Issues with Malware

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cuffs054

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Resently moved confuser from one room to another. When I booted it back up I had no Malware icon in tray. Went to start it from program and got "MALWARE HAS ENCOUNTED A PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO CLOSE" message. I tried everything I know to do with no luck. I tried emailing Malware but got a message back that they are recieving large amount of mail, please be patient. Sadly, I'm not good at that. Anybody else having a problem?
 
I'd reboot the system and then reinstall Malwarebytes and run it to see what you get. It sounds like it got corrupted along the way. Do you have an Anti-Virus program on your computer? Which one and is it current?
 
Whirlcool, my last attempt included uninstalling MWB and then reinstalling. Same problem. There is a virus blocker in windows is that what you meant? Since I'm already past my level of know-how, would it be OK to turn it off and then try Malware? Thanks for your ideas!
 
Which operating system are you running?

I'm currently managing about 10 PC's between work and home and for a couple select friends. All are Win 7 and I just run Microsoft Security Essentials on them all. I don't run any other form of active malware prevention.

In my opinion I think the anti-malware software may be as much work and system drain as having to deal with removing a rogue BHO every once and again.

It seems that once I purged XP and started using just MSE all the infections and junk just stopped happing. Of course practicing safe computing is still important no matter which precautions you take.
 
Microsoft Security Essentials

Alone is not sufficient to prevent malware infestations.

We had that program pulse another (Avast) and our computer was routinely attacked. Finally installed two paid programs, Webroot and Malwarebyes and things have been much better.

The malware was so powerful and deeply in bedded in our system it not only slipped past Avast and MSE, but repeated attempts to remove it failed (it would reload itself at booting up), and it disabled and prevented installation of most antivirus programs.

It took hour and hours of installing proper programs and cleaning the system to get shot of the thing.

Malware is everywhere today. You can click on an innocent link to say pictures of detergents and find something nasty. Google used to warn that certain links could harm one's computer but no longer.

At work of course with boys being boys most companies have banned web browsing and or forbidden employees to surf. This is because eventually some male will go to a porn or even pictures site and before you know it click on something and ......
 
While legions and legions of expert computer users swear by the "freebee" anti virus programs I find that the protect they offer is minimal at best. You simply get what you pay for.

And the same thing that goes for virus protection that is offered by your ISP. I have heard "Oh, I don't need any virus protection, my ISP has it". I have found more viruses on those systems than on systems with no protection at all. If you have a computer you need a anti-virus/malware protection product and know how to use it.

I can't tell you how many times I have seen people purchase something like Norton or McAfee or Kasperski install it and then just let it sit there. They never update the virus files or the program files and never use it to scan the computer.
You might as well have nothing on your system.

And let's not forget "Oh, I have a McIntosh and nobody writes viruses for McIntosh". Oh yeah? I'm glad you are putting your money and your data where your mouth is.

The only true way to keep your system free of bugs is to have an adequate anti-virus and malware program on your system and know how to use it along with safe computing practices.
 
I personally prefer the free stuff, since it offers a similar level of protection to the "One Size Fits all" mentality of those AV companies. And the free stuff usually isn't as bloating as McLaughee, Norton and so on.

Launderess, you are right in saying one needs more protection than MSE. MSE is now the worst performing security option available today, and is really only highly basic protection from stuff.
Software such as Malwarebytes and even a good registry cleaner like "HijackThis" are good choices.
 
Read Somewhere That Free AntiViral Programs Like Avast

Are the first thing in mind script kiddies write code to exploit/get around when designing their nasty bits of work. Like Microsoft Windows OS many computers run Avast and others free anti-virus programs because they are just that. So if you want to harm a computer first you go after Windows (which sadly is still easy) then assume Avast or whatever free software is supposedly guarding the chicken house.
 
The only issue I'd take with that logic is that most free anti-virus software will have an option to "upgrade" to paid-for solutions...

So that would leave people that pay for a subscription out in the cold too!

The easiest way to NOT get infected is to keep your computer updated (Windows, AV etc), make sure you are using a Modem/Router with a firewall solution, as well as NAT (Network Address Translation***), practice safe browsing habits, and employ Advertisement Blockers.
Why Ad blockers? Well, on SOME websites I've come across (even very popular, innocent ones), the site owners either don't pay attention to what is advertised, or they use they allow pop-up/under ads. Some of those advertisements are quite malicious and WILL infect your computer, and I have had to cease browsing those sites, as contacting the site owners about their ads (which they ask you to do) has yielded no result.

*** Apparently this technology will be redundant with the oncoming of IPv6 addressing standards - which means that your router won't get the IP address - each of your computers will get a PUBLIC IP address. They claim this is "secure," yeah, the U.S. government (and countless others) are supposed to be "secure," but resourceful fellows managed to break into that, too!
This is very unfortunate, and will only facilitate further malicious attacks. So I'm quite happy to keep IPv4 for now, thank-you very much!
 
Not a bit of it.

Problem is no end of "free" antivirus software users do not bother with paid upgrades, but rather continue with the free version and whatever updates that are allowed. Most simply feel one presumes if the thing is supposed to be "free" then paying for upgrades defeats it's own purpose.

Yes, many links and adverts even on "innocent" pages have been compromised and owners fail to know. That or the site is pretty much abandoned and or only updated rarely. Either way unless someone is paying attention *daily* who knows what to look for and how to deal with it there is going to be damage.
 
MS essentials seems to work well for the people I know, but they do not venture (as far as i know...) out into the risky porn territory.  If you stay away from those venues you will be much safer.  I too use ad blockers and suggest them to all also.

 

Me, I abandoned Windows and am not looking back.  Linux is pretty safe for the moment and i feel no need for AV on my linux systems.  I do have one system running windows since some applications are not amenable to Linux, and I don’t like running virtual boxes - it only has MS Essentials on it.
 
A lot of people still think that the major anti virus programs are bloatware and have a "one size fits all" mentality. That could not be further from the truth. When you install such a program it configures itself to the hardware and OS of your computer system, in other words it's customized for your particular needs. Hardly a one size fits all solution.

I use Norton because every couple of years it is rewritten so that it stays fast it now takes considerably less resources than it did just a few years ago. It hasn't failed me yet. But anything is better than nothing.

And yes, there are still people out there who think "now that I have my computer, I don't need to spend any more money on it." Ha! When you buy a computer the spending has only just begun!

A lot of Malware comes from those programs that are downloaded "behind the scenes". You may be downloading some free software that you want but while it downloads it's also downloading several other pieces of malware software too. You don't know it until it bites you in the butt. Freeware software is notorious for this. So be careful.
 
The trouble with paying for a subscription to one anti-virus corporation that then gives you Firewall, AV, Spyware and Malware protection is that they cannot possibly catch everything. It is false assurance.

Avast at least claims they offer the same program and update structure - the only difference is what features are available to the end-user. (I've found the free version to be quite comprehensive, however). 

 

You really need to "spread the eggs between baskets" for the ultimate security, and that is best practice - remember since the baddies are always a step ahead, the anti-virus corps may not share their secrets - resulting in coverage gaps. 

 

This PC World article illustrates the differences between the best free anti-virus (Avast) and the best paid (Norton). I still wouldn't purchase software; there really is too little difference, and I never stray onto the "bad side" of the net, and run at least weekly scans across all my machines (ClamWin is also employed, despite its miserable abilities. But who knows, maybe it will shine where others don't....). Google Chrome has saved my bacon a couple of times, as has Firefox/Pale-Moon several times. 

http://www.pcworld.com/article/210589/free_versus_fee_free_and_paid_antivirus_programs_compared.html
 

These two articles suggest that MSE is now practically worthless as a singular defense - where before it was one of the best free solutions available. 

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/software/1303828/microsoft-security-essentials/page/0/1
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/securit...rity-essentials-flunks-another-antivirus-test
Judging on how poorly it did, even the "free" Avast solution mentioned in the PC World article is leaps and bounds ahead. So with Microsoft, you really do get what you don't pay for.... 

 

As for the malicious advertising, 'airliners.net' is a regularly updated and maintained website. The founder of the site was always sure to respond to information about malicious advertisements - however he was bought out years ago. The last 3-4 months the advertising has gone downhill somewhat - And I very nearly had an infected system (Where thorough scanning with Windows Defender*, Malwarebytes and Avast showed no infection). 

 

*I understand that software might actually be practically useless now too - but its another weapon in the arsenal, so make of it what you will. 

 
 
 
I quit using Norton years ago.  Used free AVG, then switched to Avast. Have Malwarebytes installed and SpyBot but don't run scans very often.  I've had only two personal virus situations, both YEARS ago (before I dropped Norton).  One was an infected installation diskette for AOL or CompuServe or some such that I had reused for file storage.  The other was when I blindly/stupidly clicked on a popup advising to install a video codec.

Is there a significant difference between the free and paid version of Avast, for example?  I've never paid a subscription, but seems to me the scanning engine and definition set would be the same.  The free version has a registration screen to enter a paid-version license key.  Does that trigger it to download/install a completely different software package?  The free version does include a bunch of optional components (listed for UNselection if a Custom install is done) that apparently are not active in the free version but they're all utilities of various ilk, don't seem to be part of the actual AV protection.[this post was last edited: 9/21/2014-06:33]
 
Allen,

I, too, run Norton. I have mine configured to automatically update and run scans in the wee hours so that I can truly leave it be. Plus, I get it free or because I get it as a "free with rebate" add-on when I buy our tax software. And this past year, I used my ink recycling rewards to buy it so not only did I not have to put out the initial $$ for it, I got that back in cash!

Chuck
 
Last time one looked

Avast comes bundled with Google Chrome browser. Not sure if one can elect not to install or must go ahead then uninstall.

Other than that as one stated previously since were hit at least twice with nasty malware and was using Avast, that was that. If it let things through repeatedly it just wasn't obviously up to the task.
 
Chrome/Avast

You can elect to not install this as part of the installation. I am always VERY careful nowadays when installing software to read what might be bundled, as I have caught malware from software I needed being provided on CNET!

Like many malware problems, the best way to remove what you get infected with is a scan in safe mode, being sure to use the "msconfig" applet on your computer to stop objects that are starting with Windows from doing so and reinfecting the computer after you complete your hard work!

As I've highlighted already, it is best to keep a variety of anti-malware solutions operational on your machine, allowing all to operate frequently - could this have prevented your problem? Maybe.
 
Avast & Chrome

 
I don't recall seeing Chrome included with Avast but maybe that's a more recent association than my last install of it.  In any case, a trick to avoiding unwanted tag-alongs is do a custom install and UNcheck what's not wanted ... and/or pay attention to the prompts during the process.

Chrome is not on any of my computers ... well, except the projector management desktop at work, which wasn't my doing.  The management software is browser-based and has a bug related to IE11 so the installation guy switched it to run on Chrome.  I imagine Firefox would also work but I haven't had the impetus to try it.
 
It's been my experience that while you are still downloading the software you really want the malware is installing itself on your computer. Malware does not announce that it is installing on your computer. It does so silently.

The best defense against it is to frequently check the list of installed programs using the Installed Programs List in the Install/Uninstall icon in the Control Panel. Then check the list of add ons that are in the browser you are using. You'll usually find it in one of those places.
 
 
Again, interesting.  I've downloaded various freeware/shareware software installers that I did not install (although I've kept the source material) when searching for a given kind of program.  None of them have ever been tagged as malware during a Malwarebytes or SpyBot scan. One item downloaded three years ago was tagged during a recent Avast scan but that may be a false-positive in the latest definition set being as it hadn't been tagged previously.  I deleted the file anyway since I hadn't used it.
 
I'm not sure whether what I got was really malware, but it was certainly a "PuP," as they call them. It seemed to have a "infection-like" tendency about it too - so I uninstalled it and got Malwarebytes/Avast to do the rest.

There was no issue following.
 
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