Remnants of Viruses

So, your anti-virus kicked ass and took names. Your computer is clean and running quickly. All is well.

Except for one small thing.

When you start up the computer, you get a couple of weird error boxes that pop up when the desktop first shows up, that look something this:



It could be any number of windows and the file and path name could be entirely different, but they will look similar to this.

No worries.

This is just the debris left over from the virus infestation. It's a dead body of the invader left on the battlefield after your side has won.

Making it go away is simple. Follow the steps below and you're pretty much guaranteed to get rid of those messages. If they continue, you've got other problems and should be dealt with accordingly. This is all about clean up though.

• Click on the Start button.

• Click on the Run button.

• In the window that opens up type in "msconfig". This will bring you to the System Configuration Utility.

• On the far right, under the Startup tab, look under the Command line, scroll down and look for the specific file that is being called in the error. On the left, remove the check from the Startup Item associated with the file.

• On the bottom, click Apply, then OK.

• A pop up box will appear that asks if you want to restart the computer. You'll need to do so to have the above take place.

When your computer restarts, look for the error pop up. I'm willing to bet they won't be there.

A winner is you! Woohoo!

Protection From Fraud

Con artists have been working hard to separate you from your money since the dawn of time. These days, pretending to be you and fooling banks is the con man's game and spyware is the tool of the trade. Spyware, also called malware, scumware and a host of other epithets are programs that are installed in unsuspecting computers to steal your information. Information about who you are, your name, age, income, marital status, social security number, credit card information is siphoned off and used to allow someone else to pretend to be you. You know what I mean; you've seen the commercials. Your bank, for instance, is interested in helping you protect your money from these thieves.

Or are they?

Imagine this: you go to the bank, stand in line and while you are waiting, next to you is a stand with all sorts of interesting brochures. While waiting in line, you see one brochure titled “Protect Yourself From Malware” (front, back). Oh! You like this already! You hate malware and are glad to see a bank taking an active interest in helping out their customers.

You are about to receive a shock.

Now, the shock comes in the middle section of the inside of the brochure, under the section titled “What Can I Do To Protect My Computer?”

The site www.spy-bot.net (www.safer-networking.org is the real address for Spybot) is a shadowy entity which sources say is associated with AlertSpy.com which is owned by Three W Networks Ltd., a company with a P.O. Box in Nassau. As in the phrase “off shore”. Try and find out who they are. I dare you. You might find Sasquatch too.

Anyway, this sneaky little site is a “goad site”. They goad you into thinking that something is wrong, making you panic, telling you that your system is infested with all kinds of horrible things but that they can cure you. For a fee, of course. (not to mention that they will INSTALL some of the worst spyware on your computer in the process)

They tell you about spyware removal software and list two very well known, and respected, programs designed to keep your computer spyware-free, Ad-Aware and Spybot Search and Destroy.

Many people these days have no clue to the danger they are in. Companies are often no better off. Take for example the case of Fifth Third Bancorp. Fifth Third, or 53 as they are sometimes known has $104 billion in assets, 1,181 full-service Banking Centers and branches in 12 States. They have more money than many 3rd world countries. Yet, they still can't spend enough money on making a brochure that doesn't steal your personal information.

A quick side story before we go on. One thing that the people making spyware know is that they are being hunted. Groups are hunting them down all the time. People who in their spare time, or as a full-time job track them down. Spyware creators are the ones who steal your identity. Your money is being slowly siphoned off by these criminals. One way that these predators can escape from notice for a while is to put on the clothing of one of the hunters. A wolf in sheep's clothing. For example, making a product that looks similar to the Real McCoy, say “Ad-Aware”, and using this program to INSTALL spyware onto your computer. This is what is known in the computer world as a Trojan Horse, a program that looks like it will do one thing and then do something completely different.

Now, personally, I love Spybot. It's one of my favorite anti-spyware programs. Yes, there are many anti-spyware programs and not all are alike. Some are good, some are next to useless, but that is another subject. Anyway, if you go to www.spy-bot.net and look at things, they have no association with Safer Networking, the people who make Spybot Search and Destroy, they have no connection with each other.

Spybot Search and Destroy is free to individuals. They ask for donations but you never have to pay for it. Ever.

Thus, Fifth Third is pointing you in the direction of a web site that wants to steal your name, your identity and your money. You have to pay for the privilege too. Sure, it's an innocent mistake; anyone could have done it but don't you think with $104 billion (BILLION!) in assets that they could have invested in some research, as opposed to letting the boss' nephew do it after school?

When I discovered this months ago, 53 was the first to know. That was quite a while ago and they have basically said "thanks, we'll let you know if we decide to do anything". Who knows when, or if, this behemoth of a company will fix this problem.

So, take the advice of Fifth Third and protect yourself from spyware. That you might get from Fifth Third.

The Difference Between a Virus and Spyware

What is the difference between a computer virus and spyware?

Okay, I like to work with analogies, so look at it this way. Spyware and viruses (or virii) are two different beasties. Sometimes they blur the lines between each other, but generally it's a case of apples and oranges.

Take for example: Spyware is like your sleazy uncle. He wheedles himself into your house, eats your food, fouls up the plumbing and staggers in a 3 AM with a couple of his drunken buddies. Stuff will disappear from your house, but nothing really big. The change jar in your kitchen will slowly dwindle down and you'll get phone calls from salesmen that your sleazy uncle told to call you. Sure, your sleazy uncle says, you'd LOVE to buy a diesel grease powered recliner chair!

He's annoying, he tells people stuff about you that you don't want them to know, he uses your stuff and makes your life much more annoying, but that's about it.

Viruses on the other hand, are like a band of angry, hungry Vikings. A virus will bust in, with horned helmets, rob you blind, destroy your stuff, hurt you in ways you didn't know possible, use your house as a base of operations to launch attacks against your friends and neighbors, then in the last action of pure spite, burn down your house in a blazing night time pyre.

Compared to a virus, spyware is a bastion of morality and goodness.

Now don't me wrong. Spyware can bring in other malicious programs, who bring in worse programs until you wake up one morning and find that what started with your sleazy uncle has wound up with you walking into the bathroom and finding some guy named Hrothgar using your toothbrush. When one domino falls, the rest are sure to follow.

Now, as to the nature of the two beasties.

First, are you protected? Sure! You proclaim. I've got $AntiVirus Product X! I'm safe. Three words: no you ain't. First off, $AntiVirus Product X is designed to protect you against viruses. Spyware, your sleazy uncle, has more plaque built up than the guy who taste-tests the burger company's french fries. End result? Your computer is so slow it's nearly useless. And as for the $AntiVirus Product X? Sure, it was 'da bomb' last decade, but today it's something of a joke. Younger, more aggressive companies who want to be king of the hill have made $AntiVirus Product Z2008 which makes the one you have look like the old guy who used to hold the 'stop' sign for you when you walked to grade school. $AntiVirus Product Z2008 is Chuck Norris; you own Barney Fife. Do some research when buying your anti-virus. Don't just grab the one off the shelf that the dork in the black tie and the pimply face has been told by his corporate masters to push of on you, the unsuspecting public.

The way a virus scanner works goes something like this: the virus scanner has been written to recognize generalities. A computer virus has a certain 'look' to it. There are new types of viruses cropping up every now and then, but for the most part all new viruses are just variations on a theme. Your virus scanner has a rough sketch of what the virus looks like. The virus scanner company releases updates (for the love of mike: update your scanner) which make the sketch clearer and tells the scanner the likely places the virus will hide. This is one case where the axiom of “information is power” is paramount.

So, armed with this information, your virus scanner sallies forth to fight the good fight. Make sure you pick the current version of Sir Lancelot, not Don Quixote. Do some research. Read some reviews. Seriously; would you trust your life to the White Knight?

Now, as to spyware, it's an altogether different situation.

The makers of anti-spyware programs have to know EXACTLY what they are looking for. No generalities are used in the spyware business. The people that make anti-spyware stuff have many researchers, pouring over new information coming in from all corners of the globe. They then must decide if the program, and that's what spyware consists of, is malicious in intent. Your computer picks up things called cookies all the time. It's a way a website can remember who you are It's useful when you want to quickly log back in to a site you go to often. When a website uses that information for malice, such as following around the Web, that is where it can turn sleazy.

Thus, your anti-spyware software has to be updated probably even more often than you would think. New sites pop up every day and spyware purveyors are like dandelions. If you slack off just for a while, your lawn will be covered in yellow.

In the end, it comes down to prevention and vigilance. Choose a good anti-virus and a good anti-spyware. Some companies claim to make a product to cover you in all cases, but just because a company makes a great refrigerator doesn't mean they can make a good cell phone. Choose well. Follow the instructions. Be vigilant. Update.

And stay away from MySpace.

That is another story though...