I just got home and checked my email, there were several emails from the Kimmis, Sheri and Betty W. that all look a little wierd. (they have attachments and odd subjects) It looks like someone might have a virus and one of our address books has been hijacked.

Editing to add, I am not saying that the any of the people mentioned above is sending viruses! Sheri's email to me was about mail that she received from me, which looked suspicious. I ran a scan and I am virus free, so I am assuming that this is one of those viruses that steals names from peoples address books and sends the viruses out that way.

Be extra cautious when you receive an email with an attachment for a few days, even if you know the sender. If it says something generic, like, Mail transaction failed or Re: status, don't open it!!

It probably is also a good idea to make sure your virus software is up to date and to run a virus scan.

It is a constant problem, I wont open any attachment ever from ANYONE unless it has an email message attached so I KNOW that it is a bona fide message and attachment.

Somehow a Computer Tech I know sent out an email blast last week and then his email address was "spoofed" by a virus. A virus will mimick the a name in an email address list and send out email to everyone else in the address book. I have had a few things sent in my name and was able to trace where they came from.

Anyway, here is a really good FREE way to verify you are virus free - in addition to what you are already running:

Trend Micro--appears to have the best solution--an online virus scan and removal tool for this virus.
1. Start your computer in "safe mode"
2. Go to
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
Then accept their small piece of software and run the program from the web.
Be sure the "auto clean" button is checked.

This will double check for you and it's free and what all the Computer Geeks do that you pay to come over and clean your computer.

Kathy - good find! I'll have to try it out to make sure that my computer's OK.

Masaki

Thanks, Karen and Kathy.

I did a virus scan over the weekend, using Norton SystemWorks Anti-Virus. Everything checked-out OK, according to that scan.

Kathy, how do you start your computer in "safe mode?" Would the scan you suggested possibly detect something that Norton might not have detected?

Gosh, thanks for the warning, Karen. You know me.....NOT very good w/all of this. I haven't had any e-mails from LCT people except from Kathy w/the pictures, and I knew it was her. But now, I won't open any e=mails from LCT people for awhile. I do have Norton and did learn how to run the virus checker, so I'll do that later today.

Kathy, I have never started my pc in safe mode when I have used house call?? Is that something new?

I also like the free Panda virus scan

Karen - thanks for the warning.

Yesterday I only sent out 1 email in the morning. When I came home from work there were 4 suspicious emails about "Mail transaction failed" - all with attachments. I immediately deleted them without opening. Two of them looked kind of official and looked exactly alike. The other two were each different and really looked suspicious. Since I got 4 right in a row, it looked like a typical spam type email like I've been getting on other topices like stocks, mortgages, prescriptions, etc.

I just did a full scan on my computer and no viruses were found.

This isn't about a suspicious email, but rather an odd pop-up I've been getting occasionly while in LCT. It is from "Viewpoint" and says:

"You have been updated. Your Viewpoint Media Player was recently updated with the latest components to enchance your web viewing. A new browser update is recommended, including advanced pop-up blocking and graphically enhanced search." It then has a box to "Update" and one for "More Info". It also has "Who is Viewpoint" for you to click on. It then says "By clicking Update you are agreeing to the End User License Agreement."

This pop-up keeps appearing in the bottom right corner of my screen. So of course, it makes it impossible for me to use my bottom scroll button. It stays on my desktop screen even when no programs are open, so the only way I can get rid of it is to completely shut down my computer.

Has anyone else had this annoying pop-up?

Karen
I ran a full scan & my computer seems fine.

Cindi,
I researched your viewpoint problem and from what I can tell, it's a program that is associated with netscape, aim, aol, and adobe software.

You can disable the automatic updates by opening the Viewpoint Manager Control Panel (Start>Settings>Control Panel) (switch to Classic View if you are using Windows XP)>Viewpoint Manager) and checking "disable auto-update for the Viewpoint Manager."

Karen, Thanks - I'll give that a try!

I never do the Trend Micro in Safe mode. I just run house call as is but close all programs but the Internet Explorer. The tech sent me that in his email.

I run House Call periodically even though I have Norton set to scan my computers automatically in a continous mode. It did catch a virus for me once that Norton missed.

Pop Ups and Spyware are two of my biggest sore spots. (And 2 Cycle engines)
The best software to get rid of spyware that I have found is "Free" for now from Microsoft.

Here is the link
Microsoft AntiSpyware Beta

It has gotten rid of every popup and spyware that I had.
John

Karen,

Your information is much appreciated.
What would we do with out you on board?

Regards, JPar

Thanks John. What do you use to get rid of pop-ups??? They are driving me... :ohmy:

I use Google and the Microsoft Anti Spyware above. You pop ups are probably from a hijacked browser program. Download the Microsoft program and watch everything that it finds You will be suprised, I was and I know how to write these pesky programs.
John

Grazie!

Well someone on the World cruise that we booked has an infected computer. Our virus software was catching 1000's of virus emails a day. When the world cruise started they stopped. Now we are catching 1000's virus emails a day. They are not affecting us because we catch them but Ken has to sort through all that junk every night and delete it all. So it is one of the people I booked on the full world cruise that has turned on their machine again. I have to contact everyone we booked but so many are not "computer gurus" they wont have any idea how to even check if they have a virus problem.

Ngaire,

The House call link I posted is very easy to use. They just need to click on it, and follow the screen's instructions and poof! Virus' gone.

I just downloaded and used John's anti-spyware. Couldn't believe all the crap it found and zapped. Thanks, John!

Kathy, would it be wise to download and run your anti-virus software, too?

Ngaire, If it is someone on the world cruise and I am getting all these viruses as well the only person I can think of that has my address in their address book would be.....I won't mention any names!


It really wouldn't hurt if everyone were to do an extra virus scan along with their own virus protection scan at either:
HouseCall

Or better yet, because it checks for viruses and spyware, too:
Panda Active Scan

Choose the auto heal option so it automatically removes the spyware and viruses and have it scan your whole computer.


John, the Microsoft spyware program ROCKS! I have been using it since they started beta testing it and I have not had one spyware sneak through. That, and the Google tool bar with the pop up stopper are essential, in my book. The Google pop up blocker has blocked over 2000 pop ups since Christmas.

Here is the link for the Google tool bar with pop up blocker

And here is what it looks like installed:

Denise, It would be a good idea to do an online scan. These online scans sometimes catch things that our personal virus programs don't.

Ken has a great virus blocker so these are all caught and dont hit my machine at all. Dont know the name of it but I dont get any of these at all they are caught before they even get to my machine. He just tells me how many come in.

It could be Marcie but I think her machine was on while she was gone as her daughter was at her house. Marcie please confirm that. IF not check your machine because you could be infected.

I think we all recognize that it is no ones fault when these things hit. It is a nightmare to keep up with all of this - thank goodness I have Ken or I would be in deep doo doo or Virus doo doo.

Ngaire, it might not even be a person who was on the World Cruise. These things seem to go in cycles and it might just be a coincidence.

Once the person who is infected has had their address book hijacked, there machine doesn't even need to be on to send the viruses.

Running the scan now, Karen. So far, 1 file is infected.

Denise, which scan are you using?

I used the Microsoft scan John suggested. I then used House Call virus scan. Both worked really well. I had 3 infected files, which I removed easily. Great recommendations! Thanks!

My Norton anti virus didn't catch this.

Karen

When you say "address book", what is that? Is it something that is created automatically everytime I send somebody an e-mail?

Thanks,

Maria, it is where you store you friends and families email address. For example, if I email you and you want to keep my email address so you can reply to me in the future, you right can right click on the email in your inbox and choose "add sender to address book"

Karen,

I have never done that but in AOL automatically everytime I send an e-mail or receive one, that address is stored somewhere because when I start typing the address it'll pop up. In Hotmail when I send an e-mail to a new person it asks me if I want to store it as a Hotmail "contact" and I say yes and it stores it.
Do you know if these are "address books" also subject to hijacking by a virus?

Maria, I don't know for sure as I don't use AOL but I assume it would be vulnerable.

The directions I posted above for saving an address was for Outlook but I assume AOL has a similar method and I also would bet you have an AOL address book somewhere in your mail.

I had a pop-up problem and what they call a browser hijacker on my home computer several months ago. I tried everything to get rid of it and it was not until I downloaded the Microsoft AntiSpyware Beta software that John mentions that I got rid of it all. I figure since all the programs I use are Microsoft programs then they should know how to remedy the issues right. I highly recommend it.

In my book John, Julie, Ken and Karen are the GODS and GODDESSES of computers. Without those four I would be up a creek without a paddle!!!

I am very lucky I have learned to say HELP extremely well.

AOL Address books are not subject to hijacking by virus'. The Outlook Address book used for email via Outlook and Outlook Express are the usual hijackees.

My isp just mailed this warning. It is the virus I was getting as I received all the subject titles that are listed below.

Dear Nauticom customer

As a courtesy to you, we are advising that you be aware of Internet Virus/Email Worm,
W32/Sober-N.
W32/Sober-N is a mass-mailing worm that
emails an attachment to addresses gathered from a compromised computer. The
email may be in either English or German.

Possible Subjects

Re:Your Password
Re:Registration Confirmation
Re:Your email was blocked
Re:mailing error
Re: [blank]

I've been using the Microsoft Anti Spyware scan regularly and it keeps detecting
eXact.Download Trojan Downloader. I remove it, yet it keeps reappearing with each scan. What is this and how can I get rid of it for good? Help!!!

Denise,
THe same thing has been happening to me.

In my hotmail account I have received in the last 2 days numerous e-mails (haven't opened them) that on the subject line say some of the things Karen lists on her last post. I just delete them without opening

My trend micro antivirus program notified me yesterday about that "Sober-N" virus and I downloaded the updates from Trend micro to be able to recognize it.

Sometimes, virus software doesn't remove all the components of trojans so you might be better off running a trojan removal program as well.

I emailed this to Denise already but if anyone needs a trojan removal tool, this one is highly rated.

A2 trojan remover

Thanks so very much, Karen. I'll be downloading tonight and hopefully, this will do the trick.

Maria, I haven't received the types of emails you and Karen have been getting, thankfully. Good luck with getting that under control. What a nuisance!