Account compromised

[Etherpendant]

I am currently working to remove a spyware that targets online games from my computer. Meanwhile, I have left my most precious items with someone else.

Just an advance warning should my account be taken.

[Sinfulrook]

okie dokie ether, hope it doesnt get stolen =)

[Kamekku]

Things to do:

Install and run Spybot S&D:
download here - you want the download that says Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.5.2.
When you first install it, it may come up with some prompts (such as making a system backup), really the only thing you need to do is search for updates. You may be able to cancel out if it, I dunno. If it doesn't ask you to search for updates, just click on the "search for updates" button when the program comes up and install the stuff that shows up. When downloading the updates, it's possible that some of the updates might not download properly, just go back to the mirror list, select another mirror, and download again. Once you've installed the updates, click on the immunize button on the left and then once it's shown you that you have like 61070 unprotected thingers (that's how many thingers are protected on my pc), click on the immunize button with the green + beside it. After doing that, click on the Search & Destroy button and then click "Check For Problems." It may take a while to get through all the checks, so feel free to do something else while you wait.

Next, install and run AdAware Free:
download here - you want the download that says Continue to Download Ad-Aware 2007 Free. Now, Ad-Aware 2007 has a heck of a lot of problems with it, so don't be surprised if you get errors. It didn't used to be as bad as it is now, but....whatever. When you're installing it, select advanced install or whatever and then just keep hitting next. It'll pop up with this stupid registration number thing, just hit "use free". When it gets installed, click on web update and then click on update. Once you've updated (hopefully the updates won't kill Ad-Aware like it did to mine, causing me to have to reinstall -_-), click on Scan, and then run a Full Scan. This is going to take forever, so go figure out how to correctly predict the position of an electron at any given point in time or something like that while you wait. Also, don't use your computer while it's scanning, cuz it'll be reallllllly slow.

Another thing you can try is downloading AVG Free:
website here. I don't actually use AVG Free, but I have a friend who uses it and really likes it a lot.

Other final things, when checking your e-mail, never open a .exe file. Also, if you get any files like a .doc, .xls, .ppt, .zip or any sort of file like that, don't open them right away, see if you can scan them with a virus scanner or something by right clicking the attachment or something. You may have to navigate to the attachments folder in your e-mail program's directory and scan it from there or something, I dunno what e-mail program you use. Also, if you use an e-mail program like Eudora or something, you may want to switch over to Mozilla Thunderbird (probably want to talk to your dad about it before switching). It's a pretty safe e-mail program. Also, switch to Mozilla Firefox if you aren't using it already and only use IE for stuff like Hotmail and Microsoft Update.

Of course, it's entirely possible you don't have administrative privileges on your computer, so you may not be able to install any of the stuff, in which case you have to get your dad to do it for you. If you do all that and the virus is still there, then back up your documents and music and important stuff to a cd or dvd or something and format your pc.

Thus concludes Kamekku's guide to making your computer a safer place. In addition, while you have the keylogger on your pc, make sure you don't log into any important sites that could give them important info. Finally, anyone else who is reading this and doesn't have Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware on their PC would probably be benefited by doing the same things.

I hope you read all that Joan.

[Etherpendant]

Lols, it turns out that the virus FILE was in my comp but it never actually installed itself or some random crap like that. The emails came from a relative in Taiwan, and since I could never read them I never opened them either. I'm guessing that since her family only has one computer, it's gotten infected with multitudes of viruses and she's unwittingly passing them on to all her contact list. Plus, since the virus came from Taiwan, I'm guessing it wouldn't have much use for my account as it is N.A. only.

So I installed S S&D, and deleted 53 cookies and then immunized.

Then I started installing AdAware, but it was taking an unholy long time, and plus I've used it before and am not very impressed, just quit the download.

After THAT, I restarted Windows in safe mode and looked for the autostartup registry key that my antispyware program told me to look for. It wasn't there, which led me to assume it never installed itself.

Then I deleted the infected emails with great glee.

Computer stats: I use a non-admin account, but know the admin password. I use Firefox and Windows Live Mail. There is nothing on my computer but old homework, art that's mostly been uploaded, and like...30 songs all of which I can dig up again online.

Thanks Kam!

And yeah, I hope you read that too Joan. Kam's Ultimate Guide should be stickied!Maybe I should sticky it...

[DARKS1M]

I use AVG and Adaware. So far so good...

http://www.download.com/8301-2007_4-9929209-12.html

I read an article on cnet and this anitvirus program looks pretty good. However, I haven't tried it out myself...

[Blaznazn]

Spybot, Adaware,and Avast are what I use to keep myself safe. On firefox, I use noscript to help as well.

[jackieCP]

I hope your stuff doesn't get stolen too ether.