Just a friendly (or not so friendly) virus reminder....

Silverleaf · 12-23-08, 05:16 AM

Greetings,

This is a bit odd, but I thought I'd post the details of it to help fellow gamers avoid some critical problems with their system. I recently started getting pop-ups here at Subsim with Firefox 3.0.5, and when I'd run AVG 8.0 it would capture a couple freescan.htm files, place them in the Virus Vault and I'd reboot to finish the job.

I kept getting them.

So, phase two, install a spyware product - given that AVG's Free spyware software is no longer supported. I knew of a few good ones, but the best on the market is SuperAntiSpyware. Yes there may be "better ones" out there - but when you include free updates, auto scan AND removal, well it can't be beat - and it's totally free.

So, installed and bang, it found 5 items AVG Spware missed. Reboot, delete good to go right?

I kept getting them.

Sent an email to AVG and a couple other companies I deal with regarding my problem, even included a log file and all pertinent information. They gave me something to try, removed it, rebooted.

I kept getting them.

Searched online, no exact fix, no exact description fit my problem. On a whim, I started searching my older computers because I remembered something in the back of my cerebral cortex about Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer incompatibility issues. 7 hours later I was down to one last full manual scan of system files, going through anything that looked suspicious and if that didn't work, well...

12 hours later before I prepare for "How R.S. lost his sanity" - commonly known as "Reinstall Time"....

I come back online to check email, and in the midst of doing so I have a popup again. I just glance in the upper left hand corner before AVG captures it and asks me what I want to do with it when I see it. The rat fink that's been causing all sorts of problems for the last 4 days.

Internet Explorer itself.

I use firefox, have not, will not use I.E. on threat of death. So why is it firing pop-ups that nothing can stop?

I open I.E. and start checking options - under "Allowed Popups" I have a listing of 27 links. All 27 turn out to be viral in nature - and because I.E. was allowing them, they couldn't be stopped because AVG/etc. didn't have full access to do so.

I did not give them access!.

So after firing off a final report to a few services I:

ran AVG, rebooted
ran SuperAntiSpyware, rebooted
used my 2nd favoritie uber-utility RegSeeker, rebooted.
ScanDisk, rebooted
Reg Defrag, rebooted
Defrag, rebooted

Started up Firefox and ... and... no pop-ups !!!!.

The system is flying..and I'll make this bold as a plea/reminder to everyone. After I checked everything one last time:

I made a Backup System Restore point - so in case I have an issue in the future, I can pop back to this ultimate awesome point.

So after all that - if you experience the same thing, please check your old - still installed browser's pop-ups and security settings - don't allow any pop-ups, set security to max, turn off active X etc.

Windows Xp still uses I.E. for some services - therefore you need it even if you don't use it.

I'm not sure if Vista does this - if so Be Careful

Save yourself the same headache I just experienced.

Cheers and Merry Christmas...

XabbaRus · 12-23-08, 06:42 AM

Hmmm, some how I don't buy this.

If you exclusively use Firefox and not IE then you shouldn't have any links in IE

"
I open I.E. and start checking options - under "Allowed Popups" I have a listing of 27 links. All 27 turn out to be viral in nature - and because I.E. was allowing them, they couldn't be stopped because AVG/etc. didn't have full access to do so"

although Explorer is at the heart of the XP operating system if you don't use IE6 or 7 to access the web then how come you end up with the allowed popups list?

Digital_Trucker · 12-23-08, 03:13 PM

Probably because the virus has modified the IE settings to allow the bad links.

Silverleaf · 12-23-08, 03:47 PM

I still don't fully understand how it happened, but have sent reports to all Anti-Virus parties involved.

Quote:

Probably because the virus has modified the IE settings to allow the bad links.

That's what I'm thinking, though I don't have validation at this point.

Task Force · 12-23-08, 03:52 PM

Anyone know of a good virus scanner. I got a popup about a Trojan yesterday. (I hope it was blocked.)

Silverleaf · 12-23-08, 07:58 PM

AVG 8.0

http://www.avg.com/

12-23-08, 05:16 AM	#1
Silverleaf Wild Night in Bangkok Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 179 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Just a friendly (or not so friendly) virus reminder.... Greetings, This is a bit odd, but I thought I'd post the details of it to help fellow gamers avoid some critical problems with their system. I recently started getting pop-ups here at Subsim with Firefox 3.0.5, and when I'd run AVG 8.0 it would capture a couple freescan.htm files, place them in the Virus Vault and I'd reboot to finish the job. I kept getting them. So, phase two, install a spyware product - given that AVG's Free spyware software is no longer supported. I knew of a few good ones, but the best on the market is SuperAntiSpyware. Yes there may be "better ones" out there - but when you include free updates, auto scan AND removal, well it can't be beat - and it's totally free. So, installed and bang, it found 5 items AVG Spware missed. Reboot, delete good to go right? I kept getting them. Sent an email to AVG and a couple other companies I deal with regarding my problem, even included a log file and all pertinent information. They gave me something to try, removed it, rebooted. I kept getting them. Searched online, no exact fix, no exact description fit my problem. On a whim, I started searching my older computers because I remembered something in the back of my cerebral cortex about Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer incompatibility issues. 7 hours later I was down to one last full manual scan of system files, going through anything that looked suspicious and if that didn't work, well... 12 hours later before I prepare for "How R.S. lost his sanity" - commonly known as "Reinstall Time".... I come back online to check email, and in the midst of doing so I have a popup again. I just glance in the upper left hand corner before AVG captures it and asks me what I want to do with it when I see it. The rat fink that's been causing all sorts of problems for the last 4 days. Internet Explorer itself. I use firefox, have not, will not use I.E. on threat of death. So why is it firing pop-ups that nothing can stop? I open I.E. and start checking options - under "Allowed Popups" I have a listing of 27 links. All 27 turn out to be viral in nature - and because I.E. was allowing them, they couldn't be stopped because AVG/etc. didn't have full access to do so. I did not give them access!. So after firing off a final report to a few services I: ran AVG, rebooted ran SuperAntiSpyware, rebooted used my 2nd favoritie uber-utility RegSeeker, rebooted. ScanDisk, rebooted Reg Defrag, rebooted Defrag, rebooted Started up Firefox and ... and... no pop-ups !!!!. The system is flying..and I'll make this bold as a plea/reminder to everyone. After I checked everything one last time: I made a Backup System Restore point - so in case I have an issue in the future, I can pop back to this ultimate awesome point. So after all that - if you experience the same thing, please check your old - still installed browser's pop-ups and security settings - don't allow any pop-ups, set security to max, turn off active X etc. Windows Xp still uses I.E. for some services - therefore you need it even if you don't use it. I'm not sure if Vista does this - if so Be Careful Save yourself the same headache I just experienced. Cheers and Merry Christmas... __________________ Last edited by Silverleaf; 12-23-08 at 05:20 AM.

12-23-08, 06:42 AM	#2
XabbaRus Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 5,330 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Hmmm, some how I don't buy this. If you exclusively use Firefox and not IE then you shouldn't have any links in IE " I open I.E. and start checking options - under "Allowed Popups" I have a listing of 27 links. All 27 turn out to be viral in nature - and because I.E. was allowing them, they couldn't be stopped because AVG/etc. didn't have full access to do so" although Explorer is at the heart of the XP operating system if you don't use IE6 or 7 to access the web then how come you end up with the allowed popups list? __________________

12-23-08, 03:13 PM	#3
Digital_Trucker Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Peach State Posts: 4,171 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 10	Probably because the virus has modified the IE settings to allow the bad links. __________________ RSM-GIEP-Killflags-LV Tribute-Playable Elco __Peace be with you, Dave.

12-23-08, 03:52 PM	#5
Task Force Rear Admiral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SPACE!!!! Posts: 10,142 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Anyone know of a good virus scanner. I got a popup about a Trojan yesterday. (I hope it was blocked.) __________________ Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"

12-23-08, 07:58 PM	#6
Silverleaf Wild Night in Bangkok Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 179 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	AVG 8.0 http://www.avg.com/ __________________