Has your PC ever been infected?

[Firecat]

Hello everyone :)

I just wanted to ask if your PC has ever been infected with malware (Viruses, Adware, Spyware, Trojans etc.)?

I got AdWare from Download Accelerator Plus, one virus (Redlof) and repeated Trojan infections (which still occur!).

Firecat

Also does your PC have infection of laziness, irresponsiveness, or have the tendency to make you emotionally unstable? ;D

[Jimbob1989]

{QUOTE-> Hello everyone :)

I just wanted to ask if your PC has ever been infected with malware (Viruses, Adware, Spyware, Trojans etc.)?

I got AdWare from Download Accelerator Plus, one virus (Redlof) and repeated Trojan infections (which still occur!).

Firecat <-QUOTE}

I expect that infections are the reason for most members registering here.

Jimbob

[Firecat]

Not exactly my dear Jimbob.

It could also be that we have registered for advice on a good security program to AVOID infection i.e. we have not been infected yet but would like to be cautious anyway.

Firecat

[nadirah]

I've been infected before, but it all happened on my older computer. I'm now using a new computer which has been clean so far. 8)
I'm here on this forum to learn more on how I can prevent infections and to keep myself up-to-date on the latest security news.

[Firecat]

I think its sleep time for you nadirah. Am I right?

[bigbuck]

Maybe it's bed time for both you kids ;)

[INTOXSICKATED]

with my old computer, i had many problems. i had friends and roomates over all the time using my comp, so i had a few viruses. i think i had mcaffe av at the time, but it had expired and hadn't been updated in like 3 years. i didn't really care about viruses at all, i didn't even know i had any. it wasn't until one day i got a virus that totally crippled my system and i had to restore my comp that i started looking into security products.

now i have a new computer, i know who's on it and what they are doing. i use the programs below to keep my computer secure, along with the help found here at wilders, and various other websites around the web.

as for Adware and Spyware, i don't think there is a person in this forum that has never had both. i use to use kazaa quite frequently, and unbeknownst to me at the time, it was full of crap! my old compaq also came from the manufacturer with some malware items already on it. the first time i scanned my computer with ad-aware, i think i had over 100 different malware objects. i've never used any paid versions of a malware scanner, just ad-aware, spybot s&d, and spywareblaster for the past few years. so far, i think only once has something slipped by me.

so to answer you question, of course my computer has been infected by malware before. and just like jimbob said, that's why i'm here. ;)

[Firecat]

Darn..why do I have to make myself exceptional? I didn't come here for getting advice on AVs - I came here to see what else I can do for myself and others to have PCs safe!

[Rainwalker]

{QUOTE-> Hello everyone :)

I just wanted to ask if your PC has ever been infected with malware (Viruses, Adware, Spyware, Trojans etc.)?

I got AdWare from Download Accelerator Plus, one virus (Redlof) and repeated Trojan infections (which still occur!).

Firecat <-QUOTE}
Like we say in Alaska............"Does a bear poop in the woods?"...............or something like that :P

[Marja]

I don't know that answer, but, I thought they COULD swim naturally!?!?

Learn something new everyday!! ;D

[Firecat]

;D;D;D

Thats why I placed this thread in 10F...there's so much humour too!

[Jimbob1989]

{QUOTE-> Maybe it's bed time for both you kids ;) <-QUOTE}

Lol, that sounds patronising, but still funny. Anyway BigBuck, your getting towards 40 now, soon the kids will be telling you when its your bed time ;D

Jimbob

[beetlejuice]

Spyware seems to be the easiest thing to get now-a-days. Maybe you should try Shadowsurfer from Shadowstor (http://www.shadowstor.com/) It will cut down the instances of infection dramatically.

[Rainwalker]

{QUOTE-> I don't know that answer, but, I thought they COULD swim naturally!?!?

Learn something new everyday!! ;D <-QUOTE}
DARN IT MARJA !!! Now everyone will know the truth about our bears :-[

[gerardwil]

Until now not ever any infect...oops...sh....

[snowbound]

{QUOTE-> I expect that infections are the reason for most members registering here.

Jimbob <-QUOTE}
It was for me. ;)



snowbound

[Firecat]

{QUOTE-> Until now not ever any infect...oops...sh.... <-QUOTE}
;D;D;D;D

too bad!

[Eliot]

Yes, I had this thing called Norton AntiVirus which infected the pc so bad, only a format could fix it. Seriously, I did find 3 files infected with agobot the first scan I ran after I switched from NAV 2003.

[Firecat]

Y'know, I had a trojan called MultiDropper-JZ after I switched from NAV to McAfee

[wildman]

:'( The Wildman has had not just one but rather two computer crashes. Take it from me those are no fun. The first was caused by a virus software program I was using (came installed with the machine). The second was by a hijacked browser. I now use quiet a few of the various security programs mentioned here at Wilders, an have gained a vast amount of knowledge. I have been free from problems for a few years now, SpyWare Blaster has caught a few things however, so has A2 Squared.

Thanks
Wildman
8) :o

[Firecat]

No crashes for me ;D

[Jimbob1989]

{QUOTE-> Y'know, I had a trojan called MultiDropper-JZ after I switched from NAV to McAfee <-QUOTE}

Thats because Norton is ~Censored by Jimbob~ ;D

Jimbob

[HD rider UK]

Hi all
I came here for information and advice when i had a laptop which was totally FUBAR with every piece of scumware you could imagine. I looked, listened and managed to clean it up fairly well. After looking at other forums, i registered with two, Castlecops and this one and have continued climbing the learning curve. With the information gathered from here, i have managed to clean a few friends/family machines well enough at least get them working again, but am only too aware of how much there is still to learn.
5 weeks ago broadband was finally enabled in the sticks where I live, so to celebrate, I bought a new pc, AMD64, big memory, great board and fast as hell. Determined to keep this one clean of scumware, I put the knowledge i had into practice, got secured and tooled up the PC with Fully patched SP2, AVG, S&D with teatimer, ZA, MSAS Beta (great piece of kit), Spyware blaster and Guard, Winpatrol, Adaware SEand Ewido (currently trialing trojanhunter, but will probably buy Ewido at the end of the trial). 5 weeks on, NO Scumware. Couldnt have done it without you guys. Thanks.
The only downside to coming here, is that I have a new hobby, Internet security absolutely fascinates me, and i really want to learn all i can - because if you look around outside, there is so much false, misleading and downright WRONG advice proffered that the resource offered by Wilders and a few other forums is invaluable.

ttfn

Jock

[ShunterAlhena]

A heavy W32.Pinfi infection was the reason why I got antivirus and firewall protection in the first place ;D It ruined our entire school network, got it home burned onto a cd and when EXEs started not starting I installed a NAV.

Now the dark ages of Norton are behind me, the new era of NOD32 and my own stupidity shines! I wanted to test my other defenses, like firewall, Process Guard etc so I said "Close - YES I'm sure" when the poor thing showed that big red window...
...windows updating reinstall...

[Michael_aust]

The first ever infection got was the ripper virus back in the days when I was running good old windows 3.1. It came off one of those floppies you used to get with computer magazines, you know the ones that taught the basics ok computer there all called pc learn or easy pc etc. Anyway yeh so that was my first ever virus. I didnt have the internet or anything back then. I wasnt into computers then either. The second infection I got was from a keylogger. I really dont have aclue how that got on the computer. It was this infection that really got me interested in computer security.

Mivhael :)

[mercurie]

The main reason I joined this community is to learn more about security of pc machine and the networks we all are connected to in some fashion. Unless you pull the plug you are at risk and need to stay on top of things. Wilders was recommended in a PC magazine, Smart Computing I think, ages ago.

There are so many here who share my interests I love it here.

I lost power earlier tonight for a few hours and suffered a major lack of PC and Wilders withdrawal :( :'( ;D

Oh my...it was so dark..."Is there anybody out there," THE WALL (Pink Floyd) ;D ;D

Sorry I forgot to answer the question: Infected once but I destroyed the bug.

[Firecat]

Well Thanks mercurie

Have a great day :)

Regards,
Firecat

[Jimbob1989]

I've just had a thought. We can probably assume that the people with advanced security knowledge and tools such as members of Wilders have approximately the same number of viruses pass through their systems as the less knowledgable using amateur tools.

However, the people with advanced knowledge and tools will know they are there, where as the less knowledgable and security may not. And I have seen this happen; I have had people send me files across MSN Messenger and when they get to me, I have to point out that they contain a trojan or a virus. They have often had no knowledge of the files conent.

Jimbob

[Howard]

No, I have never been infected, not in a decade using various OS's - Win 3.x, Win 98, W2K, Win XP Pro, OS/2 Warp. And I subscribe to these forums to try and keep things that way: it is much harder work now to keep my machines clean than it was in the 90s and I would be fool not to listen to all the wise folk round here. Besides, these forums have a terrific social atmosphere, most folk wearing their knowledge lightly and that is not always the case in life or the internet.

[Firecat]

YES!!!!

I told you JB that not all people came here because they were infected.

Thank you Howard ;D

Regards,
Firecat

[Jimbob1989]

{QUOTE-> YES!!!!

I told you JB that not all people came here because they were infected.

Thank you Howard ;D

Regards,
Firecat <-QUOTE}

*looks back to make sure Jimbob did not say all people came here due to an infection*

{QUOTE-> I expect that infections are the reason for most members registering here.

Jimbob <-QUOTE}

*tuts at Firecat* Don't worry, many have failed to out smart me, not just you :P

Jimbob

[bigbuck]

{QUOTE-> *looks back to make sure Jimbob did not say all people came here due to an infection*



*tuts at Firecat* Don't worry, many have failed to out smart me, not just you :P

Jimbob <-QUOTE}If you don't say so yourself (http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showpost.php?p=366301&postcount=22) Jim!

[Jimbob1989]

{QUOTE-> If you don't say so yourself (http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showpost.php?p=366301&postcount=22) Jim! <-QUOTE}

I can't help it BigBuck, you guys just have to stop making it so easy for me ;D

Jimbob

[cluesenewbie]

{QUOTE-> YES!!!!

I told you JB that not all people came here because they were infected.

Thank you Howard ;D

Regards,
Firecat <-QUOTE}

Some people came here from other forums to help and educate too you know.

[Firecat]

Y'know,

If there are some 'smarts' THEN people can be outsmarted y'know ;D

You get it dont you Bigbuck ;)

[bigbuck]

{QUOTE-> I can't help it BigBuck, you guys just have to stop making it so easy for me ;D

Jimbob <-QUOTE}Oh!......OK Jim!......I'll send out some PM's telling the lads to 'stop making you look so smart'.....but remember, repeatedly shooting yourself in the foot is not particularly 'bright' ;D ;D .

[zcv]

Alright, I'll add to the chorus, never been infected, come here to keep abreast of tools and threats, and some of you guys are highly entertaing ;D

Regards - Charles

[Cochise]

Infection?.....Infection?......you don't know what infection is.....I've been to Korea and Egypt......having to get up in the middle of the night when the new batch of Camels are arriving so that you don't finish up with an ugly one....enough said......


Cochise, 8)

[Firecat]

{QUOTE-> Alright, I'll add to the chorus, never been infected, come here to keep abreast of tools and threats, and some of you guys are highly entertaing ;D

Regards - Charles <-QUOTE}
Woohoo!

Thanks!

[Firecat]

{QUOTE-> Infection?.....Infection?......you don't know what infection is.....I've been to Korea and Egypt......having to get up in the middle of the night when the new batch of Camels are arriving so that you don't finish up with an ugly one....enough said......


Cochise, 8) <-QUOTE}
LOL ;D

[jamesbrown]

This question appears to be popular and has come up every couple of months,sometimes as a poll.

Once, someone even recommended that we study the people who claimed to have never being infected and see if there was any common thread (in terms of software used).

This reminds me of the joke about the man who visits a tribe which has a strange custom where doctors mark crosses on the examining tables for every one of his patient who has died.

The first doctor, the man sees had 25 crosses, meaning that among all the patients he has treated 25 died . The next doctor, had 15 crosses. The last doctor had only 3!

I'm sure you know the punchline.....

[ShunterAlhena]

{QUOTE-> I'm sure you know the punchline..... <-QUOTE}

well... nope... care to share it with us?:)

[Firecat]

{QUOTE-> well... nope... care to share it with us?:) <-QUOTE}
Please? Explain it to poor kid after your finished with knowing it OK :)?

[jamesbrown]

{QUOTE-> well... nope... care to share it with us?:) <-QUOTE}

The man thinks to himself, "wow 3 crosses" that doctor must be good, only 3 of his patients have died and he decides to gets treated by the doctor, it's a no brainer right?

The doctor is very happy to see him and says " I can't believe how much business I'm getting and this is only the first day I've being practising medicine."

:)))