Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

ADMINISTRATION & HELP => COMPUTER TECH HELP FORUM => Topic started by: GSF on September 11, 2014, 10:14:51 pm

Title: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: GSF on September 11, 2014, 10:14:51 pm
I sure hope I remember to come back to this thread. Got a call from Dell Support this afternoon. They said my computer had been sending them messages about malware/spyware, ect. Not viruses. I have McAfee, they said it is for virus' and not spyware. I forgot what I paid for it but it should cover everything. Anyway looking at my "whatever" (viewer) I saw something like 5000 plus files corrupted or infected.  This computer is probable 2 years old or younger. I let my son spend my money and get a good one.

They tried to fix it but couldn't. However they were nice enough to offer to sell me something to take care of the problem. 3 years $100 plus, 5 years $200 plus. I'm looking for a recommendation to protect my computer from virus' and mal/spy ware stuff. I also need to clean these files up. I thought of loading the ol Dell re-program CD in there and start over. Any suggestions?
Title: Re:
Post by: LaurieBee on September 11, 2014, 10:34:36 pm
Malwarebytes.com
It's free
Title: Re:
Post by: LaurieBee on September 11, 2014, 10:36:23 pm
McAfee is a virus as far as I'm concerned. I use Avast. You can use a few version or upgrade for $30. I never have issues.
Title: Re:
Post by: LaurieBee on September 11, 2014, 10:36:46 pm
Few=free
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: BeeMaster2 on September 11, 2014, 11:07:22 pm
Gary,
I received a call like that this evening. It is a scam. Either they will sell you something that won't be there when you need it or they will bee charging your credit card with as much money as they think they can get away with.
Please say you did not give them your info.
Jim
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: texanbelchers on September 12, 2014, 12:05:31 am
Jim is right.  None of these companies will call you and they are not monitoring your computer.  Most of what they had you look at is normal, not necessary right, but not necessarily a virus or malware.  Above all, don't let them take control to "fix" it or you will have a real problem.

Run avast, malwarebytes, and ccleaner to start.  If there is a problem, these programs  will alert you and help clean it up.

If you want it absolutely clean, you can reinstall the OS.  Just make sure anything you want is backed up on a separate storage device.

Mark
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: hjon71 on September 12, 2014, 03:07:50 am
If you do have malware removal can be tricky. Often trying to remove it causes it to shut down the computer.
If you aren't comfortable with it get someone who is. 
I agree with the last 3 posters.

Plenty of free programs at cnet.com/downloads
Sounds like a scam to me too
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: GSF on September 12, 2014, 05:54:50 am
Jim; I didn't give them my cc info.

texanbelchers; I did let them take control, after we went to the Dell website. They already had all the log in/couputer ID stuff when they called me.  I figured it was legit after that. I could be wrong, very wrong.

Thanks to all for the info.
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: BeeMaster2 on September 12, 2014, 12:34:17 pm
Jim; I didn't give them my cc info.

texanbelchers; I did let them take control, after we went to the Dell website. They already had all the log in/computer ID stuff when they called me.  I figured it was legit after that. I could be wrong, very wrong.

Thanks to all for the info.
Gary,
Change your log on password right away just to bee safe. Don't leave this computer on 24/7 where they can get in through a back door that they left behind.
Anyone know how to protect against something like this?
Jim
Title: Re:
Post by: danno on September 12, 2014, 04:03:22 pm
Malwarebytes.com
It's free
I'll 2nd this.  Its free for a trial period where it will run automatically.  It is then 29.00 for the auto version but can still be run manually for free.  It will find everything
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: Intheswamp on September 12, 2014, 08:25:31 pm
I run Avast! anti-virus, CCleaner, and keep Advanced System Care...they seem to keep things going, though I wonder sometimes about ASC.  All free, by the way. 

Ya'll say Malwarebytes is good?  I've never tried it, but might if ya'll think it's good.

Several years ago I picked up a virus that thoroughly wrecked an XP computer.  Users here on Beemasters clued me in on Avast! and ASC...thanks again!!!

Ed
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: GSF on September 13, 2014, 06:29:55 am
update;

I called Dell Support (or someone who works on dell and has an A+ with BBB) and they advised me as well that they NEVER call their customers. They went in on my computer and fixed several maintenance problems. They also advised me that most of the warranties on my 15 month old computer had expired. I bought a 5 year 24/7 unlimited tech support plan from them.

They said that the call I had received was a scam. The callers will try to sell you a tech support package (covering nothing). Then when you call for help they will charge you more.

Internet Explorer vs Google Chrome; I'm told that GC is much better than IE, this morning was the first time I used GC and it was terrible. 5 times slower than IE. Could it be a first time thing?
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: hjon71 on September 13, 2014, 07:59:55 am
Not a fan of ASC, I do like MalwareBytes and ccleaner.
GSF if you had any real issues Dell support SHOULD have found it. Otherwise just do regular cleanups(does anyone defrag but me?) using whatever program(s) you prefer.

I like Chrome even better than Firefox.
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: Intheswamp on September 13, 2014, 10:07:38 am
GFS, I would take most anything over IE.  For me, Firefox has been a blessing in less headaches and faster surfing.

hjon61, thanks for the comment on ASC, care to be more specific?  At first I was ok with it, but in the last year or so it seems to be more "pushy" in trying to get me to upgrade to the paid version.

I've never used Chrome, but have used Firefox for the last many years.  Do you find that Chrome is faster and more secure/stable than Firefox?

Thanks,
Ed
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: buzzbee on September 16, 2014, 09:31:46 pm
On any computer ,set up multiple user accounts. Let one be an administrator account. Password protect it with a strong password.
Let the others be non administrator(or regular) user accounts.These can be password protected also,but just do not let them be admin accounts. Do your internet access with these accounts,never the admin account. Using this method, malware can not be installed without permission. The only way the computer can allow permission is by someone entering the administrator password . Most malware and viruses get installed by the computer user unwittingly via email links or free downloads on the net.Toolbars and freeware often add other software not bargained for.
Also with using this method,you can delete that user account and it shouldn't spread.
And I agree with the above statements, dell and microsoft do not call their customers with a bug report. I hope when you handed over control they didn't peruse any bank account info or passwords on your pc. I would be diligent and every secure account I had somewhere ,go and change your password immediately.
If you left your web browser store passwords for you,you could be at immediate risk.Don't tkae it lightly.
In the future ,I would use a password vault llke Last Pass(www.lastpass.com (http://www.lastpass.com)) to manage passwords. It is a very secure password manager.
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: hjon71 on September 16, 2014, 11:23:11 pm

hjon71, thanks for the comment on ASC, care to be more specific?  At first I was ok with it, but in the last year or so it seems to be more "pushy" in trying to get me to upgrade to the paid version.

MalwareBytes would catch ASC misses, and definitely the constant prompts to upgrade or add another feature, "pushy" fits very well.

Quote
I've never used Chrome, but have used Firefox for the last many years.  Do you find that Chrome is faster and more secure/stable than Firefox?

Thanks,
Ed

I think it is more stable.
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: hjon71 on September 16, 2014, 11:29:26 pm
Thanks for that tip Buzzbee. I make the family use a different user account but I've always used the Admin.. That will now change.
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: GSF on September 18, 2014, 10:08:16 pm
I guess the good news is I don't do any online money transactions other than paypal. I did change my passwords and bought some unlimited tech support from another company. I didn't know that about the Admin, thanks also.

I have broad band satellite - Hughes net. Google Chrome is much slower than IE on my provider. I'll give the fire fox a try.
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: Kathyp on September 20, 2014, 12:08:50 am
i switched to Chrome after FF angry me off.  it's good.  there are a few tweaks you'll want to make so that it doesn't run in the background, but that's something you can deal with later.  Chrome indexes stuff so that as you go, it learns and loads faster.  the downside for me is that i clean mine often, so i lose that indexing.

the good thing (kind of creepy) is that if you are an android user on other devices, you can share easily your info from Google searches, etc.  between devices.  you can do that without Chrome, but with it, it's more automatic.

give it a chance.  it's no more invasive than the others, and pretty smooth in short order.
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: GSF on September 20, 2014, 09:49:08 pm
Kathy, I'm pretty sure my biggest problem is Hughes Net broad band satellite. In the evening after 4pm it's comparable to dial up. They told me I could upgrade to a faster version with a two year commitment. I told her that would make me suicidal if I got a two year commitment with them.
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: George Janis on March 04, 2015, 04:45:46 am
Malwarebytes  is the best options to you!!
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: Michael Bush on March 04, 2015, 08:38:50 am
> I told her that would make me suicidal if I got a two year commitment with them.

I spent six months once trying to end my relationship with Hughes.  Dialup was faster than their sattillite when it did work and when it quit working I started trying to cancel my service.  There is no address listed anywhere on the net to mail a request to turn off the service.  I emailed every email address I could find (none for customer service just one for sales etc.) They kept billing my credit (checking) card.  I called the only number I could find every morning at work, put it on speaker and hung up when I went home.  No one ever answered.  I finally protested the charges on my credit (checking) card and their response to the bank was that I need to call that same number I had been trying to call for six months to cancel.  Finally one day I get a human on the other end and they tell me that the system I have was crap and I should spend another $300 and a two year to commitment to get their new system...  I asked him how stupid did he think I was...

I agree, a two year commitment with Hughes might make me suicidal too...
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: Kathyp on March 05, 2015, 12:21:55 am
just looked at my last post.  what language that is, i know not!   :grin:

Doesn't hughesnet belong to dish now?
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: buzzbee on March 05, 2015, 08:50:51 pm
 :smile:
Kathy, I'm sure the language filter may have subbed some words for you.
As far as malware bytes, be sure to download it from malwarebytes.org and not somewhere like downloads.com.
These download sites wrap other software in a bundle with the programs you wish to download. Be forever cautious. And be sure to look through all the settings on malwarebytes as there are some that may be undesirable.
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: sc-bee on March 09, 2015, 11:51:24 pm
If you would like to try and remove malware yourself or check your computer to see how clean it is, these folks will help you. It can be slow because it is a forum and it takes a little learning to run programs and post results for them to analyze. I have used them multiple times. They do not charge but exits off donations. hey recommend a lot of the same programs mentioned in this thread.

http://www.spywareinfoforum.com/
Title: Re: Malware, spyware, files corrupted
Post by: beemaster on March 11, 2015, 11:25:10 am
It is horrorfying the first time you see the number of malware files on your computer, Gary thousands is pretty normal if you never used an anti-malware program.

I use Spyhunter4 - not free, but I like it - very programmable to your needs - I never shut my pc down except to reboot if it gets goofy or to install Windows update. So I have Spyhunter4 do a deep search every morning at 3am.

Yesterday, something I clicked on in Facebook (I hate you Facebook) triggered Norton to give me a message and I ran Spyhunter4 right away, it found 38 issues that I clicked to delete. When I got up this morning,  it had ran again and there were no issues.

I used Malwareplus for a long time, but after demo trying Spyhunter4, I like the user interface. So whichever malware type program you choose, set it up to run when you are not using the computer, so that you don't slow your surfing down as it does take up some resources and will drag a slow browsing session even slower.