Shoutbox

About Virues

Viruses are common these days, they spread through files. This thread is to help those who constantly get viruses and how to deal with them, mainly for noobs

Viruses are not they only things to be concerted about there are:

•    Trojan Horses
•    Worms
•    Adware
•    Spyware
•    Malware
•    Diallers

Trojans horses are very common. They are everywhere and don't think by downloading nothing your safe. They usally save in your C:/windows folder. Trojans can be harmless in very rare cases some are to collect passwords. Some are to delete files and generally damage your computer. A Trojan cannot spread though so there should only be one infected file.

A backdoor trojan is much much more then something to collect passwords. A backdoor trojan opens a port on your computer which can be used by the hacker (or anyone who knows about it) to break into your computer, collect info, do bad stuff, etc...  (Explanation by Cookie Revised)

A worm is a type of program which seeks his way true networks to infect other computers. This can be done by mailing itself, breaking firewalls, etc... The difference with a virus is that a virus infects files, a worm seeks his own way for spreading.  (Explanation by Cookie Revised)

Adware is annoying if anything. They display advertisements, it can slow down your computer and is general irritating.

Spyware is most common, 9/10 computers have been infected with spy ware. In addition, they can collect passwords, your files and the worse your credit card numbers.

Dialers change your internet configuration, and dial to paynumbers instead to your normal provider. This will costs you money as almost all "dialer"-numbers are heavy pay numbers, and/or located in other countries. (Explanation by Cookie Revised)
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Below is how to protect your self from such threats:

Have at least one anti-virus
Have an anti Spyware program
Have a firewall (windows contacts a firewall)
Protect your self with basic knowledge

A free anti virus is Avg (Anti Virus Grifson) and can be located here



Download and save the file in your program files then run it. Follow the on screen instructions and you will need to reboot your computer.

Remember:


Anti viruses, do not protect you from all spyware
Anti viruses, do not protect you from ad-ware
Run a scan about once a week
Always update your definitions before running a scan

To protect you from getting viruses in the first place:

Do not download just anything
Keep you security settings on your internet Brower high
Have an active firewall

Viruses can be hard to get rid of. They can stop anti-viruses from working probably. You may have to delete them manually, especially if the are an executable process by windows. If this is the case find, out about your virus and get help finding the registry keys, how to delete the executable file in safe mode etc.

oh no another help thread from absorbtion with basic info. amazing!

im not trying to be rude or spammy or anything. But absorbtion, this is very common information that probobly everyone knows But good help for noobs!

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Originally posted by Hobbes
im not trying to be rude or spammy or anything. But absorbtion, this is very common information that probobly everyone knows But good help for noobs!

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That was my aim to help noobs

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Originally posted by Absorbation

That was my aim to help noobs

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Then make a nice website and put all your information on that website.

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Originally posted by Absorbation
Viruses are common these days, they spread through downloads, web pages and instant messages.

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They spread through infecting other files, not by downloading... Of course you can download an infected file, but that isn't the virus' doing...

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Originally posted by Absorbation
Trojans save in your temporary internet files.

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They almost never do... They mostly save themselfs in many other places (eg: like c:\windows).

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Originally posted by Absorbation
Trojans can be harmless in rare cases.

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Although true (and that goes for virusses in general also), I never have seen a harmless trojan since virusses became "popular" back in the mid 80's...

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Originally posted by Absorbation
some are to collect passwords. (Backdoor Trojans)

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A backdoor trojan is much much more then something to collect passwords. A backdoor trojan opens a port on your computer which can be used by the hacker (or anyone who knows about it) to break into your computer, collect info, do bad stuff, etc...

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Originally posted by Absorbation
A Trojan cannot spread though so there should only be one infected item.

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Very wrong. Many trojans have spreading meganisms also. Although a pure trojan will indeed not spread, a pure trojan is very rare (if not non-existing). Trojans are almost always combined with worms or normal virus-meganisms.

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Originally posted by Absorbation
A worm is a type of virus but rapidly spreads

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That's not the definitation of a worm! A worm is a type of program which seeks his way true networks to infect other computers. This can be done by mailing itself, breaking firewalls, etc... The difference with a virus is that a virus infects files, a worm seeks his own way for spreading.

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Originally posted by Absorbation
Ad ware slows down your computer

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Not always. Decent adware will not slow your computer down in any way (unless you call "opening a window" slowing down your PC. But in that case, anything will slow down your PC)

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Originally posted by Absorbation
Diallers are terrible. They dial up to the internet are can charge money to your internet provider which will make you pay.

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No, dialers will not charge your internet provider some money. Dialers change your internet configuration, and dial to paynumbers instead to your normal provider. This will costs you money as almost all "dialer"-numbers are heavy pay numbers, and/or located in other countries.

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Originally posted by Absorbation
Internet providers now do not make you pay as they are aware of the problem

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Many providers do charge the money and you will have to pay it!

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Originally posted by Absorbation
Never have two anti- viruses

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There is absolutely nothing wrong in having two anti-virusses. In fact, it is even better!!! The only problem can be that you have two running memory resident anti-virus softwares which could conflict with each other. But running a periodic full system scan with more then 1 virusscanner is a good thing to do, not a bad thing.

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Originally posted by Absorbation
Do not click link or files with .pif

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Why only .pif?? Many virusses infect many many other filetypes also... It is not true that .pif is the most common extension for virusses though! .pif is used by some "popular" virusses, but that doesn't mean it is the common virus-extension. In fact, infected exe's are far far more common...

Absorbation, most people here who want to know that already will, those that don't want to know most likely won't read your post. Threads like this always crop up and really are forgotten about.

It is very nice that you are trying to help though

HeHe - CookieRevised always here to straighten things out.


Never have two antivirus programs
I recomend it - Different antivirus/adware/spyware/etc. pragrams pick up different things and are aimed at different types of threats ,for example, Adaware picks up more adware than norton which picks up more torjans and other viruses. Some do conflict but as long as they don't - more is better to ensure you remove ALL threats.

If you want to learn about viruses heres a great site with detailed info on all types of viruses

http://www.cknow.com/vtutor/vtmap.htm

No offence but i dont think that belongs here, its very basic.. And also look at cookies post.