Need some desperate help

[Jetflyer]

Cheers Im gonna deal with this rubbish on the computer then get a better cooler for the PC....no doubt after those problems are solved another will
pop up...but that's life.

"Life's a b*tch...and then you die".

Best quote ever.

[pagir]

If my computer was behaving like yours, I would cancel* my FsP flight without any remorse and remove that crap (the spyware, not
FsP ) before slamming the computer on the wall... You are a true hard core simmer

Pagir

* If... was behaving... I would cancel? will cancel? should cancel? cancel? Hmmm... which verb should I use here Anyway, it will
not help your computer nor your FsP flight...

[Jetflyer]

Well....as of today, I've tried another flight COMPUTER CRASHED AGAIN. For no reason this time....everything stuk on the screen...not even spyware did
it. I'm just going to kill the computer if it happens again, then go and murder someone.

[pegase]

I am affraid that even when spywares and virus will be removed, some damages will remain.

Time to think about saving your precious data (like for example your FsP registration code), clean up and re-install

[SWAFO]

As Dan mentioned, Ad-Aware works great!

Also try Spybot Search and Destroy... don't have a website for them off hand.

JUST SAW THAT DAN RECOMMENDED IT ALSO!

[omarza]

Hope you get the computer sorted Jetflyer... wish I could help but there is so much that can go wrong.

[Nick75]

Also it's worth downloading SpywareBlaster & SpywareGuard (also freeware and also reputable anti-spyware programs) and have those
two running alongside each other in the background while u surf the net. You can have them installed in addition to Spybot & Adaware,
but SpywareBlaster & SpywareGuard will run in real-time and actually stop spyware from getting installed onto your pc in the first place.
Download a couple of other reputable freeware anti-spyware progs as well such as Microsoft Antispyware, and make sure you run them
all regularly. You have to make your pc as secure as posible these days I'm afraid, and that means having a few different anti-spyware
progs kept up-to-date, as well as a decent firewall and anti-virus program. If you dont do that then these things are a lot more likely to happen.



Post Edited ( 09-16-05 19:26 )

[Jetflyer]

Thanks a lot guys I'm going to *fix* this computer for once and for all. Cheers for the suggestions.

[psolk]

format/rebuild, it will probably double your FS performance anyway. Anyone who has ever done a format/rebuild and then re-installation of FS says
they pick up a ton of framerates. They usualyy say it is because they cleaned the dust out of there case or something funny like that but the fact is
nothing is better for FS than a clean system...
If it is that bad, do not even [play around with trying to clean it, just blow it away.
As for all of these suggestions of mulptiple spyware and ad-aware runnning and things like that, I have a much better suggestion... ONLY EVER GO TO WEBSITES YOU TRUST AND KNOW!!!! All of these programs key on definition files which mean none of them can catch a new threat at what we call zero hour in network security terms, in other words catch something as soon as it is released. SOOOO even with all of these things running, Antivirus, Personal Firewall's, ad aware and spyware out the butt, YOU ARE NOT PROTECTED!!!! There is one program in the world today called WholeSecurity. They are one of the top 25 private companies in the world. (also one of my partners ) They do what is called behavioral based scanning and they are the only ones who can TRULY protect a system at zero hour. Reason being, they do not look at a .dat or a .def file, they analyze behavior instead.
For example, if I download an .mp3 and it has spyware embedded within everything else will miss it but WholeSecurity will say wait a second, you are an .mp3 why are you gathering information, that is not the normal behavior of a .mp3 so I am shutting you down. It is mind blowing technology.
I work in network security, this is what I do for a living and guess what NONE of my systems have spyware detectors running all the time. I run a WholeSecurity scan every few months from a network drive to ensure that the systems are clean. The best defense against computer threats is not spyware detectors, it is being smart when you surf the web. If you don't know where a link is going to take you, don't click it, never open e-mail attachments unless you are 110% of the content, just delete them. It comes down to how careful you are on a day to day basis with your systems. Like I said, never ran spyware, never had spyware but I have also never been to a single website I do not trust...
Trust me, you can put every program in the world on your system and someone can break it down in a matter of minutes. (I am one of them ) Do not load up your system with all of those programs, they kill performance and it is not necessary just be very careful about your behavior and surfing patterns when on-line. THAT is the best defense.
Just my .02 and I have been in this industry for 12 years now and have protected companies such as IBM, DuPont, GE, BT, BP, and many many other of the largest companies in the world without EVER using spyware. In fact for spyware concerns all we do is filter them down to protected websites that an admin trusts and it is not an issue which shows it is more of a behavioral probelm than a technical problem. It is all in your surfing habits. Trust me, you are not getting spyware from flightsim.com, avsim.com,FSP.com, cnn, msn, espn, major sites etc...
-Paul



Post Edited ( 09-17-05 15:12 )

[Jetflyer]

The system has no problem with performance, just the odd spyware problem, but I ran Ad-Aware or whatever its called, usually the spyware problem
described earlier only happens about once every two months. However in my WINDOWS folder I have something called "Aurora" which cannot be deleted and
it brings up popups when I'm online. On the title bar of the pop-up it has the "Aurora" logo and title. Where the &^%$^£ did that come from? Has
anyone heard of "Aurora"?

[Nick75]

psolk wrote:
format/rebuild, it will probably double your FS performance anyway. Anyone who has ever done a format/rebuild and then re-installation
of FS says
they pick up a ton of framerates. They usualyy say it is because they cleaned the dust out of there case or something funny like that but
the fact is
nothing is better for FS than a clean system...
If it is that bad, do not even [play around with trying to clean it, just blow it away.
As for all of these suggestions of mulptiple spyware and ad-aware runnning and things like that, I have a much better suggestion... ONLY
EVER GO TO WEBSITES YOU TRUST AND KNOW!!!! All of these programs key on definition files which mean none of them can catch a
new threat at what we call zero hour in network security terms, in other words catch something as soon as it is released. SOOOO even
with all of these things running, Antivirus, Personal Firewall's, ad aware and spyware out the butt, YOU ARE NOT PROTECTED!!!! There
is one program in the world today called WholeSecurity. They are one of the top 25 private companies in the world. (also one of my
partners ) They do what is called behavioral based scanning and they are the only ones who can TRULY protect a system at zero hour.
Reason being, they do not look at a .dat or a .def file, they analyze behavior instead.
For example, if I download an .mp3 and it has spyware embedded within everything else will miss it but WholeSecurity will say wait a
second, you are an .mp3 why are you gathering information, that is not the normal behavior of a .mp3 so I am shutting you down. It is
mind blowing technology.
I work in network security, this is what I do for a living and guess what NONE of my systems have spyware detectors running all the time.
I run a WholeSecurity scan every few months from a network drive to ensure that the systems are clean. The best defense against
computer threats is not spyware detectors, it is being smart when you surf the web. If you don't know where a link is going to take you,
don't click it, never open e-mail attachments unless you are 110% of the content, just delete them. It comes down to how careful you are
on a day to day basis with your systems. Like I said, never ran spyware, never had spyware but I have also never been to a single
website I do not trust...
Trust me, you can put every program in the world on your system and someone can break it down in a matter of minutes. (I am one of
them ) Do not load up your system with all of those programs, they kill performance and it is not necessary just be very careful about
your behavior and surfing patterns when on-line. THAT is the best defense.
Just my .02 and I have been in this industry for 12 years now and have protected companies such as IBM, DuPont, GE, BT, BP, and many
many other of the largest companies in the world without EVER using spyware. In fact for spyware concerns all we do is filter them down
to protected websites that an admin trusts and it is not an issue which shows it is more of a behavioral probelm than a technical
problem. It is all in your surfing habits. Trust me, you are not getting spyware from flightsim.com, avsim.com,FSP.com, cnn, msn, espn,
major sites etc...
-Paul

How come none of us have this 'Whole Security' program then?!? You sound like you're advertising it...kind of reminds me of Victor Kiam
with the electric shavers lol...don't tell me you're gonna buy the company!....And how come we all have firewalls and AV progs? Are we all
being taken for a ride or something? Surely not?

[omarza]

Jetflyer wrote:
The system has no problem with performance, just the odd spyware problem, but I ran Ad-Aware or whatever its called, usually the spyware problem
described earlier only happens about once every two months. However in my WINDOWS folder I have something called "Aurora" which cannot be
deleted and
it brings up popups when I'm online. On the title bar of the pop-up it has the "Aurora" logo and title. Where the &^%$^£ did that come
from? Has
anyone heard of "Aurora"?

Aurora is a virus and you might try the following link as it can be helpful as it might guide you thru the process of removing it...

http://kb.winantivirus.com/index.php?do=...ion&id=310

Hope it helps

[psolk]

Nick,
I do not want yo put you down but your response was extremely ignorant. The reason we do not all have WholeSecurity Wisea** is because it is sold to enterprises. It requires a server component that STARTS at around $35000 for a single user. Then you also need to purchase a single user license for about $5000 so if you have $40000 to put it in your house then go right ahead. More power to you. Yes, again Nick, you are right, I am advertising for Whole Security and lobbying to buy them. They are less then 4 years old and are one of the top 25 private companies in the world. If I had a few billion I would suck them up right away. Again Nick, to your point, they love it when I advertise for them on Flightsim sites, it really affects their $100 million dollar contracts.
Nick, please do not be a wisea** and screw with me here. It would be like telling Brad what he knows about flying. This is what I do for a living.
I help secure some of the largest companies in the world everyday for the past 12 years. I have been lecturing on security and remote access and protecting the network for two and a half years. You might have found your response smart and funny however I found it immature and ignorant.
Where did I say not to run a personal firewall? I made the same accurate point I make in all of my lectures:
Let's see, I said this

"As for all of these suggestions of mulptiple spyware and ad-aware runnning and things like that, I have a much better suggestion... ONLY EVER GO TO WEBSITES YOU TRUST AND KNOW!!!!"

100% true and accurate and very good advice!!!
I also said this

"All of these programs key on definition files which mean none of them can catch a new threat at what we call zero hour in network security terms, in other words catch something as soon as it is released. SOOOO even with all of these things running, Antivirus, Personal Firewall's, ad aware and spyware out the butt, YOU ARE NOT PROTECTED!!!!"

Another 100% true and accurate comment and really the point of all my lectures that is for all the technology in the world, you are never protected and the best protection is modifying your behavior when connected to the Internet. Where did I say not to run a personal firewall?
If you want my personal opinion on personal firewalls, yes, they are garbage but still essential. Do you have any idea how easy it is to script
spyware that can modify the settings of the personal firewall to permit it's own traffic in and out without you the user or your wonderful personal
firewall ever knowing. I run a personal firewall for two reasons. 1. For when I am not on my own network where I run a dual homed 1u server running TCP wrappers and IP tables for traffic segragation and 2. For corporate compliance when I plug into my customers networks.

Nick, do not try and make a fool of me. There are a lot of things you might have a lot of success at doing just that but this is not one of them.
If you would have taken the time to REALLY read my post instead of posting your wisea** response you might have learned something.

I give this example during all of my lectures and it is the best way I know to highlight that nothing is more important to network security than user education. This is a funny and true story. I was in a meeting with a CEO of one of the largest banks in the world and he was telling me how they had the best security anywhere and had no use for the technology my company sells. He told me no one could get into their network. I bet him that if I could get in within the next five minutes he would buy my technology. He agreed. I leaned over picked up his phone, looked at the nametag on the door across the hall and dialed 0. When the operator picked up I asked to be connected to the helpdesk. The rep picked up and I said hello, this is XXXXXXXX I forgot my password and I can not get into my system. The rep figured because I called from an inside extensionit was valid an proceeded to tell me that he had reset my password and my new password was XXXXXXXX The CEO almost sh*t his pants. He had spent hundreds of millions of dollars on network security and it did NOTHING because they did not train their people the right way. It had nothing to do with what I sold but I got into his network and I got the deal. Now do you see my whole point Nick, For all of these things people are being tod to run, it should not lull you into a false sense of security. You are never secure no matter how many programs you run. The best way to protect yourself is to modify your behavior.

Nick, do you want to try and show me up again? Do I still sound like a razor salesman? I really found that quite insulting. Any other comments or shall we call a truce and put this to rest.
-Paul



Post Edited ( 09-18-05 04:54 )

[pagir]

Paul, I don't think Nick didn't want to insult you and I don't want too much turbulence in this serious and important thread.

I think Nick misunderstood your post and you misunderstood his anwer. This is a classic misunderstanding

This said, Paul, your last post is a very good example of the worst problem with computer security: the human factor will always be the
weakest link. I can only guest the CEO face Way to go!!!

So please, Paul, Nick, please, cooool down here

Pagir

[psolk]

I offered a truce

Like I said, this would be like me trying to tell brad how to fly

and Pagir, you are so right, the human element is always the weakest link.
Nice job of moderating

Nick, Friends?