Thank you folks for your information.
My PC is working fine again, at least that´s what I believe.

Like Mike said, Avast is what He uses and It's what I use too, I also use Spybot search and Destroy and both are set on automatic. Best thing about both programs is for home use they are Free and very Effective.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

... crashed most of the other half.

*cough*adblock*cough*Google Chrome*cough* man I got this weird thing going on.

Still surprised this is going on. Surprising this thread is still lingering.


I've had the same malware claim whatever silliness for my system claiming whatever Windows 'infections'...

And yet I'm running Linux!


No viruses here :-)

So I guess, no. I don't want whatever website to supposedly check my Linux system for Windows viruses. All rather a silly waste of time!

(You would have thought that the Windows malware writers would at least check first what type of system they are trying to attack! How dumb can they get?!)


Keep searchin',
Martin


ps: More seriously:

Firefox with "BetterPrivacy", "Flashblock", and "NoScript" goes a long way to stop some of the web excesses, malware or not!

True, I try to use nothing else.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Still surprised this is going on. Surprising this thread is still lingering.


I've had the same malware claim whatever silliness for my system claiming whatever Windows 'infections'...

And yet I'm running Linux!


No viruses here :-)

So I guess, no. I don't want whatever website to supposedly check my Linux system for Windows viruses. All rather a silly waste of time!

(You would have thought that the Windows malware writers would at least check first what type of system they are trying to attack! How dumb can they get?!)


Keep searchin',
Martin


ps: More seriously:

Firefox with "BetterPrivacy", "Flashblock", and "NoScript" goes a long way to stop some of the web excesses, malware or not!

Yeah very good suggestions, or course a little common sense goes a long way as well. As far as them checking what O/S you run what would it matter the ratio of Linux to Windows is much higher so they probably get a 99% or higher infection rate just throwing it around.

However there have been several bad things go through linux, even though most were stomped out pretty quickly with updates. Linux is a wonderful thing, just wish most of the apps I used would work on linux perfectly then I would swap over for sure.

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Traveling through space at ~67,000mph!

I love Ubuntu but I need Windows.

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In addition to what has already been suggested, here is a recovery process that has helped me out in the past on family members machines. I realize this is not always an option, and at least for what I'm going to suggest is Windows specific.

With the low cost of hard drives, obtain a second hard drive for your machine, either internal or external, doesn't matter. Download The Ultimate Boot CD for Windows (http://www.ubcd4win.com/). Follow direction on the site to create the bootable CD. Make sure your system boot drive is virus free (I start with a completely reimaged drive, install all my apps, patches, etc). Boot to the UBCD4W, and run a program called DriveImage XML. This will allow you to make a perfect, compressed copy of your hard drive on the second drive. On my system this takes about 15-20 minutes.

If you do get a piece of Malware or virus you can't get rid of, just back up your data and repeat the booting from CD, only this time restore from the second hard drive. Also to be sure to store your data in one directory if possible. Viruses and Malware will rarely if ever touch user data.

I wipe my hard drive twice a year, restore the image, update apps and patches, and create a new image on my second drive. Even if you don't have nasty stuff on your PC, having a clean image can really improve system performance

... As far as them checking what O/S you run what would it matter the ratio of Linux to Windows is much higher so they probably get a 99% or higher infection rate just throwing it around.

There's a LOT more Linux around than Microsoft or Apple would like you to know about or would admit to...

However there have been several bad things go through linux, even though most were stomped out pretty quickly with updates.

Wow! Is that the entire list?! And just look at the dates!... Certainly none live.

Linux is a wonderful thing, just wish most of the apps I used would work on linux perfectly then I would swap over for sure.

I've been Linux-only for my home and work for some time now. Unfortunately, I still support Windows and all the Windows fun that goes with that.

For moving over to Linux, you can make a quick jump and go a long way by using WINE to interface to your favoured Windows apps. It does take a while to accept the idea of trying new things to see how the native Linux apps compare. The biggest thing to accept is that Linux is not Windows. The user interface is very similar in that you point and click. The apps do similar things in a similar way but have different names. It's a bit like going to a different city from one that you grew up in, except so far there are no gangsters to malware you!

Perhaps the hardest change to be comfortable with is the idea that you do not need to run a firewall or any antivirus. Such things are unnecessary by design.


Going back to Windows:

A good fix is to have another Windows boot on another partition from which you can then run the latest "Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool" to clean up the latest silliness that Microsoft themselves know of. The suspect installation is then treated just as data for the cleanup.


Happy malware-free crunchin',
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Wine does'nt work with my family tree maker it is windows only and the linux genealogy programs come no where near as good as family tree maker just one example I am familiar with. If all windows programs would run in Linux then windows would be history.

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There's a LOT more Linux around than Microsoft or Apple would like you to know about or would admit to...

Actually in the home market Windows still controls about 90% of the desktops while Linux is still in the about 1% category. The rest ends up being Mac(which could be considered a branch or unix I suppose).

Wow! Is that the entire list?! And just look at the dates!... Certainly none live.

The point I was trying to make is Linux is not the virus and malware free place that a lot of Linux people believe it is, fortunately security holes are constantly being found and fixed due to the open source nature of Linux which eliminates a lot of issues. Windows doesn't have this for obvious reasons and they also share the majority of the users world wide, so why would anyone waste their time and money writing or supporting a virus or malware for anything less. With a Windows virus you have the chance of infecting 85-90% of the worlds computers. Much better investment for your time and energy.

I've been Linux-only for my home and work for some time now. Unfortunately, I still support Windows and all the Windows fun that goes with that.

For moving over to Linux, you can make a quick jump and go a long way by using WINE to interface to your favoured Windows apps. It does take a while to accept the idea of trying new things to see how the native Linux apps compare. The biggest thing to accept is that Linux is not Windows. The user interface is very similar in that you point and click. The apps do similar things in a similar way but have different names. It's a bit like going to a different city from one that you grew up in, except so far there are no gangsters to malware you!

Perhaps the hardest change to be comfortable with is the idea that you do not need to run a firewall or any antivirus. Such things are unnecessary by design.

Typical Linux user answer. First off Wine only solves none but the simplest of the app problems. Ever tried getting Flight simulator running in wine? Not to mention various other engineering apps and private code apps that have to run in windows. Wine is horrible, trust me I've tried for years to make the Linux swap at home it just won't ever happen. It's clunky, slow, and error prone at the best of times.

I don't run a firewall on windows now, that's what a hardware firewall is for I just don't want to be seen and any computer user with common sense runs a firewall from somewhere rather it be hardware or software. In fact some of the most popular firewalls are run by Linux!!! As far as antivirus it's a necessary evil while running a windows machine, but that would also be like a Windows user trying to convince a Linux user to swap by saying, "no need to use those complicated bash scripts we have easy to use batch files." Linux by design is open, it has a lot more people watching it's back and fixing things. From a security stand point it is no more secure than windows if the system is locked down properly. I haven't had a virus, malware infection etc. on my machines in god knows how long. An ounce of prevention and a pinch of common sense go a long way to curing or preventing future possibilities. In fact I don't even run Anti-virus on my server or customer servers. There is no need when there isn't someone receiving email or surfing the web on it! But that a whole different story.

Security, stability, and scalability are all different points everyone will fight from. I'm willing to try new things and have various time over the years. I've already tried the swap for a week and you'll love it test. After half a day I couldn't work in certain environments because Linux didn't support it, couldn't support it, and there were no freeware alternatives. Just like Windows, Linux is not the end all be all perfect solution for everyone. I love Linux, but in my house hold it's like cheating on the wife that does everything for you. Yeah the other chic looks good has a screaming body, but at the end of the day she ain't washing underwear. ;)

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Traveling through space at ~67,000mph!

yawn!!!! yawn!!! yawn!!! DUDE

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I don't know, I rather enjoyed someone else tell Martin the same things I've been arguing for the past 5 years with him. It's refreshing to see that I'm not the only one who understands that Linux just isn't the be-all-end-all that some of it's supporters sell it to be.

No yawning here. Just a big grin.

yawn!!!! yawn!!! yawn!!! DUDE

Agreed.

Still got the same old story as heard many times. The only argument is for the numbers dreamt up.

Happy fast crunchin',
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

I don't know, I rather enjoyed someone else tell Martin the same things I've been arguing for the past 5 years with him. It's refreshing to see that I'm not the only one who understands that Linux just isn't the be-all-end-all that some of it's supporters sell it to be. ...

It never has been sold as the "be all and end all". I would not want it to be. Otherwise, we just recreate another 'Microsoft dictatorship'.

However, at least Linux keeps the internet running, despite the best efforts of zombied Microsoft systems to spam everyone into oblivion!


Happy malware-free crunchin',
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Just slap them around with this article on understanding viruses in Linux. :)

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It never has been sold as the "be all and end all". I would not want it to be.

You could have fooled me.

However, at least Linux keeps the internet running, despite the best efforts of zombied Microsoft systems to spam everyone into oblivion!

Is someone feeling a bit defensive? Best defense is always a strong offense.

Just slap them around with this article on understanding viruses in Linux. :)

I don't get viruses on any of my Windows machines, so I guess my experience has been quite good.

In the article, it ends with this:

CONCLUSION

I guess the most important thing to take away from this article is that using Linux will do a lot for your computer security, but does not perform miracles. Viruses are no concern, but we sure cannot be careless. Be careful and protective of your own data and privacy. Stay away from using the root account, avoid running software from untrusted sources, never share your passwords... and react quickly if you think your computer has been compromised.

The same things can be said for Windows. Viruses aren't a real concern if you're not careless. Be careful of your own data and privacy. Stay away from using the Admin account (or running as Admin), avoid running software from untrusted sources, never share your passwords.... react quickly if you think your computer has been compromised.

I have never, ever gotten viruses on any machine I've ever personally owned, and I don't use software firewalls nor an Anti-Virus on my servers.

The binary pulsar search on Einstein@home is so divided, according to its devs: 60% Windows, 30% Linux, 10% Mac OSX (which derives from Unix).
Tullio

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Agreed.

Still got the same old story as heard many times. The only argument is for the numbers dreamt up.

Happy fast crunchin',
Martin

Really where are the numbers then? You throw a counter point without a point. I have yet to see anyone defend a set of numbers but you? By a 99% infection rate was how many total computers they spread and infect with a virus. If they throw out 100 virus copies I would be willing to bet they are hitting a 99% infection rate with it all considered and simply counting Windows vs. Linux machine contacting it. There just isn't that many Linux desktops out there compared with Windows. Heck by some metrics there are more Mac and iOS devices(iPhone, iPad) surfing around than Linux. So looking at those numbers maybe I was off by 10% of the possibilities. Typical straw man argument.

I'm talking desktop you're talking something else.

It never has been sold as the "be all and end all". I would not want it to be. Otherwise, we just recreate another 'Microsoft dictatorship'.

However, at least Linux keeps the internet running, despite the best efforts of zombied Microsoft systems to spam everyone into oblivion!


Happy malware-free crunchin',
Martin

Microsoft 'dictatorship'? Aren't you running Linux? Not much of a dictatorship, not to mention what can I not do, what is Windows stopping me from doing, that you can do on Linux? I would like to know if I'm missing something for sure. Sure some things may work better on Linux but that's a two way street. Customer choice is a wonderful thing.

And now we are blaming spam on Microsoft? Surely those Microsoft zombied systems are sending their messages through Linux run servers, *gasp*. I think that users are more to blame than the machines. Also you seem to forget that most of those botnets are often being spread by cracked Linux servers. So much for total security, oh yeah that relies on the user.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, pretend you live in another world that is Linux centric on the desktop. All the same issues you have in this reality would be true there on Linux as well. Simple reason, numbers mean money what would be the point of possibly infecting 1% of the internet market when you could possibly capture 90%? What would you shoot for?

And ending with "Happy malware free crunching" is a bit snide. So I'll just end mine with......

Good night.

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Traveling through space at ~67,000mph!

Microsoft = home user domination.
Linux = enthusiasts domination

End of story!

Same time, same channel next week?

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Microsoft = home user domination.
Linux = enthusiasts domination

End of story!

Same time, same channel next week?

There's also the family of BSDs: FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD.

And there is also Apple OS X (no anti-virus needed there either).

All on the desktop. Some operate widely elsewhere also.

The interesting comparison is in the licensing conditions that goes with all those systems. "Domination" can mean different things in different ways.

Out of all that lot, it is only the Microsoft OSes that suffer such a high level of malware that the internet has been near to collapse on occasion. A 3rd party industry exists just to service Microsoft malware issues... There is also a profitable industry in using the malware for profit. Amazing!

Hence why I get "virus alerts" from website advertising even though I'm not running any Microsoft software...


Keep searchin',
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Let me quote, because you're trying to prove something and I'm merely stating and linking facts and since this is going no where......

Interesting arguments. Yawn.

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Traveling through space at ~67,000mph!