Okay, yesterday morning I got a particularly nasty and prolific virus (some sort of brand-new Trojan Horse), and manage to nip it in the bud, but not before the thing piled about 500 spyware apps onto my machine. Today my AVG anti-virus reconized it and removed BOTh vopies of it - yesterday irt couldn't even see it, so I assime their was something in today's update that covered this new one.
Anyhow, I also notice yesterday several of my regular sites were inaccessable, and today sevral more are down. I don't know if its just a coincidence, but if this little bugger is spreading all over the internet right-now it could be the cause.
I'm pretty ccomputer-savy, so I was able to stall the problem until my anti-virus was able to handle it, but this thing downloads NEW malware andreplicates existing apps (I had twenty copies of each of my regular background-apps running, sucking all my resources dry, and making my 'virus-hunt' slow down to a crawl). It also does both these things at an incredible rate - in about an hour my computer (a VERY powerful machine) was nearly crippled by it.
So - I don't know if the sudden drop-out of my sites is just a coincidence, or what, but I think everyone should be aware of this thing - MOST especially the Paizo tech boys (or girls).
Also it renames itself if you try to delete it - it started out as ttxfl.dll, but it could be hiding as anything at this point. AVG called it 'generic Trojan B.********'' - I don't know what all the '*' were, but this thing doesn't even have an official name, I gather.
So far, I seem to be okay since AVG did its thing this morning....
Good to know - both WotC and CK are down ATM - but with WotC, thats par for the course. ;)
Must resist urge to make snarky remark about Windows... must resist.
Epic fail.
But life wouldn't be interesting if I didn't need to tinker with my computer every couple of months to keep it running. ;)
Constructing a virus is so premeditated and hateful.
These borderline personalities must have quite the rationalization/justification process, seeing their vile work as a sort of genius graffitti. Just as with a serial killer trying to outsmart the cops, virus spawning must just be a game to them - meant metaphorically, I know viruses are big business as well - and all the victims are only small silvery pieces to be shoved about a board.
I call the old boot! (Monopoly reference)
Anyway, I wish them all an unsavory quietus starting in the ass and then spreading to the mouth, taking the ass in there with it.
Aid another?Must resist urge to make snarky remark about Windows... must resist.
Epic fail.
Heh...
I gave up on maintaining Windows systems at home about 7 years ago and told my wife/ daughters that they were on their own on that. Bought a Mac and run Linux on my system and I've never looked back.
Windows advocates keep saying that the only reason there are so few virii or trojans for the Mac or Linux is because they don't have much market share. Personally I don't care why there are none, I just enjoy the fact that I don't have to deal with it. My Mac is 7 years old and other than upgrading the OS a couple times I have done nothing to maintain it. Just last week the hard drive failed.
Okay, yesterday morning I got a particularly nasty and prolific virus (some sort of brand-new Trojan Horse), and manage to nip it in the bud, but not before the thing piled about 500 spyware apps onto my machine. Today my AVG anti-virus reconized it and removed BOTh vopies of it - yesterday irt couldn't even see it, so I assime their was something in today's update that covered this new one.
Anyhow, I also notice yesterday several of my regular sites were inaccessable, and today sevral more are down. I don't know if its just a coincidence, but if this little bugger is spreading all over the internet right-now it could be the cause.
I'm pretty ccomputer-savy, so I was able to stall the problem until my anti-virus was able to handle it, but this thing downloads NEW malware andreplicates existing apps (I had twenty copies of each of my regular background-apps running, sucking all my resources dry, and making my 'virus-hunt' slow down to a crawl). It also does both these things at an incredible rate - in about an hour my computer (a VERY powerful machine) was nearly crippled by it.
So - I don't know if the sudden drop-out of my sites is just a coincidence, or what, but I think everyone should be aware of this thing - MOST especially the Paizo tech boys (or girls).
Also it renames itself if you try to delete it - it started out as ttxfl.dll, but it could be hiding as anything at this point. AVG called it 'generic Trojan B.********'' - I don't know what all the '*' were, but this thing doesn't even have an official name, I gather.
So far, I seem to be okay since AVG did its thing this morning....
Quick question: how did you get the virus? That would make it easier for people to avoid if they knew where you got it.
Aid another?Must resist urge to make snarky remark about Windows... must resist.
Epic fail.
Heh...
I gave up on maintaining Windows systems at home about 7 years ago and told my wife/ daughters that they were on their own on that. Bought a Mac and run Linux on my system and I've never looked back.
Windows advocates keep saying that the only reason there are so few virii or trojans for the Mac or Linux is because they don't have much market share. Personally I don't care why there are none, I just enjoy the fact that I don't have to deal with it. My Mac is 7 years old and other than upgrading the OS a couple times I have done nothing to maintain it. Just last week the hard drive failed.
I've actually been looking at switching to Linux (specifically an Ubuntu machine through Dell). Does anyone have any experience with the Dell machines that use Ubuntu?
I've actually been looking at switching to Linux (specifically an Ubuntu machine through Dell). Does anyone have any experience with the Dell machines that use Ubuntu?
Your best bet for trying out Linux is to take your existing system and download a live CD... Ubuntu's install disk works but there are other ones out there. It will boot right into a workable Linux system and you can try it out and see if you like it.
I've actually been looking at switching to Linux (specifically an Ubuntu machine through Dell). Does anyone have any experience with the Dell machines that use Ubuntu?Aid another?Must resist urge to make snarky remark about Windows... must resist.
Epic fail.
Heh...
I gave up on maintaining Windows systems at home about 7 years ago and told my wife/ daughters that they were on their own on that. Bought a Mac and run Linux on my system and I've never looked back.
Windows advocates keep saying that the only reason there are so few virii or trojans for the Mac or Linux is because they don't have much market share. Personally I don't care why there are none, I just enjoy the fact that I don't have to deal with it. My Mac is 7 years old and other than upgrading the OS a couple times I have done nothing to maintain it. Just last week the hard drive failed.
I use such a system. Its good but you sometimes find yourself lost trying to figure how to do something thats relatively easy on a windows machine. They just assume you know a lot more about computers in general. Its probably worst for the occasional tinkerer like myself who knows enough to want to get under the hood and yet not enough to know where stuff is on every kind of machine.
Luckily I have a couple of good friends who are Linux junkies. So whatever I can't figure out I'm sure they could help me with.
Quick question: how did you get the virus? That would make it easier for people to avoid if they knew where you got it.
Not sure.
I'm pretty damn careful (after a previous visus attack years ago that wiped out my hardrive), and I only opened one file yesterday that someone sent me.
However, that person I know well (through another game-site - he's a mod), and his RL job is an IT guy, so I really don't think he would have had it on his machine (but you never know).
I suspect it was my kids - they stay with me over the summer, and I let them go on a few game-sites that I know and trust (Webkins, Disney, Nickelodeon, etc) yesterday for about an hour each.
Either they went somewhere they shouldn't have (and I have NO messaging-programs installed on my machine), or one of those 'trusted sites' had it (I'm thinking Webkins, since that was pretty much all they did yesterday, AFAIK).
Anyhow, it did a number of things, all of which I've seen before, but not all at once by a single virus. AVG actually detected TWO, so I'm thinking the first got in and opened the door for a slew of other malware.
Pretty clever, but hateful none-the-less.
It also tried to sell me a 'cure' to fix it (talk about holding a gun to someone's head). I was able to stop it from spreading further just by going into safe Mode and deleting stuff from there (you can't delete files that are running, and when they masquerade as system files, they get autonmatically loaded). I'm just glad my Anti-Virus caught up with it in 24 hours - everything seems back to normal now (crossing my fingers here - it really did a number on IE).
Also, the 4 or 5 sites I was unable to access the last two days all seem to be back - so either is was a quirk on my end, or they handled the problem on theirs.
Even WotC is back up, and thats just a miracle unto itself. <smirk>
Director of Brand Strategy
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I've actually been looking at switching to Linux (specifically an Ubuntu machine through Dell). Does anyone have any experience with the Dell machines that use Ubuntu?Your best bet for trying out Linux is to take your existing system and download a live CD... Ubuntu's install disk works but there are other ones out there. It will boot right into a workable Linux system and you can try it out and see if you like it.
Can this be done within the framework of an existing OS (like OSX) or would it require a clean computer?
Can this be done within the framework of an existing OS (like OSX) or would it require a clean computer?I've actually been looking at switching to Linux (specifically an Ubuntu machine through Dell). Does anyone have any experience with the Dell machines that use Ubuntu?Your best bet for trying out Linux is to take your existing system and download a live CD... Ubuntu's install disk works but there are other ones out there. It will boot right into a workable Linux system and you can try it out and see if you like it.
You can run a live CD off of any system, it does not use or alter the contents of the drive unless you do so explicitly. On OSX you put the CD in the drive and hold down 'c' (I think) or the Command Key (the one with four bubbles) when you power the system on.
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It also tried to sell me a 'cure' to fix it (talk about holding a gun to someone's head). I was able to stop it from spreading further just by going into safe Mode and deleting stuff from there (you can't delete files that are running, and when they masquerade as system files, they get autonmatically loaded). I'm just glad my Anti-Virus caught up with it in 24 hours - everything seems back to normal now (crossing my fingers here - it really did a number on IE).
Hmm. Thanks for the heads up. Didn't catch anything on mine.
It sounds remarkably like something our machine got about half a year ago, although ours loaded up with adware and spyware, then suggested you search for such things as a pop-up. Even replaced our wallpaper with a big toxic symbol.
Worst part was, it was at the point of having to do a registry sweep to eliminate its hiding place, as it kept reloading itself after being deleted...Spyware Doctor killed it though.
I've actually been looking at switching to Linux (specifically an Ubuntu machine through Dell). Does anyone have any experience with the Dell machines that use Ubuntu?
I have a Dell Dimension E520 that came with WinXP. I got it about a year ago, and immediately repartitioned the hard disk so I could dual boot with ubuntu 7.04. The only problem I had initially was getting the drivers for my then bleeding edge ATI video card. Ubuntu is great, and I have no regrets. I never use WinXP anymore.
I have since also got a Dell Inspiron laptop, and set up a dual boot system with WinXP and ubuntu 7.10 - no problems at all.
~grimaces~ Well, I use AVG (the free variety). But can anyone suggest a good Antivirus and anti-spyware program?
~grimaces~ Well, I use AVG (the free variety). But can anyone suggest a good Antivirus and anti-spyware program?
I recommend Windows Defender. There can sometimes be problems with it not working, and if that happens to you, the solution is to completely uninstall it and reinstall and that usually fixes the problem.
This Windows snob would rather keep his antivirus up to date and risk the occasional viral attack than switch to a Mac. I've worked with Macs and done tech support for them, and I can't say that I'm a fan.
I don't get emails very often, fortunatly. Mainly just topic reply notifications and emails from friends. I'll be wary.