# Computer hack alert! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 3, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-hack-alert/739331 "2015-12-03T18:09:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-hack-alert/739331/1 "2015-12-03T18:09:43Z")
Is there some virus going around that disables access to data in websites? I tried to get Facebook pages and YouTube views, and neither would show up; a box would appear mentioning “event” software that is lacking, with the sound of a guitar string or two being plucked. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2015, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-hack-alert/739331/2 "2015-12-03T23:11:50Z")
The security settings were wrong! But that damn IE Security message has returned. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-hack-alert/739331/3 "2015-12-04T17:31:46Z")
Malware is still a distinct possibility–malware that is injecting content that is getting trapped by security settings, or that is messing with your security settings. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-hack-alert/739331/4 "2015-12-04T23:41:46Z")
What I’d like to know about Anti-Malware software is whether it just guards against new malware invading one’s computer or whether it will also remove malware that is already there. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-hack-alert/739331/5 "2015-12-05T00:45:44Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > What I’d like to know about Anti-Malware software is whether it just guards against new malware invading one’s computer or whether it will also remove malware that is already there. as always - depends upon the software - malwarebytes is both a removal and an active scanning tool, so it does both. ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-hack-alert/739331/6 "2015-12-05T01:43:21Z")
> [@simster](#): > > as always - depends upon the software - malwarebytes is both a removal and an active scanning tool, so it does both. I believe that it is only an active scanning tool if you have the paid version. The free version does scans only on demand. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-hack-alert/739331/7 "2015-12-05T03:41:02Z")
> [@Lare](#): > > I believe that it is only an active scanning tool if you have the paid version. The free version does scans only on demand. This doesn’t change the answer - only further clarifies it - which is ‘depends on the software you have’. Malwarebytes can certainly do both. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-hack-alert/739331/8 "2015-12-06T17:05:01Z")
I got tech support from a remote site; the pesky IE message no longer appears. As some Dopers have advised, I now have a more efficient anti-malware program in place. Question: Which category in the Control Panel should govern the style of the cursor, arrows, and other such devices on the screen? This episode changed mine from the style I wanted. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-hack-alert/739331/9 "2015-12-06T18:03:04Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > I got tech support from a remote site; the pesky IE message no longer appears. I sincerely hope that you didn’t click on a popup link that you got in your browser. There are legitimate tech sites that can safely be allowed to take control of your computer, but I would be very wary of them. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-hack-alert/739331/10 "2015-12-06T18:15:07Z")
I didn’t. I contacted a technician chat - room style. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-hack-alert/739331/11 "2015-12-06T19:59:33Z")
Not sure which I’d be more scared to use, your PC, or [your car](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=775532). ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-hack-alert/739331/12 "2015-12-07T00:08:05Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > Not sure which I’d be more scared to use, your PC, or [your car](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=775532). Thanks for the encouragement, but all I’m concerned with is results. I call them as I see them. ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-hack-alert/739331/13 "2015-12-07T02:14:31Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Question: Which category in the Control Panel should govern the style of the cursor, arrows, and other such devices on the screen? This episode changed mine from the style I wanted. I’m not sure which version Windows you are running, but in 7 you can right click on a blank part of the screen and select “personalize.” You can change your pointer or the whole theme from here. Or Control Panel / Personalization. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-hack-alert/739331/14 "2015-12-07T02:35:43Z")
> [@Lare](#): > > I’m not sure which version Windows you are running, but in 7 you can right click on a blank part of the screen and select “personalize.” You can change your pointer or the whole theme from here. > > Or Control Panel / Personalization. Thanx 🙂 ( Windows 7) ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-hack-alert/739331/15 "2015-12-07T05:10:06Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Thanx 🙂 ( Windows 7) I succeeded, but I had to use some ingenuity and intuition. 🙂 Now I’m concentrating on trying to get back the _sounds_ that were personalized (Peanuts theme music and such that my brother had sent me), despite a recalcitrant computer.