Virus Warning!!!

[Mr. Smee]

Becareful linking to "Ataraxia" on Steve R's post
below. My system just quarantined a virus originating from that site.

Mr. Smee

[Steven R]

Yikes!!!! Sorry about that.

[Meerkat]

Trying to zoom the text in Firefox caused it (Firefox) to crash too!

Too bad there are not plans available for that boat!

[sdowney717]

What is the virus name?
I am running Avast and AVG.
I have gone there and dont get a virus warnings.
And I zoomed the text using firefox ok.

[George Roberts]

I don't think it is possible to get a virus by visiting a site. You might get a cookie, but they don't do damage.

I think the zoom problem is software related. A lot of sites use commands that do not work on all computers.

[brian.cunningham]

Originally posted by George Roberts:
I don't think it is possible to get a virus by visiting a site. You might get a cookie, but they don't do damage.

I think the zoom problem is software related. A lot of sites use commands that do not work on all computers.You can get a WORM by visiting a site. They use file extensions ( ddl's ) and attach to pre-existing programs. Your more likely to pick up spyware by visiting a site.

If your not running a firewall you'll get hit.

I've got hit by them before.

[Meerkat]

If you don't allow Active-X or OCX's to run, you can't get a worm or other virus. These are probably the most dangerous, even if "certified" - those can be faked.

I avoid Java for much the same reason.

Javascript should be safe since it's sandboxed and so not allowed to write just anywhere on your disk (meaning it (javascripts) can't install DLL's (ddl's? ;) ) in your system directorys or web browser directories, which is where it really counts) or download from arbitrary locations.

A good firewall is always a safe bet.

[ 12-04-2005, 05:59 PM: Message edited by: Meerkat ]

[Thorne]

Or just use a Macintosh and stop worrying...

;- )

http://www.luckhardt.com/OSwars.gif

[ 12-05-2005, 12:45 AM: Message edited by: Thorne ]

[George Roberts]

brian.cunningham ---

I think meerkat is correct. You must run a program with more permisions than HTML or Javascript to do any damage, or download files that contain macros.

Firewalls do not stop viruses. They stop access from external sources. My firewall sits in my router and ti allows no exteral access as a default. I have had no reason to change that.

Years ago we had a problem with some program replacing the "Txt" editor. Someone was playing unsafe computing on a dialup line.

[brian.cunningham]

The latest Norton filters out trojan viruses, at least that's what the pop-op messages are saying it's doing.

[Mr. Smee]

Steve,
S'ok you didn't know but best scan your system. Here's the virus data my MIS guy dug up on the bugger. "MHTML.redirect.exe" - (track 34) File".

"Cookies and viruses and worms! Oh, my"

Mr.Smee

[Paul G]

Earlier this year I installed a brand new fresh copy of xp on a brand new HD. Within an hour of connection to the net it was full of worms and trojans.

Never going back to MS

[Wild Dingo]

Never goin back to MS??? so what you running? or have you gone to the dark side and got yourself a apple?

[PeterSibley]

Linux ? smile.gif

[Stiletto]

Paul, that's surprising, I run microsoft anti spyware,AVG free edition,and Sygate firewall, and occasionally run CCcleaner and have no problems.

Once installed they just get on and do their job.

[Bruce Hooke]

I have a friend who provides tech support to a high school. Someone was coming to do some sort of demonstration related to computers and wanted a computer with a clean install of the OS, and said he needed the computer to be outside the firewall. My friend was not real keen on the latter part of the request, but went ahead and got it set up before lunch. By the time he came back from lunch he had a call from the schools ISP saying that "someone" had found the computer and was using it to relay spam!

[AlanL]

A vulnerability has been found as a result of a bug in IE. This has meant that visiting some websites could mean that a computer can be controlled remotely. Read about it at Exploit for Vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer window() object (http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/887861) .

Don't know if this affects IE on MacOS too, though I doubt it.

Alan

[Thorne]

Nope.

http://www.luckhardt.com/OSwars.gif

I do Mac support for Leapfrog in Emeryville, the folks who make all those cool educational toys, and have done Mac and PC support for FAR too long.

No real threats out there for the Mac currently. Various browsers will be updated to eliminate potential threats, but **in reality** there are no viruses, no spyware, and no "website takeovers" for Macs.

I recommend the Mozilla family of browsers for the Mac -- Firefox is quite nice -- and an email program with a good spam filter like Eudora.

For PC's Firefox with the options for ActiveX and popups turned off is wonderful! Try it.

[ 12-07-2005, 08:57 AM: Message edited by: Thorne ]

[chergui]

There are all sorts of vulnerabilites in software besides javascript, active x, etc. There are lots of things running that could be a problem. And a lot of them you don't have any control over.

The average time for a Windows 2000 install to be hacked is 12 minutes. My install wasn't even complete before my system was compromised. Running Ad Aware helps a lot also. Try running it after a new installation.. you'll be surprised what it finds. But run it often also. Firewalls help, but don't solve everything. Keep up to date with the windows updates. These are pretty much requirements for any computer connected to the internet.

The OS doesn't matter much, they are pretty much all just as hackable. But windows is the biggest target.

[ 12-12-2005, 06:35 PM: Message edited by: chergui ]

[Thorne]

Hack-able, yes. Hacked, no. Same difference between 'sinkable' and 'sunk'...

;- )

There are NO active viruses, spyware, or worms for the Macintosh OSX -- same for many other OS's. I've supported Macs for decades, and the only things out there are Macro viruses for MS Office apps and some ancient OS9 viruses.

Some evil things get created for testing vunerabilities of browsers and apps on these other platforms, but nothing is out there 'in the wild'.