Warning-Please read and protect your computers

[Uncle Al]

WARNING!

Please beware of an email stating you need to upgrade
to AVG-2009 anti-virus software. I got hit with this email,
and only 'previewed' it in my preview window. I did not
open it, nor did I delete/block it immediately. Instead I went
to the AVG website, and it does not have any info about an
upgrade for 2009, nor any info about future releases. Anyway,
I can only get email. My browser does not work. My wireless
network is functioning, but the I-net is blocked.

I've down-graded my browser from IE-7 to IE-6, was able
to get on the I-net for about 5 minutes, and now that is
not working.

Folks, I'm not sure what the heck is going on, but frustration
levels are increasing geometrically. If I could find the blasted
computer high-jacker, I'ld make him sing soprano real quick!
If it is a 'her', I've no clue what to do--but you get my drift!

My wifes computer ( which I'm using ) is on a hard connection
to the I-net. My computer is on a wireless network.

I normally would not do this but I'm getting desperate. I don't
want to format my hard drive. We all know what a pain it is to
'restore' a system. You still loose a lot of 'stuff'. If anyone
has info on repairing IE-6/7 or any version of IE, please send
me a direct email.

abcavitt@charter.net

Carl, if you think this is out of line, please email me and edit
this post as you see fit.

Thank you, everyone!

Uncle Al
Duncanville, TX

[Since1982]

I have AVG on my new Dell, I got the same email, I deleted it immediately. I was a Guide/Host Help at AOL for 9 years and never ever open or preview anything I don't know for sure. Any upgrades from AVG are automatically entered in my system. Not by email. AVG in their upgrades have mentioned this virus. BEEEEE careful. I get emails all the time from ebay and paypal and none of them are actually FROM ebay or paypal. Just move your cursor over it without pressing it and you'll see the added code. The paypal one is actually paypaI which is actually in small case paypai..the ebay one is actually ebay.com.argus/code code and more code. I've gotten emails from myself and I know I didn't send them.. instead of "SkirtedMan@aol.com'' they come from ''SkirtedMan@aoI.-=.com'' I added some dots and dashes to stop it being a link, also known as aoi..

My AVP is free and far superior to the Nortons I had on my former computer. Personal choice for me is AVP, I've had Firefox and didn't care for it personally, different strokes for different folks I guess.

[owen]

Rather than drive yourself round the twist trying to repair IE, you could just install Firefox and use that instead. It's better and safer anyway, and free of charge.

If you do need to reinstall your system, you could consider safeguarding your future security by getting as far away from a "standard" (i.e. insecure) Windows installation as you can. Here's a few suggestions:

Level 1: Set up a restricted user account on your computer and always use that, only logging on to the administrator account when absolutely necessary (for installing non-malicious software, etc.)
Level 2: Install Firefox and use it instead of IE. Also, replace Outlook Express with Thunderbird, MS Office with OpenOffice, and so on. Those "open-source" programs are safer and at least as good as their Microsoft equivalents, and won't cost you a penny (unless you feel like making donations).
Level 3: Get rid of Windows. Install a Linux system (e.g. Ubuntu) on your PC instead, or buy an Apple Mac.

And wear a skirt for luck while you're doing it.

[mountain-mug]

I hope you're back in full operations with the computer. There seems to be an infinite number of viruses, trojan horses, etc. that can infect computers. I'm an IT guy, and see all kinds of things. Owen's suggestion to use open source is a great one. I use OpenOffice at work, as well as Evolution and some other non-proprietary software on my Linux desktop. At home, I use Apple. Their OS X operating system is based on Unix, making it very secure. After years on the internet with no AV software, I have yet to experience any issues, knock on wood!

[Uncle Al]

Update on my PC....

I've installed Firefox and can only use the I-Net for
approximately 10 minutes, then I get locked out.
I still get email on Outlook Express and regular Outlook.
This is such a pain!!!!!!!!

Uncle Al
Duncanville, TX

[crfriend]

Update on my PC....

I've installed Firefox and can only use the I-Net for
approximately 10 minutes, then I get locked out.
I still get email on Outlook Express and regular Outlook.
This is such a pain!!!!!!!!

I'm not going to preach the evils of Microsoft products but rather ask specifically, "What, precisely, is the failure mode?" When the browser goes toes up, does Outlook still work (without rebooting)? Is there network traffic originating from the machine that you are not commanding? Can you run a virus-scan on the system during the ten minutes that the browser is operational for? Are there things in the startup menu that you did not explicitly put there? Does the browser throw an error message, or does it just hang? All of those are pertinent questions that can help a technician locate and solve the problem.

As a last-ditch measure (before a F&R (format and reload), that is) you could remove the hard drive and take it to a pal who can scan it without booting from it. I've done the latter to Sapphire's machines a few times when they've been really wonky. Note that in some instances you must be disconnected from the network when troubleshooting because some infections will just re-infect almost immediately if the network is up and running.

[Uncle Al]

Carl,
I've sent you an email with your requested info.

I've installed Firefox and still have the same problem.
I've located my OS intall disc, and will end up formatting
my hard drive either this PM or tomorrow. Unfortunately,
the wireless network that I have, does not support Linux.
I'm considering switching over to Linux uBuntu. From the
people that I've talked/emailed with, they don't have the
kind of problems that Windows has.

Still thinking...

Uncle Al
Duncanville, TX

[Uncle Al]

Hello All,

Well, I'm back up and running

I'm slowly getting my programs back. I'm having
trouble downloading and installing AVG Anti-virus
but will try a different approach. One of the
members of my Theatre Organ List said that
the country of Germany has banned Microsoft
products. They only use Linux. I've also had
the offer of Linux help from a retired IT director.
His company had 500 employees, all using Linux.

I may set up my second hard drive as Linux, that
way I can compare the systems.

Have a great day!

Uncle Al
Duncanville, TX

[miniskirt07]

I used Fx 3.0.4 and Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 ad Counterspy V3 that seem good one I dont used IE6 or IE7 -- only IE7 64bits for 2nd browser as I used Vista Ultimate x64 SP1

Kaspersky has anti-virus filter in Network area to keep checking for spam or junk or any malware..