Virus awareness

mette · Post by **mette** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 1:27 pm

Hi all,

I received the below by email and I thought I'd pass it on. It's not a direct copy and paste - I have edited it a bit to keep the sender's identity confidential.

I have a brand new computer with new virus software, firewalls etc. and I really have concerns about peolpe posting password protected files.

When I tried getting some of these levels my computer went crazy - to the point that everything locked up so I had to completely shut it off, updated and ran all my protection software. I realize that the kids today are learning a great deal about computers but he just doesn't talk as if he knows what this is all about and I was afraid to post this message on the forum since I'm concerned about someone being able to get into a system and keep track of where, what, when etc. Call me paranoid but all my experience with computers I have never had an alert telling me that someone was stopped trying to hijack my computer.

My whole system locked up and things started happening with my system that just wasn't normal. I didn't know how to get this message to all without posting that there maybe a computer geak behind this getting into others systems. And if I am totally out of wack then I truly am sorry but I am concerned for all that are here really enjoying the game/chat and I don't want to see anything or anyone ruin this.

I know people are tracing IP addresses more and more and I just wondered if he has infected computers with either a virus and/or tracking devices. I truly am not a fruitcake, like I said earlier maybe just paranoid abit but if it doesn't sound so far fetched please forward this message so that others can be cautious.

I strongly suggest that everyone:
* keeps their protective software up to date (anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti ad-ware, firewall)
* runs regular scans of their entire computer with all "anti-programmes"
* scans files before they are uploaded (especially .zip's) to make sure that a virus is not unintentionally being uploaded as well
* scans files (especially .zip's) before opening them to make sure they are not infected

I am not looking to blame anyone by posting this. I'm only looking to warn you all that you have to be careful for the sake of everybody here. I would hate to see the forum destroyed because people got too affraid to download levels due to spreading virus attacks.

Let's face it: This is the internet and some weird psycho might think it's funny to see if he can destroy other people's computers and the fun of the forum.

So please don't take this the wrong way and most importantly: Please help everybody keeping their computers safe by making sure your own computer is not infected with anything.

Thanks for reading

Mette

popo · Post by **popo** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 3:52 pm

I too have a new computer which came with Norton Internet Security on it. I had Norton AnitVirus on my other one and used Windows firewall. As soon as I started doing things on my new pc the Firewall part of Norton Internet Security started popping up telling something was going on. I didn't understand it at first, but soon realised that it was telling me of the potential risk of things I was doing myself, and that I had to configure it so it knew when it was me doing things and when it was a virus or trojan horse or some other threat. I got so fed up with it popping up every few minutes at times, that I turned it off and went back to Windows firewall. The Norton one also wouldn't let Chris network through my pc, which he has to do to get on the internet. It can all be configured to work properly and it is good that it lets you know when something might be happening, but I just couldn't stand it.

Whoever it is that wrote the message might be having the same problems.

Gen · Post by **Gen** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:51 pm

The question is why are these people posting password protected files? The is no need to do this other than to make more work or for nefarious purposes. I will not be downloading any files that are password protected.

Lise Werner · Post by **Lise Werner** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 7:26 pm

I´m glad you passed this on, Mette - three days in a row I have been warned by my AVG antivirus program, saying I have a servere malware!! I have off course every day placed the infected file in the vault, and then deleted it

I just couldn´t figure out how I got the darned thing, but now I do!!! I should mention that the only website on the internet I have visited in the last 3 days, is this site.......

From now on I will not be downloading any files that are password protected

Lise

mette · Post by **mette** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 7:44 pm

Let me just clarify that after close inspection (by Bear and myself) nothing alarming has been found in the password protected files uploaded recently (by Lst_1 and Fan no.1).

I was just passing the email on to stress how important it is to take every precaution when dealing with the internet.

Mette

Lst_1 · Post by **Lst_1** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:10 pm

Mette, due to this and other reasons I already posted the file as open access and eliminated the protected one, and in the future I won't post anymore password locked files.

i'm glad you posted this so we all can be aware of that.

Lise Werner · Post by **Lise Werner** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:12 pm

Seems like I made a wrong conclusion, and for that I am truely sorry

If I have stepped on anyones toes here, I apologize

Lise

uneekrose · Post by **uneekrose** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:19 pm

My hubby works on computers. You wouldn't believe how many of them are filled with virus's because people don't know how to use their anti-virus programs or how to keep them up to date, some don't want to pay out the money for a virus program. We've found most of them have Norton and sometimes Norton doesn't play well with other programs, I personally don't like Norton's, I use system suite from v-comm it has both a firewall and virus scan, plus email scan and a lot more. A lot of people don't realize they have a virus or something wrong till someone tells them they found something in something that came from them. He's always having to fix his boss's home pc because of a virus cause she's just plain lazy.(but that's her) If I have something that looks suspicious I let the person I got it from know so they can get their pc looked at. Some people just don't realize it. That's one reason I always wait till Mette has the files ready and I download them all at once and run a complete scan. My virus scanner will automatically pop up if anything is suspicious.

mette · Post by **mette** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 2:13 pm

uneekrose wrote:That's one reason I always wait till Mette has the files ready and I download them all at once and run a complete scan. My virus scanner will automatically pop up if anything is suspicious.

I'm glad my site comes in handy

. If anything suspicious ever pops on on things coming from my site, I would appreciate it if you'll let me know (that goes for everybody of course

).

Mette