Live Platinum Security Virus

[wagsg]

I finally get my computer running much better, with help from this forum, and this virus gets past my security and completely hoses everything up. It even took down our local newpaper's website (which is likely where I got it).

Well... after almost 3 days of continuous scanning by 3 different programs, I finally got back up and running last night. I am using F-Secure securtiy suite (which is included with my internet, updates hourly, and is now at the strongest settings instead of default). I also have AVG running with strongest settings and used SpyBot, but have uninstalled SpyBot since no more threats were detected. I also uninstalled IE 8 and got Chrome.

My question is, does anyone know anything about this particular virus and can I be confident that there is nothing left and that it didn't get any personal info.

 

[volk06]

I've had more problems with spyware and viruses from chrome than any other browser, fwiw.

 

[Deltona_Dave]

Try FireFox with AdBlock Plus installed. Seems most mal/spy/garbageware drive-by install via ads and banners.

You can also get the AdBlock plus for chrome. Pages load faster without all the ads, especially on news sites.

dave

 

[Jimmy9190]

Originally Posted By: Deltona_Dave
Try FireFox with AdBlock Plus installed. Seems most mal/spy/garbageware drive-by install via ads and banners.

You can also get the AdBlock plus for chrome. Pages load faster without all the ads, especially on news sites.

dave


+10

I had problems with Chrome not allowing pages to load and slow broswer speeds too. I got rid of Chrome earlier this week and installed Firefox 12 and the difference is night and day. FF is much better than Chrome, it runs faster and the settings/add-ons are a lot easier to use. I put the FF Ad Block Plus, Do Not Track Plus, Web Of Trust and No-Squint extensions on here and have had no problems at all with any ads or cookies since. Back when I had Chrome if I did a scan with Super Anti-Spyware it would always come back with 190 or sometimes even more tracking cookies, even though I had Do Not Track and Ad Block on Chrome too. I did a Super Anti Spyware scan yesterday and it only found 12 cookies and all of those were from Microsoft, not adware or spyware. I am no expert but this tells me FF is the much better browser. FF is lightning fast and has a real nice slick interface and tool bar and is a lot easier to adjust or change settings and preferences. It even imported all of my bookmarked sites from Chrome. FF is great.

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: Jimmy9190
Originally Posted By: Deltona_Dave
Try FireFox with AdBlock Plus installed. Seems most mal/spy/garbageware drive-by install via ads and banners.

You can also get the AdBlock plus for chrome. Pages load faster without all the ads, especially on news sites.

dave


+10

I had problems with Chrome not allowing pages to load and slow broswer speeds too. I got rid of Chrome earlier this week and installed Firefox 12 and the difference is night and day. FF is much better than Chrome, it runs faster and the settings/add-ons are a lot easier to use. I put the FF Ad Block Plus, Do Not Track Plus, Web Of Trust and No-Squint extensions on here and have had no problems at all with any ads or cookies since. Back when I had Chrome if I did a scan with Super Anti-Spyware it would always come back with 190 or sometimes even more tracking cookies, even though I had Do Not Track and Ad Block on Chrome too. I did a Super Anti Spyware scan yesterday and it only found 12 cookies and all of those were from Microsoft, not adware or spyware. I am no expert but this tells me FF is the much better browser. FF is lightning fast and has a real nice slick interface and tool bar and is a lot easier to adjust or change settings and preferences. It even imported all of my bookmarked sites from Chrome. FF is great.

Latest release FF 14.0.1 + ABP is REAL FAST! Be warned, most themes and my fave TMP are broke so far. But its SO FAST I don't care.

PS: Ever want to get rid of that annoying "install ggogle chrome" button on the google search home page? Add this bolded rule:
##div#pmocntr2.pmoabs
to you ABP filter.

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: wagsg
I finally get my computer running much better, with help from this forum, and this virus gets past my security and completely hoses everything up. It even took down our local newpaper's website (which is likely where I got it).

Well... after almost 3 days of continuous scanning by 3 different programs, I finally got back up and running last night. I am using F-Secure securtiy suite (which is included with my internet, updates hourly, and is now at the strongest settings instead of default). I also have AVG running with strongest settings and used SpyBot, but have uninstalled SpyBot since no more threats were detected. I also uninstalled IE 8 and got Chrome.

My question is, does anyone know anything about this particular virus and can I be confident that there is nothing left and that it didn't get any personal info.

If anything is left it will respawn shortly. Suspect you got it. Doubt any personal info was taken automatically or through remote access, not what the virus was created to do. "Antivirus Live extorts money by providing a fake payment system as well as extracts victim information simply by their interaction with the malware (or redirection to drive-by-download websites. Some versions of Antivirus Live parasites lock operating systems, similar to way ransomware acts and some are only introduced to victims for purposes of online credit card schemes".

Translation: makes your computer unusable, then tries to get you to pay to get it fixed. if you pay by credit card, they got your number. So unless you manually gave out info, the virus does not do anything on its own. It can also modify your browser to forward you to paid sites when searching.

Don't recommend running 2 anti-virus "real time" programs at the same time for performance and compatibility reasons. Nothing wrong with MSE and windows Firewall doing the job. The problem originated with weak popup protection in IE8 and Chrome. As stated prior, ABP and Firefox should prevent this from happening again. Check browser to confirm there was no proxy server modification.

 

[Jimmy9190]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Originally Posted By: Jimmy9190
Originally Posted By: Deltona_Dave
Try FireFox with AdBlock Plus installed. Seems most mal/spy/garbageware drive-by install via ads and banners.

You can also get the AdBlock plus for chrome. Pages load faster without all the ads, especially on news sites.

dave


+10

I had problems with Chrome not allowing pages to load and slow broswer speeds too. I got rid of Chrome earlier this week and installed Firefox 12 and the difference is night and day. FF is much better than Chrome, it runs faster and the settings/add-ons are a lot easier to use. I put the FF Ad Block Plus, Do Not Track Plus, Web Of Trust and No-Squint extensions on here and have had no problems at all with any ads or cookies since. Back when I had Chrome if I did a scan with Super Anti-Spyware it would always come back with 190 or sometimes even more tracking cookies, even though I had Do Not Track and Ad Block on Chrome too. I did a Super Anti Spyware scan yesterday and it only found 12 cookies and all of those were from Microsoft, not adware or spyware. I am no expert but this tells me FF is the much better browser. FF is lightning fast and has a real nice slick interface and tool bar and is a lot easier to adjust or change settings and preferences. It even imported all of my bookmarked sites from Chrome. FF is great.

Latest release FF 14.0.1 + ABP is REAL FAST! Be warned, most themes and my fave TMP are broke so far. But its SO FAST I don't care.

PS: Ever want to get rid of that annoying "install ggogle chrome" button on the google search home page? Add this bolded rule:
##div#pmocntr2.pmoabs
to you ABP filter.


Yep my FF updated automatically last night to FF Version 14. I installed FF 14 on my wife's laptop today too. I guess online dirtbags, thieves and crooks can get you in a lot of different ways no matter what broswer or AV you use but I had no idea Chrome and IE were so vulnerable to scamware like that. FF is a great browser though. Thanks for the tip about eliminating the install Google Chrome ad.

 

[wagsg]

For clarity, I was using IE when the virus hit from an infected ad on the local newspaper website. I installed Chrome after I got everything cleaned up and may try FF.

The searching I have done also seems to back up that this particular nasty was a hostage taker and didn't steal anything.

Technology... what a necessary evil it has become.

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: Jimmy9190
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Originally Posted By: Jimmy9190
Originally Posted By: Deltona_Dave
Try FireFox with AdBlock Plus installed. Seems most mal/spy/garbageware drive-by install via ads and banners.

You can also get the AdBlock plus for chrome. Pages load faster without all the ads, especially on news sites.

dave


+10

I had problems with Chrome not allowing pages to load and slow broswer speeds too. I got rid of Chrome earlier this week and installed Firefox 12 and the difference is night and day. FF is much better than Chrome, it runs faster and the settings/add-ons are a lot easier to use. I put the FF Ad Block Plus, Do Not Track Plus, Web Of Trust and No-Squint extensions on here and have had no problems at all with any ads or cookies since. Back when I had Chrome if I did a scan with Super Anti-Spyware it would always come back with 190 or sometimes even more tracking cookies, even though I had Do Not Track and Ad Block on Chrome too. I did a Super Anti Spyware scan yesterday and it only found 12 cookies and all of those were from Microsoft, not adware or spyware. I am no expert but this tells me FF is the much better browser. FF is lightning fast and has a real nice slick interface and tool bar and is a lot easier to adjust or change settings and preferences. It even imported all of my bookmarked sites from Chrome. FF is great.

Latest release FF 14.0.1 + ABP is REAL FAST! Be warned, most themes and my fave TMP are broke so far. But its SO FAST I don't care.

PS: Ever want to get rid of that annoying "install ggogle chrome" button on the google search home page? Add this bolded rule:
##div#pmocntr2.pmoabs
to you ABP filter.


Yep my FF updated automatically last night to FF Version 14. I installed FF 14 on my wife's laptop today too. I guess online dirtbags, thieves and crooks can get you in a lot of different ways no matter what broswer or AV you use but I had no idea Chrome and IE were so vulnerable to scamware like that. FF is a great browser though. Thanks for the tip about eliminating the install Google Chrome ad.


Heres another FF tip I forgot to mention:
OpenDownload 2 add-on extension. Gives you a "run" option for downloads like IE. Makes a tmp file rather than bloating your system with downloads.