dialer virus

[bobtheduck]

a friend just got stung for 180 quid with one, i know they dont occur with broadband but how else can they be prevented? does having norton anti virus help?

[scatman]

Spy-bot and Adaware. Both up to date, both used regularly.

Don't use internet explorer, get Firefox ( http://mozilla.org )

A competent Antivirus and firewall wouldn't hurt either.

Use common sense, stay away from dodgy sites. If these sites know a way to make money, they'll exploit it and you won't even know.

Oh, it might be worhtwhile noting the number that your ISP gives you, memorise the last few digits or whatever, just to make sure your pc doesn't dial a different one.

If you do use broadband, make sure the old dial up line isn't plugged into your old dial up modem, if you still have it.

[bobtheduck]

thanks

[Potatoman]

90% norton wont help and you will recieve no warning, as an ActiveX control loads into your browser and b*ggers things up, including diallers and homepages etc.. The good new is is that windows XP service pack 2 WILL warn you when this happens, AND give you the option block it.

[bobtheduck]

ok ihave norton, ad-aware, and spybot all installed and i dont go near dodgy sites so what are my chances of avoiding dialers?

[lukey121]

what is fire fox?

[Potatoman]

Firefox is a web browser. You wont get diallers if your careful what sites you visit ("dodgy" ones) and what you download

[dodgyshirt]

Ask your telecom provider to block all outgoing 0900 calls on your line. Nobody in their right mind would use them intentionally anyway so its no loss.

[Goofy]

Try AVG anti-virus software (free from www.grisoft.com). It's excellent.
Also ZoneAlarm firewall - again free. This stops anyone from diverting your phone calls, by asking if it's OK for xyz to acces internet.

[Headtime]

I would definitely agree with Dodgyshirt. Ask BT to bar 0900 numbers. It's free, and will save you a lot of money, if you get infected.