Topic: What I have learned since getting a new PC, and it scares me (Read 7575 times)

IAF Lyrkiller · « **Reply #20 on:** September 13, 2005, 11:18:36 am »

Quote from: Bonk on September 11, 2005, 03:59:36 pm

Ah, I could be wrong about SP2 disabilng the messenger service, I thought I remembered it doing so. Sorry if I misled.

Myself, I use Knoppix when using other peoples machines so I can connect securely to various servers. I've grown quite fond of Knoppix. My own XP pro install is quite secure though and has been for some time.

Also, I am a rabid fan of QNX and prefer it or FreeBSD for server applications.

Bonk you are wrong. SP2 does disable Messenger service. I know because I have windows w/ SP2 intregrated into the OS. And also several other services are disabled.

Bonk · « **Reply #21 on:** September 14, 2005, 11:07:47 am »

I thought so. Should never second-guess myself.

toasty0 · « **Reply #22 on:** September 15, 2005, 11:22:25 pm »

If that is the case then Clark is getting himself in trouble because of what he's been downloading...

Commander Maxillius · « **Reply #23 on:** September 15, 2005, 11:43:11 pm »

CK, I don't know if it's a feasible idea, but have you considered selling the Dell and getting an iBook with the cash?

Clark Kent · « **Reply #24 on:** September 16, 2005, 01:12:20 am »

Quote from: Maxillius NCC-13443 on September 15, 2005, 11:43:11 pm

CK, I don't know if it's a feasible idea, but have you considered selling the Dell and getting an iBook with the cash?

ALready have an iBook, and I use it primarily instead of the new dell. I didn't have to pay for the Dell, that's why I have it.

Commander Maxillius · « **Reply #25 on:** September 16, 2005, 10:28:14 pm »

Quote from: Clark Kent on September 16, 2005, 01:12:20 am

Quote from: Maxillius NCC-13443 on September 15, 2005, 11:43:11 pm
CK, I don't know if it's a feasible idea, but have you considered selling the Dell and getting an iBook with the cash?

ALready have an iBook, and I use it primarily instead of the new dell. I didn't have to pay for the Dell, that's why I have it.

Aye. As an aside, I have a Toshiba laptop that seems to be nearly immune to virii and hackware. I can't understand how that thing can function with only the Windows firewall when my sister's Compaq 5000 needs only to connect to the network to get every virus and hackware ever created. It's very odd indeed.

E_Look · « **Reply #26 on:** September 16, 2005, 11:15:23 pm »

It's not the machine so much as the person using it.

Clark Kent · « **Reply #27 on:** September 17, 2005, 11:30:56 am »

Quote from: E_Look NCC-9091 on September 16, 2005, 11:15:23 pm

It's not the machine so much as the person using it.

And if this person has all the anti virus, firewall etc etc etc crap running all the time and it doesn't do much good, and on top of that all never goes anywhere on the internet with that machine, what does that say?

E_Look · « **Reply #28 on:** September 17, 2005, 08:05:52 pm »

If that's the case, then it might have been just a few accidentally hit random sites or unthinkingly opened e-mails. Junk e-mail is horrible. And then, once they're in and the antivirus or antispyware programs are not updated, then stuff will take root, fester, and make a huge mess.

Clark Kent · « **Reply #29 on:** September 17, 2005, 08:22:44 pm »

Nope, I have take this machine to less that 15 web sites as of now and none of them were mistakes. Have not read any email from it. Nope, this guy is a virgin as they get on the net, but it still attracts the crap.

toasty0 · « **Reply #30 on:** September 17, 2005, 09:45:30 pm »

Quote from: Clark Kent on September 17, 2005, 08:22:44 pm

Nope, I have take this machine to less that 15 web sites as of now and none of them were mistakes. Have not read any email from it. Nope, this guy is a virgin as they get on the net, but it still attracts the crap.

Gotta be Voodoo then.

E_Look · « **Reply #31 on:** September 18, 2005, 12:08:35 am »

Voodoo? Maybe GeForce or Radeon! Okay. Sorry. I know this was lame.

It just might be that this guy is a normal guy who likes what most people like and visits pages where most people go. Spammers and virus infectors know this stuff too.

Commander Maxillius · « **Reply #32 on:** September 19, 2005, 07:38:01 pm »

stick to the iBook. seriously, it sounds like your machine is targeted and should only be on firewalled corporate networks

Keep the Dell offline as mush as possible

E_Look · « **Reply #33 on:** September 19, 2005, 09:02:38 pm »

Max, targeted? One solitary computer?

Commander Maxillius · « **Reply #34 on:** September 19, 2005, 09:11:01 pm »

Sometimes viruses lock on to specific IP's and you can't shake them off no matter what. They're like random number generators that always land on 210 or something like that.

There's a number that every machine has but I forgot what it is, and every one is different, maybe it *is* IP, but I'm not sure.

I don't think hackers would target a specific machine unless they knew what was on it, but viruses and hackware and the like are prone to unpredictable behavior, such asa locking on to an IP or range of IPs.

Stranger things have happened.

E_Look · « **Reply #35 on:** September 19, 2005, 10:27:18 pm »

I see. Thanks for the illumination!

Oh, do you mean the MAC address?

ELITE-Kaos · « **Reply #36 on:** September 20, 2005, 07:09:31 am »

Sounds like the MAC address is a target as its a Dell. I've not come accross anything like this but that dosn't means it isn't out there... For security I use a hardware firewall and Adaware from Lavasoft, with these I manage to run virus, worm, trojan and intrusion free.

Clarke, if your using a router that lets you mimick a MAC address I suggest checking that it is using the Mac's MAC and not the Dell's that could help, also follow the re-install advice from earlier in the thread (Very good thing to do with any new PC). You may be hating it now but just think of all those games you'll be able to play online..... Failing that send the Dell to Apple and tell them they sent you the wrong machine, might work!

Mr_Tricorder · « **Reply #37 on:** September 20, 2005, 08:54:42 am »

Quote from: ELITE-Kaos on September 20, 2005, 07:09:31 am

... also follow the re-install advice from earlier in the thread (Very good thing to do with any new PC). ...

If you have to reinstall everything, don't let your computer anywhere near the internet until you have service pack 2 and a working antivirus program installed and running on your computer. I would also recommend installing Firefox before you connect to the internet also, so the only thing you will ever need IE for is Windows Update.

Darth Sidious · « **Reply #38 on:** September 20, 2005, 09:01:33 am »

If you're on comcast (or any other major broadband provider), if at all possible be behind a router that does NAT. A cheap linksys from one of the bigbox stores will do.

A reinstall from the restore disk wouldnt be a bad idea - especially if there isnt any data needing to be saved.

While doing the restore from disk - dont be connected to the net unless behind a router-based firewall (again, NAT is your friend). before going online (if WinXP), turn on the firewall and immediatly do windows update/install all.

if a reinstall isnt an option; try this:

start/run/msconfig.
Go to startup tab, and check to see whats loading at startup. Check what loads at startup. If it looks odd, check it out a tasklist.org (not 100% accurate, but a good start)
If something shows up as bad, uncheck it from loading at startup.

Do the same for task manager, except end-task non-needed processes.

If alot of things in msconfig/taskmanager are showing up as trojan/spyware/etc, a reformat/reinstall is probably best, especially if the pc hasnt been used much

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