Security Scam

[Drusilla1S]

Please help with a possible scam to get me to pay for additional security that may not be required. When I got my computer last year I bought Norton Internet Security and have had no problems until today.

The red heart bubble, which I believe is a Microsoft feature, keeps flashing, 'your computer is infected' and automatically downloads Spy Falcon software which I am expected to buy. However, my Norton system has not indicated any faults and says my computer is ok.

I also keep getting pop ups for naughty sites which is going to be embarrassing when my children get home from school. I think my friends husband may have looked at some sites when they visited last night, but I cannot be certain of that, as he was alone with the computer while we chatted.

Do I have a problem or not? If not, how can I turn off the red heart(Microsoft) irritant.

Incidentally, my Norton protection is valid for another two months. Thanks for any help you can offer.

[fo3nix]

Norton is terrible anyway, but thats another story.

Sounds like you may have some spyware on your computer. Download this and it'll sort it out:

http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/300 0-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl& tag=top5

[vehelpfulguy]

If you want to see if he HAS looked at adult sites do as follows (if you are using Internet Explorer):

Open IE and click on the little clock icon on the toolbar near the middle (hold the cursor over it and it should say "history")

The left side of the browser should open up with all the sites visited in the last 3 weeks (unless he has cleared them out). Click on each day to expand them out and have a look through and see if there are any dodgy sites.

Also on the browser, below the icon bar at the top, is a drop down list of all sites that have been typed in. Select the small arrow on the right pointing down, and a list will drop down.

Again, he may have cleared it out, but see if there are any dodgy sites there.

[vehelpfulguy]

Also, if you search on the internet for "Spy Falcon" there are a number of sites that tell you how to remove it. DONT PAY FOR ANY OF THEM.

Are you sure it is a red heart ? Microsoft use a shield, sometimes Red or Orange.

A shield is the Security Centre and you can open it by going into the Control Panel (on the start menu) and then opening the Security Centre.

You can turn various things off in there.

[commoner]

..mm...Despite fo3nix stating catagorically the "Norton is terrible" I have been using Norton for years and hold it in the highest esteem..it has served me well. If you don't "invite" these things to infest your computer by visiting dodgy sites then Norton will do as well as any other antivirus software in keeping them out.

It does, as fo3nix says, look like you have some type of spyware, no doubt invited in by your friend's husband and if fo3nix would now like to add the link to his/her post it might help you..........

So...fo3nix what is the link you asked Drusilla to download? Maybe we all would like to have such a fine piece of software...........commoner. <G>

[vehelpfulguy]

One last thing. If you are on broadband have you got a Firewall?

Windows XP supplies one in the security centre but it is very limited.

Download ZoneAlarm (the free version) and this is a very good basic firewall.

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp

[vehelpfulguy]

fo3nix suggested she download Adaware which will search for spyware.

I also use Adaware, and it comes highly recommened from many PC magazines.

In fact I use 3 main pieces of FREE software to protect my PC: AVG Anti Virus, Zone Alarm, and AdAware.

[Drusilla1S]

Hi everyone and thank you for taking the time to reply.

I have discovered a dodgy site has been viewed and now I am getting ads to use the following; Pest Trap. WinAntiVirus, Spyfighter or Adproject.

I'm getting in a bit of a tizz and need to clear this mess before the kids get home.

[Drusilla1S]

Sorry, vehelpfulguy, it's a red circle with a white heart, flashing and exchanging/swapping with a microsoft symbol sitting on the world.

[Drusilla1S]

I've got a personal firewall in the Norton system and one on the Windows XP, so that should have stopped this intrusion, don't you think?

It obviously hasn't, but everything has been fine until today. My friends husband is going to be one embarrassed man by the time I've finished with him.

[commoner]

...VHG...where does fo3nix recommend Adaware?. I don't see that...............commoner.

BTW I too use Adaware...........;-) Also Trojan Remover....but it's not Freeware!

[stoo_pid]

Just to add to fo3nix's comments - I used NAV for years but each new release seemed to slow my PC more & more. The final straw came when I upgraded to NAV 2006 (including spyware detection) a few months ago, waited over 3 hours for it finish scanning & then when I checked with Pest Patrol immediately afterwards it found 6 or 7 spyware infections that NAV told me weren't there. I no longer have NAV on my PC.

[vehelpfulguy]

Hi commoner, in the very first reply fo3nix says he does not like NAV, but then gives a hyperlink that takes you direct to an Adaware download.

He does not mention Adaware in his append, but the "download" hyperlink takes you direct to the Adaware download.

[commoner]

..mm...must be something wrong with my pc VHG...I just don't see the link, for why I just am puzzled..........I see the post but no link. I'm guessing the word "this" should be the link. right?....not on my monitor though????? ....commoner.

[fo3nix]

commoner: The link is below what I said.. it's a link to Adaware at download.com.

The reason I don't like norton is that apart from it causing no end of trouble with some other programs (it does, google it), the main thing is that it uses a lot of resources. it can really slow your computer down. but if you've always used it, you may never notice it.

I use the same programs that vehelpfulguy uses, with one exception:

AVG Free anti-virus
Kerio Personal Firewall
Adaware Personal edition, spyware remover

I used to always use zonealarm, but tried kerio some months back and was switched, due to it opening a lot faster on startup, and being just as good in every other way as zonealarm is.

drusilla: i'd go with what vehelpfulguy suggests, good advice there.

[commoner]

..mm...very strange..I see your post like this below, but no link...can't explain it sorry...........commoner

fo3nix
Mon 20/03/06
13:39


Norton is terrible anyway, but thats another story.

Sounds like you may have some spyware on your computer. Download this and it'll sort it out:



Nothing after that ??????

[fo3nix]

Very weird. there's definitely a link there, this one:

http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/300 0-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl& tag=top5

[commoner]

.....mmmm.....which one........sorry fo3nix. still don't see it...I can see vhg's link but not yours.............ah well, seen stranger things.............

[Drusilla1S]

I want to thank every one of you for replying to my question. I had to get someone out to clear the system and everything is fine now. Fortunately, I had kept all my important info on disc. My friend made her husband pay for the repairs and we are making him grovel.