Security Software Update Question and Weird Computer Stuff
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Security Software Update Question and Weird Computer Stuff - 10/28/2009 12:28:24 AM
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MyCatSmokey2006
Posts: 3451
Joined: 11/10/2006
From: where God wants me to be
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I'm wondering what's going on with my computer tonight. While I was on another Christian site, a window popped up that said that there was a new update to my security software and that I had to restart my system to install it. It was the right trademark symbol and everything, so I thought that it was okay.
So I restarted my system and got back on the internet. When I opened the Firefox browser, lo and behold, my security software & Yahoo toolbars are missing! I've checked the Firefox settings and they don't show that either one was disabled, at least none that I could tell.
Also, I've been having some interesting things happening with this computer since I joined Facebook. Sometimes it takes a while for some programs, including my security software, to end. Is it possible that a Facebook application might be causing some of these the problem? I only picked applications that I thought were safe, like Farmville, YouSay (these I no longer use) Daily Bible Verse and iheart.
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RE: Security Software Update Question and Weird Compute... - 10/28/2009 12:50:15 AM
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LCannon
Posts: 1133
Joined: 2/22/2007
From: Lebanon, OR
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If you can't reload 'security software' I would do a 'System Restore' to the last 'good' configuration and ignore the upgrade.
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'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' (Joshua 1:5)
''Let the very worst thing come to pass[and]even there,
especially there; His hand will hold.' -Elisabeth Elliot-
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RE: Security Software Update Question and Weird Compute... - 10/28/2009 12:54:32 AM
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bigfrank
Posts: 76
Joined: 12/2/2005
From: Battle Ground, WA
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If I were to guess a percent chance that you have gotten a virus, I would give it maybe a 70% chance.
Never click on something unless you absolutely know its origins. If your software needs to be updated, do it by opening the software and updating it yourself. If your online bank requests information, go to their website and resolve the issue from there. You can never trust a link if you don't know where it came from.
As to the facebook thing, you may have unwittingly clicked on something malicious there too, but it seems like from what you said about it, you wouldn't do that. I kind of doubt that it would cause your computer to be slow though. Assuming that you're running windows, I might check through the processes that your computer is running and see if there are any malicious ones. If something is slowing everything down, you may be able to see it with a good old ctrl+alt+delete and checking your system processes. It lists processes and percentage of processing power that each one uses on a second by second basis. You can always look them up on the internet to see if they're legitimate or malicious as well. Your goal right now is to diagnose the problem.
Now for some things that you should post. What operating system are you running, and what security software do you have? Perhaps if you had any more information about the type of "update" popped up and any other things that are recent strange occurrences. I might also suggest running something like "spybot search and destroy". If you don't have it, just google it.
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A man should never let a salad beat him.
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RE: Security Software Update Question and Weird Compute... - 10/28/2009 9:05:40 AM
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neuronstatic
Posts: 1242
Joined: 7/14/2005
From: North Carolina!
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Actually, any pop up (in browser or not) that says my security software needs updating is suspect. Nearly all security programs have a prescribed order of things. Look for variances to this order, that is a key indication something is wrong. Usually, you get a notice down on the tool bar first, though some do differently.
I use Avast on my Windows boxes and I know how it typically lets me know it needs attention. When I see something vary from that pattern, I investigate.
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Click here for an example of God blessing a man with a second chance at marriage in a new wife.
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RE: Security Software Update Question and Weird Compute... - 10/28/2009 9:16:57 AM
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jhuperetes
Posts: 471
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Ouch..
More precisely you have a Trojan software package. That is, the "click to download update" authorized to install a stub of code, which ran at reboot. Then the stub reaches out to nasty places and downloads whatever payload they want. Welcome to being a "zombie".
I suggest you boot off of a clean CD or USB, or even slave the drive to an other machine to clean it. Otherwise you will be struggling for the rest of that machine's life to clean it...
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RE: Security Software Update Question and Weird Compute... - 11/9/2009 8:27:22 AM
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jhuperetes
Posts: 471
Status: offline
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Amazing blessing. In my personal experience, not once was the anti-virus software, as they silently update in my installations.
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