A :cry: for techy help

8 Feb 2005

Well the MSN virus got me earlier and I'm still suffering :cry: I was caught out because I was actually talking to the person it came from at the time. It was called "drunk_lol" and I didn't give it a second thought :doh:
My Norton AVG gets daily live updates, and I ran another one straight away before doing a full system scan, but it didn't find it. I then searched manually and found 3 different files with the same name, deleted each of those, emptied my recycle bin and then restarted the computer.
MSN is now running (for me anyway) and I can right click on contacts again, but my sounds have disappeared completely. I even tried media player, and although it starts up and shows all the signs of running normally (ie no error messages and the timer moving) I can't actually hear anything. banghead

Can any techy types help me with this? Please!!!
PS, if any techy type people CAN help me, please can I have instructions in plain English because I'm not techy in the slightest redface

8 Feb 2005

Without actually being there its difficult to offer help, but id recommend the obvious, reinstall MSN.
Thats the only way you can eliminate that as the possible cause of your probs.
Good luck and keep us posted.
smile

9 Feb 2005

Try the following.....
Click the "start" button> then "Control Panel"> then "sounds and audio devices"> then the "Hardware" tab.
You're looking for something that ends with "audio device". Highlite it in blue and then click troubleshoot.
That should give you some idea of what's happened (hopefully) and it's probably a good idea to have the drivers disc that came with the PC handy as it'll probably want you to re-install the drivers.
Or if you're interested in the other offer, PM me back wink

:twisted:
As you say it's affected your media player as well, I doubt it's anything to do with MSN. That was just the doorway it entered by.

9 Feb 2005

Don't worry now guys, I've just had a PM saying it's all sorted. biggrin

9 Feb 2005

I bet the speakers werent plugged in.... wink

:wink: :wink: lol

9 Feb 2005

Quote by ant140
I bet the speakers werent plugged in.... :wink: :wink:

I fear for your safety my friend...........I hope you've got some cast iron underpants. biggrin

Steve

9 Feb 2005

:shock: no there only made of cotton
Im out of here!!!
bolt

9 Feb 2005

Not had the virus (phew), but then again I use Trillian and not MSN Messenger.
Does anyone know if I am still vulnerable as a Trillian user?

9 Feb 2005

Quote by partyman
Not had the virus (phew), but then again I use Trillian and not MSN Messenger.
Does anyone know if I am still vulnerable as a Trillian user?

If Trillian is capable of passing a file and you accept it, then yes. sad

9 Feb 2005

Quote by easy
If Trillian is capable of passing a file and you accept it, then yes.

But then, you shouldn't ever accept a file unless you know what it is, or who it's from.
And IIRC, the latest version of Norton has all manner of chat and net protection, don't know if it's actually any good or not though.

10 Feb 2005

All this talk of viruses and AV software is quite funny, I've not had AV running for 6 years and never once been infected by viruses or pop ups or spy wear... how do I know? Well occasionally I'll run trusts on line virus check just to make sure nothing came in via a loophole is say the tcp/ip stack.
Only a few viruses have ever managed to be created that didnt require running something.. one notable one was a buffer overrun in the tcp/ip stack, another potential was a buffer overrun with a bdaly formed jpeg file.
I dont allow activeX's to run, and most java programs should be safe due to the sandbox, I dont down load files, and only ever accept graphic files from other users... never programs in any shap or form (exe, scr, pif, etc.) and only install paid for software...
My lad on the other hand uses kazza and bit-torrent all the time and usually has to re-format his pc and fully re-install at least once every month due to infections even when he does run spy ware and AV protection... they are very much a false hope and lead you into a false sence of security.
I'm sure my web site could be hacked dispite the firewall and MS lockdowns because it has to let its IP address be known, but hey thats all that is running on it so at the worst its down while I re-format and re-load the CD backup... doest stop the crash dunps tho mad

10 Feb 2005

I'd recommend AVG - it's free and sorted out lots of stuff that Norton and McAfee misses. Works a treat too.

10 Feb 2005

Quote by edinbughchris
I'd recommend AVG - it's free and sorted out lots of stuff that Norton and McAfee misses. Works a treat too.

I got a version of AVG Pro, and ran it for a while until an update detected that my serial number wasn't very authentic redface

Been using F-Protect ever since - very impressed I am with it too

10 Feb 2005

i program i use is called Win patrol
it detects if any system changes that affect the net. it gives you the option to disable ti untill you have found out what it does.
when i got this virus. i shut the PC down and re-loadied it and it poped up saying "iexplore" is trying to access the internet. well iexplore is the file name for IE5. so i knew then it was a bogus file man.
did a search. and found the files siting in my Prefech folder. so i opened up tweak and removed them. PC seems to be running fine now though
Jiggle

10 Feb 2005

Quote by ant140
I bet the speakers werent plugged in.... :wink: :wink:

:kick:

:kick: :kick:
I might not be very techy but I'm not completely stupid!! :lol: :lol:
The virus had somehow turned down my master volume switch to zero, so if anyone else is having the same problem, follow easy's easy to follow instructions biggrin

Thanks easy kiss

All sorted now. Time for work evil

10 Feb 2005

Quote by piercedJon
My lad on the other hand uses kazza and bit-torrent all the time and usually has to re-format his pc and fully re-install at least once every month due to infections even when he does run spy ware and AV protection... they are very much a false hope and lead you into a false sence of security.

In my own personal experience; Kazza is well know for having spyware/viruses, but people still insist on using it. I've been using bit-torrent for about 6 months now. I usually do 2 or 3 downloads a night and I've not had a problem yet.
*frantically touches anything wooden*
I do have AVG, Adaware and Spybot on my system, but I've not seen AVG block anything ever. dunno

When I've found problems previously it's usually been Adaware that's caused them to be flagged and not AVG. I also run trend housecalls as they still pick out far more than the AVG does.
Personally, if you're not very hot with computers, you use M$ IE and you click links and pop-ups I'd really recommend running an anti-virus. (not at PiercedJon wink

)

10 Feb 2005

I'm sure there's folks on here who are far more techy than I am, but for what it's worth - three things needed - antivirus to stop (primarily) viruses, firewall to stop intrusions, antispyware to stop spyware. Your need may be related to the type and amount of surfing you do and whether you have broadband or always on connection, and also if use use highly targetted software or very buggy software.
What I did (at a point where all three were becoming overwhelming) was search for comparative reviews from the PC mags and on the Net, and take opinions from peeps who installed/used/managed a lot of systems.
I use AVG, Zone Alarm, and SpySweeper. I do scans with other AVs every so often and keep all of them regularly updated.

10 Feb 2005

We use EZ Armor firewall and anti-virus software along with Adaware here.... Haven't had a problem (Touch wood) and it is pretty easy to set up.... I do hope that I wont be taking that back when I install our new wireless network shortly lol

Shireen
xxx

10 Feb 2005

Quote by edinbughchris
I'm sure there's folks on here who are far more techy than I am, but for what it's worth - three things needed - antivirus to stop (primarily) viruses, firewall to stop intrusions, antispyware to stop spyware. Your need may be related to the type and amount of surfing you do and whether you have broadband or always on connection, and also if use use highly targetted software or very buggy software.

Arrggghhh!!! :shock: The mighty Trojan has been overlooked. :cry:
Check these sites out for why a 4th string to the bow is needed...

Hope that these help. I know there are going to be cries of "don't need anti-trojan, I've got a firewall", but why not have both? In any case Trojans can be programmed to be smart-arses, whereas a Firewall is a pretty dumb protection, so having a smart-arsed solution to a smart-arsed threat is no bad thing.

10 Feb 2005

*sniggers in a self-satisfied, Mac users, way*

10 Feb 2005

hehehe typical Mac user , self satisfied and skint , cos they had to buy a compatible mouse and had to sell the car to get it .

10 Feb 2005

ROFL!

10 Feb 2005

Hi
if you want I can take a look at you PC next time im up north.
just to check all is ok
smile

11 Feb 2005

Quote by Vix
*sniggers in a self-satisfied, Mac users, way*

After it's seen a bit of service, and gathered a bit of dust, do you then become a "Dirty Mac User" ? lol

:lol: :lol: