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Virus and adware help

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 4:23 pm
by hellsharpt
While this may belong in the technical area I wanted to post this where it has a better chance of being seen.

Last night several guild members were joking about all the viruses they “probably” had because of pop-ups, warning messages, crashes, slowness, etc. I directed them to some simple and free tools to help them. I doubt it’s a problem affecting only them.

First off you need to know that there are basically 2 types of problems.

Adware – creates popups, redirects your browser and generally slows down your internet.
Viruses/Malware – these harm your PC by using worms, Trojans and other things that destroy files and steal information (like credit card #s passwords, etc). It can also hijack your PC and use it to send out email. They will also slow your machine down, but are a lot worse than adware.

First you need to know where you get it.
1. Porn, most of these sites at best have adware that will install on your machine, at worst a virus.
2. File sharing (music, videos, etc.) sites. Anything you download (or run) could be infected.
3. email attachments.

What to do.
Get a virus scanning program. There are free ones out there, I’m sure people will add their favorite. I like Norton, but there are free ones on http://www.cnet.com in the downloads section. You are better off getting a decent one. Make sure you update the virus definitions regularly and scan weekly. Cracked programs typically won’t give you updated definitions, and if disreputable may actually contain viruses.

Use a firewall or router. Firewall programs can be purchased or downloaded for free, a router is just as useful.

Download spyware removal program(s). I use AdAware SE 1.6 and Spybot Search and Destroy (1.04?) both free on cNet.com. I use multiple programs because they look for different things. Once again update your definitions regularly and scan weekly.

Most people typically find dozens to thousands of spyware on their machine the first time they run it. If you see something and you are unsure if it is bad Google it to determine if it is.

Using these programs will help your machine run faster and live longer, not to mention keep your personal information safe. These programs are resource hogs when running, so it’s advisable to not be gaming while running them unless you like lag.

For persistent problems there are lots of sites out there that will help you to clean your registry for free, use a Google search to find one or use one that people may post below.

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 4:27 pm
by pherball
good uhh... reference.. sticky mebeh? :)

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 6:01 pm
by Skitsefrenik
norton corp. adition is best virus scanner out there(yes it has norton in front). it scans and updates without all the new norton space hoging stuff.

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 10:52 pm
by mixmax2
This can really prove to be useful to some of our members.

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:05 pm
by dcswouters
Skitsefrenik wrote:norton corp. adition is best virus scanner out there(yes it has norton in front). it scans and updates without all the new norton space hoging stuff.

I agree norton is good but, it's certainly not the best.
Some people will agree with me that Norton can be very frustrating.
Everytime you open a document (even if you made it yourself) or anything else like that, will be scanned.
I admit that's very safe, but sometimes, frustrating.
Anyway, i'm not posting to critize Norton or something.
I want to thank the admin for making a sticky of this topic, because it's important altough I don't have any idea what it has to do with SRO. :?

P.S: Skitsefrenik; you need to learn to write.

Greets,
Dcswouters

Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 9:14 pm
by starwind3437
Skitsefrenik wrote:norton corp. adition is best virus scanner out there(yes it has norton in front). it scans and updates without all the new norton space hoging stuff.


Come on man, norton sucks. No question about it. spybot search and destroy is much better and its free.

Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 9:15 pm
by Chaud
Norton = look what I found...too bad I can't do a think about it. That and bloatware.

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 12:42 pm
by nansif2
Here a list of some products that i recommend to keep your computer safe and fast:

The best anti-spyware: Spy Sweeper
Official Url: http://www.webroot.com/
:?: --> http://anti-spyware-review.toptenreviews.com/

The best anti-virus[my opinion]: Kaspersky
Official Url: http://www.kaspersky.com/af/globalstore
:?: --> http://anti-virus-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

:arrow: Good free anti-spyware: Ad-Aware
Official Url: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php

:arrow: Another good free anti-spyware: Spybot
Official Url: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

:arrow: Good free anti-virus: AVG
Official Url: http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

The best system repair tools [my opinion]: System Mechanic
Official Url: http://www.iolo.com/sm/
:?: --> http://pc-system-utilities-software-review.toptenreviews.com/



I hope this list can help someone... This products are all tested by me :) Also keep your windows updated and working with firewall enabled...

All programs tested can be founded here:

http://www.toptenreviews.com/

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:13 pm
by PR0METHEUS
dcswouters wrote:I want to thank the admin for making a sticky of this topic, because it's important altough I don't have any idea what it has to do with SRO. :?


Well, anything that has a connection to your computer presents a possibility to transmit malicious data to it. When you connect your computer to SRO (or any service) a port on your computer is open. This port can be used to transmit data. I guess this doesn't have anything to do with SRO directly, but someone could write a worm or something that uses the ports that Silkroad uses and exploits some bug in the client to send you malicious code.

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:34 pm
by Tatianasaphira
There are some very good antivirus programs as well

Avast
http://www.avast.com/

Trendmicro
http://www.housecall.trendmicro.com/

Panda
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/

Sophos
http://www.sophos.com/

Nod32
http://www.eset.com/

For Spyware, I recommend -

AdAwareSE
http://www.download.com/Adware-Spyware-Removal/3150-8022_4-0.html

Also if you use Trendmicro, it will also look for spyware and remove that as well.

Hope that helps. All of those above I have tried and loved.

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 12:33 pm
by oktaytheazer
hm.. i got norton and i fink its gd and probs its de type of de virus dat needs a 1 or another type of antivirus i bet dat dere isnt a perfect antivirus softeware in de world but still norton from symantec or sommy is ranked high so..

edite; lmao this thread is old o.O

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 2:58 pm
by PR0METHEUS
oktaytheazer wrote:hm.. i got norton and i fink its gd and probs its de type of de virus dat needs a 1 or another type of antivirus i bet dat dere isnt a perfect antivirus softeware in de world but still norton from symantec or sommy is ranked high so..


What? Can someone translate this to English please?

Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 11:12 am
by nansif2
PR0METHEUS wrote:
oktaytheazer wrote:hm.. i got norton and i fink its gd and probs its de type of de virus dat needs a 1 or another type of antivirus i bet dat dere isnt a perfect antivirus softeware in de world but still norton from symantec or sommy is ranked high so..


What? Can someone translate this to English please?


lolllll some translations:

fink = think
gd = good(?)
probs = probably(?)
de = the
softeware = software
dat = that
sommy = some

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:26 pm
by Amaya
pherball wrote:good uhh... reference.. sticky mebeh? :)

Very good reference material!
p.s., love your av! I'm owned by 6 ferrets :love: :D

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 11:57 am
by M4l3x
The BEST Anti-Virus:

NOD32 :love:

"ESET NOD32 Offers Continuous, Unobtrusive Protection to Reverse Trend of Gamers Disabling Antivirus Protection"

Article:

Code: Select all

http://www.eset.com/company/article.php?contentID=1860


Firewalls are more complicated, stay away from ZA (ZoneAlarm), any Kaspersky products, Symantec, and Mcafee if you want to keep your insanity :banghead:

If you want Comparison/Analysis of Competition, here you go:

Code: Select all

http://www.eset.com/products/compare-NOD32-vs-competition.php


and

Code: Select all

http://www.eset.com/products/compare.php


:!: The one thing I cannot stress enough: only have your Firewall/AV running in the background. Instant Messengers are ok for people with 1GB+ RAM.

Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:51 pm
by Musaboru
Is there something you guys reccomend to check for keyloggers? Thanks.

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:54 am
by PR0METHEUS
Musaboru wrote:Is there something you guys reccomend to check for keyloggers? Thanks.


As I was updating Spybot Search & Destroy today, I noticed one of the updates was for keyloggers. I haven't tried infecting my system with a keylogger to see if it catches the infection though. I'm sure it would work fine.

Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 3:44 am
by ddcc
Ccleaner (ccleaner.com), pretty good registry cleaning/file cleaning utility. Lightweight, portable, secure shred function, multiple language, need I go on?

Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 4:11 pm
by borat2
not sure if a packed file is clean or not?

check at
http://www.virustotal.com

Re: Virus and adware help

Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 4:52 pm
by PR0METHEUS
hellsharpt wrote:Use a firewall or router. Firewall programs can be purchased or downloaded for free, a router is just as useful.


I assume by firewall you mean a software firewall like Zone Alarm or Windows Firewall or Norton Internet Security. There are also hardware firewalls, or a computer with Linux installed on it can be set up as a firewall.

Either way, a firewall and router are two different things. A router's job is to just determine where various Internet traffic is supposed to go, and it sends it on it's way. Some routers (like the ones you can get from Linksys or DLink) also have a firewall built into them, but not all.

I just thought I'd make that distinction so people don't go out and buy just any router and think they also have a firewall. From what I've seen, most routers out there do have a firewall in them, but not all of them do.

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 12:11 pm
by Echobrain27
Ad Aware and karspersky internet security perfect pair !!! :D
and BTW who dont recommend karspersky then get a better pc :!:

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 6:06 pm
by austinwolfclaw
AVG Anti-Spyware found a KEYLOGGER in silkroad.exe .
I first discovered this on my laptop, and now i'm running Ad-Aware 2007 on my PC to see if there is a Keylogger in Silkroad.exe there. :P

I think you should all check your silkroad.exe 's for keyloggers...

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 6:25 pm
by hootsh
Yea i read something about this before its most probably because that the program have a line or command thats similar to a key logger command which confuses the anti-virus, other anti-virus programs found nothing in it anyways.

(to be honest i dont know much about programming, someone else may explain to you better than me, although the case is pretty simple)


And i totally agree with mal3x NOD32 is the best!