimes even from outside your computer via the network, without you doing anything. I should say Microsoft Update as it has replaced Windows Update.
Speaking of getting a virus from the network, ideally everyone should have a hardware firewall. They can be found easily for $50 (somtimes as little as $10 on super specials) at computer stores. Many commercial anti-virus programs come bundled with software firewalls these days which isn't a bad step either, but i'm defintiely a fan of hardware firewalls. more secure in many ways.
And speaking fo firewalls/routers (most routers have a built in firewall), if you are runnign a wireless router, for good enss sake make sure you are using an encrypted wireless connection and require a key to access your wireless network. I'm not real familiar with wireless security so look it up (or soemone else feel free to post info) but i know the older security method is considered obsolete becauseit is so easy to break. WEP vs WPA or something like that?
oh, forgot to say make sure u get an anti-spyware program too. http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/, http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10122137.html and the microsoft anti-spyware & adware programs are all popular and good choices.
   
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CrotchRocket
Moderator
Bracket Racing with Betsy
Posts: 8038
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posted March 05, 2006 11:18 AM
Good lookin out frEEk...
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Jason Miller StreetBike Seminars
*****DragRacers do it better, because they dont cut Corners*****
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FasterThanStink
Pro
Posts: 1218
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posted March 05, 2006 02:56 PM
I just use a Mac! No virus problems.
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Speed has never killed anyone,
suddenly becoming stationary...
That's what gets you.
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zerMATT
Pro
Posts: 1931
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posted March 05, 2006 04:25 PM
Microsoft's Antispyware program had one main advantage over Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D, it actually monitors your system for real-time infections. MS has recently released Beta 2 of this program and renamed it. Now it's called Windows Defender, and it's still free.
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
Give it a try, it's worth the d/l. 
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14 | Black D&D Slip-ons | Speedo Healer | V1 | zumo 550 | Heli-Risers | PhantomX
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warbird
Needs a job
Posts: 2739
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posted March 05, 2006 04:51 PM
 Edited By: warbird on 5 Mar 2006 16:55
I run AVG 7.1 profesional myself frEEk............love it. It runs in the background and does a great job. Updates itself daily and pretty much stays out of the way. I also use Webroot's Spy Sweeper and have good results with that. I still haven't downloaded SP2 and have no problems at all. 
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I'd Rather Be Roadracing.
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warbird
Needs a job
Posts: 2739
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posted March 05, 2006 04:59 PM
quote:
Microsoft's Antispyware program had one main advantage over Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D, it actually monitors your system for real-time infections. MS has recently released Beta 2 of this program and renamed it. Now it's called Windows Defender, and it's still free.
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
Give it a try, it's worth the d/l.
Webroot's Spy Sweeper runs constantly and monitors the system also. It's not free though and from what I have read that "Defender" as it's now called is as good as it gets. AND it cost's nothing.
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I'd Rather Be Roadracing.
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vozizm
Needs a job
Got Nothing Witty To Say
Posts: 4417
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posted March 05, 2006 06:06 PM
Very kewl post fellas!! i have updated my MS to Defender,
also ran that housecall thingy it it found the 2 listed below but did not prompt to remove like it prompted me to remove on my sons PC..
could it be cause it is just a vulnerability not a virus or spyware?
1}
Home > Security Advisories > (MS00-034) Office 2000 UA Control Vulnerability
(MS00-034) Office 2000 UA Control Vulnerability
Vulnerability Identifier: CVE-2000-0419
Discovery Date: May 12, 2000
Risk: Critical
Vulnerability Assessment Pattern File: 008
Related Malware: VBS_DAVINIA.A
Affected Software:
AppleFileServer for Mac OS
Microsoft Access 2000
Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE) 1.0
Microsoft Excel 2000
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 1
Microsoft Powerpoint 2000
Microsoft Word 2000
Samba
Squid Web Proxy for Unix
Trillian
Description:
This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to conduct unauthorized activities via the Show Me function in Office Help, since Office 2000 UA ActiveX Control is marked as safe for scripting.
2}
Home > Security Advisories > (MS01-028) RTF Document Linked to Template Can Run Macros Without Warning
(MS01-028) RTF Document Linked to Template Can Run Macros Without Warning
Vulnerability Identifier: CVE-2001-0240
Discovery Date: May 21, 2001
Risk: Critical
Vulnerability Assessment Pattern File: 008
Related Malware: W97M_GOGA.A
Affected Software:
Microsoft Word 2000
Microsoft Word 2001(MAC)
Microsoft Word 97
Microsoft Word 98 (MAC)
Microsoft Word 98(J)
Description:
This vulnerability allows attackers to execute macros without user warning. It is done by linking a Rich Text Format document to a template that contains an embedded macro.
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VOZ
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Rubber Pants
Zone Head
Posts: 798
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posted March 05, 2006 07:37 PM
quote:
I just use a Mac! No virus problems.
Me too! I love em!! I also own PC's but Macs are where its at! 
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"Ya Gotta Have Big Ones!"
speeddemons.com
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aliveagain
Needs a life
Posts: 5033
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posted March 05, 2006 09:36 PM
google Hitman Pro and download
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I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
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kawasabi
Expert Class
Posts: 150
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posted March 06, 2006 05:07 AM
Fully protected here... All 5 machines on my home network have the lastest A/V sigs and I am running a wireless router with WEP enabled
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BA
Pro
Posts: 1592
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posted March 08, 2006 08:47 PM
WEP 40 bit is better than nothing, but hopefully you're running 128 bit WEP as the minimum wireless security!
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zxfingyz
Expert Class
Posts: 424
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posted March 09, 2006 07:15 AM
Great post. You will not believe the stuff that can be on an unprotected machine.
This will help and the price is right. Free!
http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/
If nothing else at least download this. It does a pretty good job if you scan once or twice a week. Maybe more for you naughtier types.
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zxfingyz
Expert Class
Posts: 424
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posted March 09, 2006 07:17 AM
Just noticed that was in Freeks original post. Oops.
Definately bears repeating though.
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tslewisz
Expert Class
Posts: 328
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posted March 09, 2006 07:19 AM
I use GRISOFT's product on those rare instances I boot my Windows machine at home. Very happy with it. The majority of the time I use SuSE Linux...no worries.
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Wideout
Expert Class
Posts: 300
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posted March 09, 2006 10:27 AM
Voz...sometimes ya' got to go a few steps further to remove things. Many times it can involve deleting things in the registry or Add / Remove programs.
It helps to search on that particular virus or malware using google, microsoft and places like symantec.
Symantec talks about a few variances of the first one you mention here:
http://search.symantec.com/custom/update/query.html?qt=DAVINIA&context=gbh&nh=10&st=1&hitsceil=100&col=&filter=all&x=27&y=9
More info on the second one here:
http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/virusencyclo/default5.asp?VName=W97M%5FGOGA%2EA&VSect=Sn
The second one requires running some sort of MS patch, and also making some changes to your Word settings.
Freek mentioning setting Windows Update to update automatically is imperative.
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