I’ve checked at Microsoft.com and the following seems bogus. Can someone help me confirm? When I get online, I do not get my homepage. Instead, I am taken
to securitynetpage.net Over this, a message pops up which says:
W32.Myzor.FK@yf is a virus that infects files with .exe extensions. It attemps to steal passwords and private information from the infected computers.
Type: Virus
Infection Length: 138,293 bytes
Systems affected: Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, (all versions) 2003, Windows XP (all service packs)
Systems not affected: DOS, EPOC, Linux, Macintosh, Novel Network, OS/2, Unix
Technical details: 1. Creates files in %Windr%\directory. By default, this is C:\Windows. 2. Adds values to register keys: HKEY_LOCAL_MNACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Run.
3. Scans the hard drive for .exe files and infects any executable files.
Searches for passwords/information, which it may send to a remote attacker.
Recommendations: Click “OK” to download officially approved security software. Always keep your patch levels up-to-date.
So, what is this? Also, there is an extra toolbar called the “Protection Bar”. What is going on here?
Spyware issues like that pretty common and that thread explains the situation pretty well, including some preliminary fixes that you could try.
It’s hard to avoid spyware. You have to have a good antivirus program, a good spyware program, a good firewall, a good browser and, most importantly, practice good security habits. It’s a real PITA, unfortunately.
McAfee most likely failed because there’s just billions of them out there and McAfee doesn’t protect against every single one and every potential infection scenario.
None of them do. Alot of the virus and spyware stuff is akin to wearing a motorcycle helmet, it repels the little stuff but a hard hit from the right angle will still kill you even without breaking the helmet.
You are infected with a variant of the Smitfraud.C malware. Download HijackThis, run a scan and save a log of the results. Post the log in a new thread on the SpywareInfo Malware Removal Forum. They have a handle on this pest, and can guide you in its removal.
I still don’t get why I am paying for protection by MacAfee when Spybot is free and readily spotted and fixed the problem? You mean the people at MacAfee can’t even begin to help their customers by offering protection about the WELL KNOWN culprits?
When I say well known, it is inherently obvious as I followed the many links posted here. Obviously, my problem IS well known…along with a list of well known aliases for this. So, what am I paying MacAfee for?
This is in strong rebuttal to the above claim that there are too many Spyware invaders for MacAfee to catch. Yet, a free software can do this in 20 minutes?
I don’t get it… :mad:
Virus protection. Spyware is tracked by different programs, unfortunately. I’d love to see the distinction blurred and only use one program as protection from all malware, but for now, you have to be aware of the difference.
When I uninstalled MacAfee last fall, it rendered my computer unusable (despite telling it not to uninstall shared files) and I had to rewrite my hard drive. I’m far from alone with this complaint. Make of that what you will.
Yes, MacAfee leaves a lot to be desired. Even their customer service is poor, in my opinion. Only online chat is free help. But, when I really need their help the most, I can’t access chat!
Sometimes, I get the impression they must hire just anyone off the street who can spell “PC”. :dubious: Much the truth is spoken in jest.
What ultrafilter said. Mcafee and Symantec(Norton) are antivirus apps. Spybot, Spysweeper, Adaware, etc… are antispyware/malware/adware apps.
Folks, unfortunately, have a tendency to conflate the two application types, considering ‘a virus’ as anything that’s afflicted and degraded the performance of their computer in any way. A natural inclination would therefore be to wonder why their antivirus program didn’t protect their browser from being hijacked.
I actually prefer Hijackthis for broswer issues, but its use may be a little too technical for the average user.
No, I don’t think he is. The popup dialog he refers to is generated by the site itself, regardless of what your machine may or may not be infected with. They’re just trying to scare you into buying their “security products”, whatever those might be.
Now, I wouldn’t trust a site that would stoop to such tactics to sell software NOT to try to actually infect you with something, so if your computer is less than secure, you might want to do a full virus and spyware sweep. But, you’re probably fine.
A question in relation to this: can one be infected by going to the Google cache of a site to check it out? (I know that curiosity killed the cat so I’ve never done it, but I’ve often wondered about it.)
They’re weaselly with the wording, too. They don’t actually say that you are infected. They just say, “Warning, there exists a virus that does all these bad things”.
