Trojan viruses on this site

Try Avast! free anti-virus. I run it along side my paid AVG program (there is also a free version). I finally got rid of the Norton program that came with my new computer because it slowed down the start up and I was getting a lot of false-positives. Norton and McAfee are good programs, but they do affect the speed of your computer. If you already have them, then stick with them. If you don't have Norton or McAfee, then definitely put Avast! on and try AVG. My computer doubled its page loading speed and I've never been hit with an actual virus since I've changed over. You'll see Avast or AVG catch some malware and fix some privacy issues, but those are mostly due to cookies having been set without your permission.

JV

Use Kaspersky anti virus.....It works great!!  I've had no problems with any of my computers since installing.  I haven't been alerted to anything on this site, but it may be from the ads as someone mentioned.

@ TD, Do you have any suggestions as an IT professional about what actions to take against malware.  Last week, my computer was infected by "XP Home Security 2012" while visiting JWN.  It seemed like "XP Home Security 2012" closed on IE windows and displayed a window stating that it was scanning files and finding viruses.  Unfortunately, I clicked on the window to stop scanning, and probably caused my computer to become infected.  I spent ~ $100 to get professional help to remove the infection(s).  From that experience I learned the following:

1. If you suspect that a window is maleware, close the window by using the task manager or right-clicking on the windows icon in the Windows toolbar.
2. Down load a copy of malwarebytes from http://www.malwarebytes.org/.
3. Restart your computer in safe mode with networking by repeatedly depressing F8 while the computer is rebooting.
4. Select the administrator profile to launch windows so that you can run malwarebytes to perform a full scan.
5. Select remove all the offending malware.
6. Reboot your computer.
7. It would not hurt to periodically run malwarebytes in safe mode every few days.

I use Iolo's System Mechanic Pro.  I am now considering switching to another anti-Virus provider, because System Mechanic Pro did not help prevent the infection and did not detect other infections which malwarebytes did detect and remove.

Is there anyway to sue Google Ads and other internet advertizing from not policing ads that they push on internet users?

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

Robert,

Do you have any suggestions as an IT professional about what actions to take against malware.  Last week, my computer was infected by "XP Home Security 2012"

Step #1 on your list is the best advice possible.

If you do get infected, boot the computer into Safe Mode (Step 3 on your list)   Perform a System Restore to a point before the malware was installed.  Most of the time this all it takes to unregister the malware so that it doesn't run on startup.

Once a great while, System Restore is disabled even in Safe Mode either in the Group Policy Editor or with a Registry Key.  If that happens, you might still need professional help.

Some of the tricks professionals use are really not that hard, but aren't usually feasible in a one-computer environment.

Is there anyway to sue Google Ads and other internet advertizing from not policing ads that they push on internet users?

I think an attorney would have to answer that question. The site owners and by extension, Google are victims themselves here because the sites have been hacked by the purveyors of the malware.

Yes   I believe I got got a Trojan from a link on this site about a week ago and it disable my AVG antivirus and now that computer is in the shop

Avast and AVG are both good. Using a good browser is also recommended - that means don't use IE ! (Chrome is my favorite).

I haven't had any popups or warning so if it *is* something in an ad it isn't one being served to me (or the region we're in).

If someone does identify something for sure then please let me know.

Everything TD said, and also keep your software updated (ALL of it!). Malicious software keeps spreading long after Microsoft, Apple, Google, etc. release updates to block the attacks. Running out of date software--especially versions that are no longer supported--is begging for trouble.

@ TD, Although I do agree with you that site owners and Ad distributors (i.e., Google) are also victums, I still feel that Ad distributors are still culpable if they do not bother to scan ads that they distribute.  I know that Yahoo scans email attachments in Yahoo mail.  I'm sure that Yahoo does not scan those email attachments for philanthropic motives.

Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

Robert

Here's a link to free cleaner that the hubby recommended to me:

http://download.cnet.com/3001-2086_4-10407614.html?spi=0d17576aa30e0e293749e9a377cf3095

I had a problem about a week ago when I tried to log on this site all I got was a lot of gibberish come up

I just tried different approaches and finally got reconnected.I had a similar problem a few days ago though not as bad  as the first time

I`m not computer savvy either

smiddy

I strongly support Simon's suggestion about using Chrome rather than IE.

Notice how many blank postings we've got lately? Mostly from IE9 users. The older the version of IE you have, the more problems you are likely to encounter.

I use Chrome almost exclusively and Firefox as a backup. When I build a new website I always check the layout in Chrome, Firefox, and then IE 9,8,7, 6. Version 6 is so buggy that no one should use that anymore - especially since Firefox and Chrome are so much better and totally free.

I've also used Opera and Apple's Safari. Neither one measure up to Chrome or Firefox unless you are a heavy user of Mac and Safari is the default. Even on Apple machines I'd still suggest loading Chrome or Firefox.

JV

Install either Google chrome or Firefox and then install these add ons in to which ever you choose add ons: Adblock+,Flashblock, WOT (web of trust) As regards antivirus I'd reccomend Avira, but aslong as you have a decent av and keep it updated it's a start. I's also reccomend installing the free version of malwarebytes here > http://www.malwarebytes.org/  Once installed update it and run a full scan, repeat that every two weeks. Also download the free version of spywareblaster here > http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html/ install it, update it and then click 'enable all protection' All spyware blaster does is add lots of addware/spyware compaines into your browsers restricted list, a simple programme that helps alot. If you want a couple of extra small but very able peices of protection change your dns to norton dns go here and theres step by step instructions >  https://dns.norton.com/dnsweb/homePage.do  And finally lol add a secure host file go here> http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm  Ang again there's full step by step instructions.

I know that all seems alot but it'll take 20 minuets max and it'll prevent future issues. 

Chris.

Infections like XP Home Security 2012 are an absolute pain to get rid of. You need to stop them running before you try and remove them as they have a built-in resistance to anti-virus software, but often they prevent this even if you go into task manager and try to stop their processes manually.  I can recommend a tool called RKill, available from http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/grinler/rkill.com.

Download it, possibly via another computer if necessary and run it until all malware activity stops. Then flush out your system with a full scan from Malwarebytes Anti-malware. It's worth keeping a copy of safe somewhere, e.g. on a usb flash drive just in case of emergencies.

I've spent a little time on this and tried everything I could possibly think of, including using a honeypot.  I have to agree with Simon here:

I haven't had any popups or warning so if it *is* something in an ad it isn't one being served to me (or the region we're in).

I'm not certain of the origin of the worm and trojan problem that hit me a few days before Christmas, but I was on JWN and some box came up re: java script slowing down my pc. Then the supposed Microsoft warning and demand for money. I cannot reconnect to the internet, hence no e-mail, no websites.

On a friend's pc now.

CC

cc- That's why we've missed you, its a bummer.  besunny, I had the same thing happen and had to have all the files removed and the hard drive cleaned, it was nearly DOA. I got the whole Jimmi Hendrix experience on my computer screen.

Glad some of you are doing better and computer savvy.   Had the Google Chrome installed and that's helped on the office computer.

Thanks, designs, for the heads up! I'm sorry for the hit you've taken.

It seems that even with both the new and sophisticated pcs and protection systems, some miscreant finds a way to infiltrate our communications. This time, while irritated, I didn't let it get to me. I simply closed up "shop" and decided to enjoy my friends and the holidays. The other but far less trouble-prone forms of communication still do work!   

All the best,

CoCo