Post by: Rob DiStefano on February 10, 2010, 09:13:00 AM
(Win2K, XP, Vista, Win7, etc.)
There are reports of image borne malware apps floating around PhotoBucket images.
Malware/spyware/virus intrusions appear to be traveling around on other photo imaging sources as well, not just PhotoBucket.
These infected images can contaminate your pc.
If possible, it's advised to run anti-virus, malware and spyware apps in your pc.
The alternative is to not use any Microsoft operating system. Rather than ditching your pc and spending lots of buck$ on an Apple Mac, consider installing a Linux operating system. For further info, click HERE (http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=129&t=000053#000000)
Post by: Bigkid on February 10, 2010, 09:31:00 AM
I went to 2 different major retailers web sites last night and Both were stopped from loading Because of Malware!
Avg is Good at catching thoose
Post by: Gene Charbonneau on February 10, 2010, 09:32:00 AM
I was very glad to see you post this thread, as I think folks might not see all of the other thread on the Photobucket virus (Malware) issue.
I got it last Friday as well. I was uploading pics to photobucket, and zap. It took over my computer. I am not that computer savvy, but enough to know that the "WARNINGS" I was getting that my antivirus software was not working (It was and updated, but just didn't catch this malware). The malware directed me to their (the malware authors) web site, where I would be "allowed" to purchase some software to "cure" the problem. I assumed that this was phony and they were just trying to get my credit card info. I did not purchase, of course, and immeditaly shut down my internet connection, but too late.
Long story short, 4 days and $50 later. I have a disinfected computer, and not feeling to friendly towards WINDOWS! :mad: :knothead:
I download every security software update, ran an antivirus, and spyware detector. None of it worked.
Thanks for the tip on LINUX. :thumbsup:
Looks like I am going to install a new operating system. Don't know why I hadn't done that years ago.
Post by: Jeff Strubberg on February 10, 2010, 09:40:00 AM
Malwarebytes does a pretty good job of cleaning this junk up and is a freely available download. Linux is a great option, assuming you can run everything you want to on it.
Post by: Rob DiStefano on February 10, 2010, 09:46:00 AM
linux mint apps have gotten SO much better in the last year that now i use it exclusively. there is very very little need for me to mess with microsoft. i have 5 pcs and 4 are dedicated with linux mint, the 5th is a dual boot with linux and win7 ultimate (for games for the grandkids :D ).
if it sounds like i'm pushing linux mint over billy boy's ms os, YOU BET!
Post by: limbow on February 10, 2010, 09:48:00 AM
Post by: WESTBROOK on February 10, 2010, 09:53:00 AM
Eric
Post by: ballen28115 on February 10, 2010, 09:53:00 AM
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
Post by: richbat on February 10, 2010, 09:56:00 AM
Post by: Jeff Strubberg on February 10, 2010, 09:59:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by WESTBROOK:About half and half. Linux is much harder to write bugs for because it doesn't hand out elevated privileges the way Windows does. Linux is also a much smaller target that Windows. Nobody writes adware for Linux when they can get 100 times the opportunities by writing a new Windows bug.
Rob, is Linux "crap" proof?, or is it just that no one has bothered to produce any "crap" that bothers it yet.
Eric
Also, Linux is customizable in ways Windows simply won't allow. There's a very small amount of code that a virus writer can rely on a Linux box having for him to call. The rest is a guess.
Post by: Rob DiStefano on February 10, 2010, 10:00:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by WESTBROOK:linux is based on unix, and yes it is very very hard to crack unlike ms os which is fraught with open holes just waiting to let in the bad guys,
Rob, is Linux "crap" proof?, or is it just that no one has bothered to produce any "crap" that bothers it yet.
Eric
unix has been and still is the defacto ubiquitous commercial and government operating system worldwide.
did i mention that www.linuxmint. (http://www.linuxmint.) com is FREE - no cost, no strings attached, and comes with a KILLER built in suite of applications and software. as a web creator and coder and image manipulator, it's all i use.
bye bye billy boy .................. :D
Post by: Jeff Strubberg on February 10, 2010, 10:03:00 AM
http://www.ubuntu.com
Post by: WESTBROOK on February 10, 2010, 10:09:00 AM
Post by: acadian archer on February 10, 2010, 10:11:00 AM
Post by: WESTBROOK on February 10, 2010, 10:12:00 AM
Eric
Post by: Gene Charbonneau on February 10, 2010, 11:03:00 AM
Thanks for the tip on MalwareBytes.
I just downloaded it. Ran it, and it did find one malware on my PC
The PC that I just had cleaned professionally yesterday ($50) :mad: . Installed NEW anti-virus software (BitDefender) full version, just downloaded upgrades, and just full scanned 1 hr ago. In spite of all that Malware Bytes still found one malware virus.. sheesh. :thumbsup:
Post by: M60gunner on February 10, 2010, 11:33:00 AM
Post by: Rob DiStefano on February 10, 2010, 11:38:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by acadian archer:the best thing to do with emails is to make sure your email app doesn't display images or html code.
I do an update before I check my emails EVERY TIME as well as when I first turn on my computer EVERYTIME. DON't rely on updating your protection once a day. You might just miss the update
Post by: T Sunstone on February 10, 2010, 11:45:00 AM
Post by: M60gunner on February 10, 2010, 11:55:00 AM
Post by: KentuckyTJ on February 10, 2010, 11:59:00 AM
Thanks Rob.
Post by: bohuntr on February 10, 2010, 12:23:00 PM
Post by: Rob DiStefano on February 10, 2010, 12:32:00 PM
get a free copy of linux mint, and either replace or add it to your pc along side your windows operating system, and only use linux for access the web or email.
for the vast number of average users you will most likely never ever need windows for any applications except maybe games. think of linux as a pc version of the mac (though it surely isn't). you will have bug free peace of mind and your wallet will thank you far sooner than later.
Post by: SteveB on February 10, 2010, 01:04:00 PM
Malewarebytes does take it out - but you have to run it after booting up in the safe mode. Going to look at the linux - thanks Rob.
Post by: Chester Thompson on February 10, 2010, 01:19:00 PM
Post by: mickeys4 on February 10, 2010, 01:28:00 PM
My wife and two college sons run Windows,people fight change, so I get the opportunity at least once per year of reformatting their hard drives and reinstalling Windows whatever,XP,Vista and now Win7.If you use Windows you NEED to do this once per year regardless.
I am the one eyed man in the land of the blind in my neighborhood so I help my neighbors keep their windows machines running.The newer machines are relatively easy to restore,older machines can take hours
I must admit that a few years ago my linux operating system went kaput.It took me a whole twenty minutes to reinstall and be up and running again.
Visit http://distrowatch.com/ and you can download linux distributions for free and burn a live CD or buy the CDs for $2.95 plus shipping.Make sure to download or purchase a live CD. Linux operating systems will run from the CD and if you have enough ram the whole system will load into ram and run very fast.You do not have to install anything.Its like a test drive to see if you like it.If you decide to install find someone with a little know how the first time and you can have a dual boot system with windows and Linux.If you choose to run your computer from a live CD you don't need a hard drive in the computer just a usb stick to save things to.I've ran computers for months with no hard drive.
Linux is faster,more secure and free.There is a learning curve but with a dual boot system you can take your time.If I sat you in front of my laptop to surf the Internet,read E-mail instant message the only thing you would notice was how fast it was.
Post by: Rob DiStefano on February 10, 2010, 01:33:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Chester Thompson:chester, you didn't really read through this thread didja? linux mint is ..... FREE
I can't quite figure it out, how much does linux mint cost? I used Unix for work a while back and it was great, I am really thinking about trying it out for my PC.
Post by: 2manybows on February 10, 2010, 01:36:00 PM
Post by: MJW on February 10, 2010, 01:37:00 PM
PCLinuxOS (http://pclinuxos.com/)
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Post by: Rob DiStefano on February 10, 2010, 01:41:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by 2manybows:no matter where the infected image resides, you unknowingly click on it, your pc gets infected.
I was wondering does it only infect your computer if you use photo bucket or similar sites or does it happen just by opening pages on sites that have them uploaded from there ? Ex.. someone posts a picture here on the forums and we open that thread that has the picture.. are we infected ?
Post by: 2manybows on February 10, 2010, 01:48:00 PM
Post by: 2manybows on February 10, 2010, 01:49:00 PM
Post by: Gene Charbonneau on February 10, 2010, 02:14:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by 2manybows:I was getting a bunch of "pop ups" that looked like Windows warnings,(but were probably not and part of the malware) saying that my computer was infected with a virus, and that my anti virus software was not working.
Also.. can you give some examples of what happens from the result of the malware.. I ran 3 of my security tools and nothing is showing up.. but I want to make sure.
No matter what I clicked on, I got pretty much the same message, and without warning Internet Explorer would open and try to load a web page. I had turned off my modem by then so it didn't load, but I could see by the URL that it was something about purchasing software. I guess to clean the system, but most likely a scam to just get your credit card info. I had known enough to turn the modem off, so nothing else was lost, but I was infected. It would not let me run my anti-virus (AVG Free), which missed it anyway.
Now I know, I could have done a reboot in the safe mode, and might have been able to clean it that way, but too late for that..lol.
All I use a computer for is Internet and email so LINUX here we come.
I used to have to have a "Windows" PC to run CAD software, but retired and no more.. :D
Post by: Maxximusgrind on February 10, 2010, 02:47:00 PM
Another thing worth mentioning about linux is that many of them,you can test run on your pc before you install it by putting in a disc and re-booting.when you remove the disc you havent changed anything-it runs slower that way,but if your nervous?
And to be honest I have not been able to get my linux to download Itunes for my kids or work with some of my windows program cds yet.so we do still have windows,but havent used it in a while-were getting used to it.
Hope thats helpful.
Robert
Post by: acadian archer on February 10, 2010, 03:02:00 PM
Post by: Rob DiStefano on February 10, 2010, 03:09:00 PM
1. you must keep it updated and even if you do, you may still get bugged because your security vendor didn't inoculate your pc in time.
2. you're using a windows os, THE prime target for hackers worldwide. they don't bother with any other operating system. you will get hacked, sooner or later. period.
worse than hackers are the virtual intruders than turn your personal pc into a zombie for relaying the nasties all over the world. don't think this could ever happen to you on your windows machine? think again ....
Post by: DannyBows on February 10, 2010, 03:37:00 PM
Post by: Rob DiStefano on February 10, 2010, 03:51:00 PM
at this point, i think that most malware is looking to zombie your computer into a bot net that is used to attack and bring servers/domains to a halt. you've read about these attacks on corporations and the dept of defense.
the defense against malware and bot nets isn't keeping up with how fast these nasty, but very clever folks can attack just about any pc anywhere in the world.
all of the above, and more, forced my lazy butt to start finding a pc alternative to windows.
Post by: Maxximusgrind on February 10, 2010, 04:20:00 PM
!["[dntthnk]"]("graemlins/dntthnk.gif" "\"\"")
Linux mint was free. not a free trial-free
I wont say its perfect or that anyone else has to do it but it was about my only option that made any sense and its working for me
Post by: TooManyHobbies on February 10, 2010, 04:32:00 PM
A good friend that fixed my problem also recommended Linux. He has been running it for months with NO PROTECTION, without any problems. He's a puter geek. Next Saturday, he will be putting the Linux on for me, and straightening out some other stuff. Thanks for the thread, it reinforces what I already knew.
Post by: Rob DiStefano on February 10, 2010, 04:44:00 PM
Post by: SlowBowinMO on February 16, 2010, 02:43:00 PM
Post by: Rob DiStefano on February 16, 2010, 04:50:00 PM
Post by: SlowBowinMO on February 17, 2010, 02:38:00 PM
Post by: Ray Borbon on March 07, 2010, 02:33:00 PM
Mac compromised in less than 30 seconds.
Unix or Linux as well
Windows as well.
Don't you find it strange when you read claims that linux is hack resistant and then foreign hackers get into forune 500 systems and into sensitive information? Especially when it was hosted with linux?
Fact is - all of them have their holes. It's the user's responsibility to understand, know about them and protect themselves.
Linux is OK but I don't really like it that much for a desktop operating system. I have run fine on windows for 10 years without any viruses. During that time I have also managed a dozen or so linux servers, used linux on a laptop and also have owned one mac. Nothing wrong with any of them.
I have not had a windows app crash on me since years ago when I used XP. Firefox crashed on me many times. I have also had my mac apps crash a couple of times. Linux is NOT bug free. Neither is a mac.
Post by: Rob DiStefano on March 07, 2010, 08:35:00 PM
Post by: Ray Borbon on March 07, 2010, 09:35:00 PM
There's definitely more people working against the microsoft product. However there are vulnerabilities in all operating systems. The administrator is what aids the security. If I had a script sitting inside the wwroot which was hacked and which I ran with CRON as ROOT it could do a heck of a lot of damage to a linux system. There's a reason why they make things like this http://www.clamav.net/
Last time I heard about the iPhone it had application vulnerabilities up the wazoo. That's an Apple product..
Post by: Ray Borbon on March 07, 2010, 09:39:00 PM
Post by: Rob DiStefano on March 08, 2010, 06:04:00 AM
linux mint is still the FAR better os for the average person surfing the web and using email.
Post by: Ray Borbon on March 08, 2010, 10:24:00 AM
I downloaded linux mint. It looks nice. I noticed it did not have out of the box drivers for my laptop's wireless card. Other than that it looks pretty good.
Post by: Rob DiStefano on March 08, 2010, 10:35:00 AM
also, on an initial load from a mint cd, you do need to update the system for os and app updates - but the wireless works right off the cd disc load.