A Very Complete Virus Guide

While I was Stumbling through the WordPress blogs, I found this. I though: “Wow, this is pretty impressive.” So. here it is: you can find it at this address, but I decided to post it for you…

Think You Have A Virus? – Some Solutions

by Billmullins

You may, or you may not, have a virus so don’t panic. If your system has a virus then following the steps below will, in most cases, remove the infection from your system. But first, let’s start with the definition of a computer virus so that you know what you could be up against.

A virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer operating system without permission, or the knowledge of the user. The original virus may modify the copies, or the copies may modify themselves, making the virus more difficult to find.

Not all symptoms that mimic those of a virus infection are in fact produced by a virus. However, if your computer begins to act strangely, or if it is unable to do things it has always done in the past, it may be infected with a virus.

Symptoms including longer-than-normal program boot time, unpredictable program behavior, baffling changes in file sizes, inability to boot, may indicate that a virus is on your system. However, it is important to distinguish between virus symptoms and those that come from corrupted system files, which can look very similar.

Rule out more standard causes before suspecting a virus. In some cases software related problems, such as program execution errors and corrupted files, can create symptoms that appear to be virus-related. If you just installed new software for example, try uninstalling it and see if the problems disappear.

If you regularly engage in any of the following activities, you have substantially increased the risk of your system problem being a computer virus.

• You download files and software through file-sharing applications such as BitTorrent, eDonkey, KaZaA and other such programs.

• You click links in instant messaging (IM) that have no context or are composed of only general text.

• You downloading executable software from web sites without ensuring that the site is reputable.

• Using your USB stick on public computers, or other computers that are used by more than one person.

• Opening email attachments from people you don’t know.

• You make a practice of opening email attachments without first scanning them for viruses.

• You open email attachments that end in a file extension of .exe, .vbs, or .lnk.

• You run your Windows computer as an administrator.

Next Steps:

Launch Task Manager by hitting Ctrl-Alt-Delete which will give you a list of all current running process. Be aware however, that many viruses are smart enough to bypass Task Manager.

A better solution here would be to use the free service, ProcessScanner, from ProcessLibrary.com, (a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner), which not only scans your Windows computer for all running processes, but in addition tells you what’s running, what each process is associated with, and most importantly, a risk analysis of each process. You may find the answer to the problem here. If not, then proceed to the next step.

In Windows XP, open the Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services, which will give you a detailed description of the services Windows is running. If you find something that’s unfamiliar, or causes you concern, Google that service/services on the Internet.

Proceed then to select Run from the Start Menu, and type “msconfig” in the box. With this tool you not only see the services running, but most importantly, the programs that your system is launching at startup. Again, if you find something that’s unfamiliar, or causes you concern, Google it on the Internet.

There are a number of online virus scanners that are, in my view, better at detecting malware than locally installed applications. I recommend that you next scan your machine at Trend Micro Online Scanner, and in addition scan it again at Panda Online Scanner. In this situation two is definitely better than one.

Most cases of infection and compromise should be cleaned, and your machine returned to its previous condition, by employing the above methods. But unfortunately, this is not always the case and you’re then faced with performing a full reinstall of the operating system. Since there is always the risk of an un-repairable system, this reinforces the need to ensure you have a realistic backup policy in place.

Security risks on the Internet you need to be aware of.

• Trojan horse programs

• Back door and remote administration programs

• Denial of service

• Being an intermediary for another attack

• Unprotected Windows shares

• Mobile code (Java, JavaScript, and ActiveX)

• Cross-site scripting

• Email spoofing

• Email-borne viruses

• Hidden file extensions

• Chat clients

• Packet sniffing

Security Checklist: Actions you can take to protect your computer system.

• Don’t open unknown email attachments

• Don’t run programs of unknown origin

• Disable hidden filename extensions

• Keep all applications (including your operating system) patched

• Turn off your computer or disconnect from the network when not in use

• Disable Java, JavaScript, and ActiveX if possible

• Disable scripting features in email programs

• Make regular backups of critical data

• Make a boot disk in case your computer is damaged or compromised

• Turn off file and printer sharing on the computer.

• Install a personal firewall on the computer.

• Install anti-virus and anti-spyware software and ensure it is configured to automatically update when you are connected to the Internet.

• Ensure the anti-virus software scans all e-mail attachments.

Be proactive when it comes to your computer’s security; make sure you have adequate software based protection to reduce the chances that your machine will become infected.

The free software listed below, in my view, provides better than average malware protection.

avast! 4 Home Edition

www.avast.com

This anti virus app is a real fighter, scanning files on demand and on access, including email attachments. Let’s you know when it detects mal-ware through its shield function. An important feature is a boot-time scan option which removes mal-ware that can’t be removed any other way.

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

www.free.grisoft.com

Similarly, this program scans files on access, on demand, and on schedule. Scans email; incoming and outgoing. For those on Vista, your in luck, it’s Vista-ready. I have been using this application since its release and it now forms part of my front line defenses. I recommend this one highly.

SpyCatcher Express

www.tenebril.com

SpyCatcher does a good job of cleaning out spy-ware and at stopping further infestation. In my view however, it’s not as reliable as AVG Anti-Spyware.

Ad-Aware

www.lavasoftusa.com

In my view, Ad-Aware Free is the best free spyware and adware remover available. It does a relatively good job of protecting against known data-mining, Trojans, dialers, malware, browser hijackers and tracking components. The only downside with the free version; real-time protection is not included.

ThreatFire 3

www.threatfire.com

ThreatFire 3 blocks mal-ware, including zero-day threats, by analyzing program behavior and it does a stellar job. Again, this is one of the security applications that forms part of my front line defenses. I have found it to have high success rate at blocking mal-ware based on analysis of behavior. Highly recommend this one!

Comodo Firewall Pro

www.comodogroup.com

The definitive free firewall, Comodo Firewall protects your system by defeating hackers and restricting unauthorized programs from accessing the Internet. I have been using this application for 6 months and I continue to feel very secure. It resists being forcibly terminated and it works as well, or better, than any firewall I’ve paid for. This is one I highly recommend. Amazing that it’s free!

ZoneAlarm

www.zonelabs.com

The free version of ZoneAlarm lacks the features of ZoneAlarm Pro’s firewall. Its program control asks you regularly whether to allow programs; for some this can get to be intrusive and annoying. But it’s been around forever it seems, and it can’t be shut down, or out, by mal-ware.

WinPatrol

www.winpatrol.com

Do you want to get a better understanding of what programs are being added to your computer? Then WinPatrol is the program for you. With WinPatrol, in your system tray, you can monitor system areas that are often changed by malicious programs. You can monitor your startup programs and services, cookies and current tasks. Should you need to, WinPatrol allows you to terminate processes and enable, or disable, startup programs. There are additional features that make WinPatrol a very powerful addition to your security applications.

Sandboxie

www.sandboxie.com

Surfing the Internet without using Sandboxie is, to me, like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute. Deadly! This application creates a “Sandboxed” protected environment on your machine within which you browse the net. Data that is written to your hard drive is simply eliminated, (or not, your choice), when the sandbox is closed. Utilizing this application allows you to surf the web without the risk of infecting your system with mal-ware or other nasties. This is another security application I have been using for over 10 months and it has yet to let me down.

Snoop Free Privacy Shield

www.snoopfree.com

Snoop Free Privacy Shield is a powerful application that guards your keyboard, screen and open windows from all spy software. I have been using this application for quite some time, and I have been amazed at the number of programs that have requested access to my keyboard and screen. Particularly, programs that I am in the process of installing. If you’re serious about privacy, this is a must have addition to your security toolbox.

Personally, I currently use Comodo Firewall Pro on my main desktop and I use AVG Anti-Virus Free edition on a slower computer of mine

Summer Vacation Announcement

Now that I get my long-awaited summer vacation, expect daily blogs (unless notified) from us here at clintthewookie! Now there is always something to look forward to!

Clint’s First Game is Almost Ready!

We have been recently working on “Catch Clint!”, Clint’s first video game. It’s almost ready and it is going through the testing stages before it is released. The prototype is available at our games page. Click here to go there.

Remember, it’s still in development. Oh, it also only works on Windows…

Happy Memorial Day! (And a Gift for You!)

Well, it’s a gift of knowledge. I have decided to show you the benefits of switching to Puppy Linux, my favorite Linux distro of all time! Your probably asking yourself, “What is Linux?” Well, I’ll tell you. According to Answers.com, Linux is: “Non proprietary operating system (OS) for digital computers.” But who cares what they think! Linux is a free operating system for your computer! FREE! Think of it as a free Windows XP. It is amazing fast, and there is no known viruses for Puppy Linux. You will have no more viruses for the rest of eternity! If you want Linux, I would recommend Ubuntu. I’ll give you the link later, just hear what I have to say…

Well, to make your gift even better, I made a speed test for Puppy Linux and XP: (These are all in minutes)

1. How long it took to get to login screen:

• XP: 1:29
• Linux: 1:40

2. How long from login to computer being useable:

• XP: 5:31
• Linux: 0:15

3. How much memory used at startup: (The less, the better)

• XP: 382 mb
• Linux: 64 mb

4. Time used to open My Computer:

• XP: 2:13
• Linux: 0:01

5.Time used to open Firefox:

• XP: 5:20
• Linux: 0:04

6.Time to open Gimp (Linux)/ Photoshop (XP) (Equivalent photo editing software, except Gimp is free):

• XP: 0:30
• Linux: 0:02

7. Time to open Microsoft Word (Xp)/ OpenOffice Writer (Linux): Almost exactly alike, except Writer is free:

• XP: 0:23
• Linux: 0:03

8. Time to shutdown:

• XP: 1:04
• Linux: 0:17

As you can see, Linux is a FREE Windows alternative. It has FREE alternatives to Photoshop and Word. It’s FREE to download and give to anybody you want. Oh, did I mention, it’s FREE?

How to install Ubuntu Linux:

1. Go here and download the desktop edition for standard computers (You’ll know if you bought a x64 computer). Choose a location and the .iso file will start downloading.

2. Go here and download the software for your correct version of XP and install.

3. Once your file is downloaded, right click on it and select “Copy Image to CD”

4. Put a CD-R in your CD-burner and select next and burn it!

5. Once it is done, go to My Computer, and right click on your CD and select “Explore”

6. Select Wubi.exe and fallow the steps to install Ubuntu!

*Note: Whatever you heard about Linux messing up your Computer is true if you do it incorrectly. THat is why I recommended Ubuntu. Wubi.exe installs it for you, making it safe. And if you ever want to uninstall it, just select Wubi in Add/Remove Programs.

Announcements

Just a few announcements:

• First of all, I created a new banner using the magic of photoshop!
• And secondly, we have a new promise to you, our humble blog reader! We will have new content every Monday! That’s right every Monday! Yay! So keep coming back…

10-year-old girl distraught over Wii Fit calling her fat

While a significant number of you out there won’t be picking up Wii Fit until its North American release on May 19th (and even more of you have to wait until second shipments…), Wii Fit is already wreaking havoc and causing psychological damage elsewhere in the world.

“My DSD [relative] came round this weekend and we let her play on our wii-fit. We have all laughed and joked about being told that we’re fat and need to lose weight but I was gobsmacked when it told her that she is overweight. She is a healthy 10 year old girl with an active lifestyle, she swims and dances every week. She is 92lbs and 4′9″ tall and there is not an inch of fat on her. She is solidly built but not fat. She was [devastated] to be called fat and we had to work hard to convince her that she isn’t. I know it is just a game but seriously we already have to worry about young girls starving themselves to look like the magazine models and now we have a game that tells them their fat. This to me is very worrying and I hope that is doesn’t cause emotional problems for any youngsters out there.”

It’s just a game, right? I get the feeling that Wii Fit is going to cause a rise in anorexia in little kids and lawsuits from angry parents. Way to go, Nintendo.

How to Know if Your Son is a Computer Hacker

I saw this article and thought it was too funny:

As an enlightened, modern parent, I try to be as involved as possible in the lives of my six children. I encourage them to join team sports. I attend their teen parties with them to ensure no drinking or alcohol is on the premises. I keep a fatherly eye on the CDs they listen to and the shows they watch, the company they keep and the books they read. You could say I’m a model parent. My children have never failed to make me proud, and I can say without the slightest embellishment that I have the finest family in the USA.Two years ago, my wife Carol and I decided that our children’s education would not be complete without some grounding in modern computers. To this end, we bought our children a brand new Compaq to learn with. The kids had a lot of fun using the handful of application programs we’d bought, such as Adobe’s Photoshop and Microsoft’s Word, and my wife and I were pleased that our gift was received so well. Our son Peter was most entranced by the device, and became quite a pro at surfing the net. When Peter began to spend whole days on the machine, I became concerned, but Carol advised me to calm down, and that it was only a passing phase. I was content to bow to her experience as a mother, until our youngest daughter, Cindy, charged into the living room one night to blurt out: “Peter is a computer hacker!”

As you can imagine, I was amazed. A computer hacker in my own house! I began to monitor my son’s habits, to make certain that Cindy wasn’t just telling stories, as she is prone to doing at times.

After a few days of investigation, and some research into computer hacking, I confronted Peter with the evidence. I’m afraid to say, this was the only time I have ever been truly disappointed in one of my children. We raised them to be honest and to have integrity, and Peter betrayed the principles we tried to encourage in him, when he refused point blank to admit to his activities. His denials continued for hours, and in the end, I was left with no choice but to ban him from using the computer until he is old enough to be responsible for his actions.

After going through this ordeal with my own family, I was left pondering how I could best help others in similar situations. I’d gained a lot of knowledge over those few days regarding hackers. It’s only right that I provide that information to other parents, in the hope that they will be able to tell if their children are being drawn into the world of hacking. Perhaps other parents will be able to steer their sons back onto the straight and narrow before extreme measures need to be employed.

To this end, I have decided to publish the top ten signs that your son is a hacker. I advise any parents to read this list carefully and if their son matches the profile, they should take action. A smart parent will first try to reason with their son, before resorting to groundings, or even spanking. I pride myself that I have never had to spank a child, and I hope this guide will help other parents to put a halt to their son’s misbehaviour before a spanking becomes necessary.

1. Has your son asked you to change ISPs?

Most American families use trusted and responsible Internet Service Providers, such as AOL. These providers have a strict “No Hacking” policy, and take careful measures to ensure that your internet experience is enjoyable, educational and above all legal. If your child is becoming a hacker, one of his first steps will be to request a change to a more hacker friendly provider.

I would advise all parents to refuse this request. One of the reasons your son is interested in switching providers is to get away from AOL’s child safety filter. This filter is vital to any parent who wants his son to enjoy the internet without the endangering him through exposure to “adult” content. It is best to stick with the protection AOL provides, rather than using a home-based solution. If your son is becoming a hacker, he will be able to circumvent any home-based measures with surprising ease, using information gleaned from various hacker sites.

2. Are you finding programs on your computer that you don’t remember installing?

Your son will probably try to install some hacker software. He may attempt to conceal the presence of the software in some way, but you can usually find any new programs by reading through the programs listed under “Install/Remove Programs” in your control panel. Popular hacker software includes “Comet Cursor”, “Bonzi Buddy” and “Flash”.

The best option is to confront your son with the evidence, and force him to remove the offending programs. He will probably try to install the software again, but you will be able to tell that this is happening, if your machine offers to “download” one of the hacker applications. If this happens, it is time to give your son a stern talking to, and possibly consider punishing him with a grounding.

3. Has your child asked for new hardware?

Computer hackers are often limited by conventional computer hardware. They may request “faster” video cards, and larger hard drives, or even more memory. If your son starts requesting these devices, it is possible that he has a legitimate need. You can best ensure that you are buying legal, trustworthy hardware by only buying replacement parts from your computer’s manufacturer.

If your son has requested a new “processor” from a company called “AMD”, this is genuine cause for alarm. AMD is a third-world based company who make inferior, “knock-off” copies of American processor chips. They use child labor extensively in their third world sweatshops, and they deliberately disable the security features that American processor makers, such as Intel, use to prevent hacking. AMD chips are never sold in stores, and you will most likely be told that you have to order them from internet sites. Do not buy this chip! This is one request that you must refuse your son, if you are to have any hope of raising him well.

4. Does your child read hacking manuals?

If you pay close attention to your son’s reading habits, as I do, you will be able to determine a great deal about his opinions and hobbies. Children are at their most impressionable in the teenage years. Any father who has had a seventeen year old daughter attempt to sneak out on a date wearing make up and perfume is well aware of the effect that improper influences can have on inexperienced minds.

There are, unfortunately, many hacking manuals available in bookshops today. A few titles to be on the lookout for are: “Snow Crash” and “Cryptonomicon” by Neal Stephenson; “Neuromancer” by William Gibson; “Programming with Perl” by Timothy O’Reilly; “Geeks” by Jon Katz; “The Hacker Crackdown” by Bruce Sterling; “Microserfs” by Douglas Coupland; “Hackers” by Steven Levy; and “The Cathedral and the Bazaar” by Eric S. Raymond.

If you find any of these hacking manuals in your child’s possession, confiscate them immediately. You should also petition local booksellers to remove these titles from their shelves. You may meet with some resistance at first, but even booksellers have to bow to community pressure.

5. How much time does your child spend using the computer each day?

If your son spends more than thirty minutes each day on the computer, he may be using it to DOS other peoples sites. DOSing involves gaining access to the “command prompt” on other people’s machines, and using it to tie up vital internet services. This can take up to eight hours. If your son is doing this, he is breaking the law, and you should stop him immediately. The safest policy is to limit your children’s access to the computer to a maximum of forty-five minutes each day.

6. Does your son use Quake?

Quake is an online virtual reality used by hackers. It is a popular meeting place and training ground, where they discuss hacking and train in the use of various firearms. Many hackers develop anti-social tendencies due to the use of this virtual world, and it may cause erratic behaviour at home and at school.

If your son is using Quake, you should make hime understand that this is not acceptable to you. You should ensure all the firearms in your house are carefully locked away, and have trigger locks installed. You should also bring your concerns to the attention of his school.

7. Is your son becoming argumentative and surly in his social behaviour?

As a child enters the electronic world of hacking, he may become disaffected with the real world. He may lose the ability to control his actions, or judge the rightness or wrongness of a course of behaviour. This will manifest itself soonest in the way he treats others. Those whom he disagrees with will be met with scorn, bitterness, and even foul language. He may utter threats of violence of a real or electronic nature.

Even when confronted, your son will probably find it difficult to talk about this problem to you. He will probably claim that there is no problem, and that you are imagining things. He may tell you that it is you who has the problem, and you should “back off” and “stop smothering him.” Do not allow yourself to be deceived. You are the only chance your son has, even if he doesn’t understand the situation he is in. Keep trying to get through to him, no matter how much he retreats into himself.

8. Is your son obsessed with “Lunix”?

BSD, Lunix, Debian and Mandrake are all versions of an illegal hacker operation system, invented by a Soviet computer hacker named Linyos Torovoltos, before the Russians lost the Cold War. It is based on a program called “xenix“, which was written by Microsoft for the US government. These programs are used by hackers to break into other people’s computer systems to steal credit card numbers. They may also be used to break into people’s stereos to steal their music, using the “mp3″ program. Torovoltos is a notorious hacker, responsible for writing many hacker programs, such as “telnet”, which is used by hackers to connect to machines on the internet without using a telephone.

Your son may try to install “lunix” on your hard drive. If he is careful, you may not notice its presence, however, lunix is a capricious beast, and if handled incorrectly, your son may damage your computer, and even break it completely by deleting Windows, at which point you will have to have your computer repaired by a professional.

If you see the word “LILO” during your windows startup (just after you turn the machine on), your son has installed lunix. In order to get rid of it, you will have to send your computer back to the manufacturer, and have them fit a new hard drive. Lunix is extremely dangerous software, and cannot be removed without destroying part of your hard disk surface.

9. Has your son radically changed his appearance?

If your son has undergone a sudden change in his style of dress, you may have a hacker on your hands. Hackers tend to dress in bright, day-glo colors. They may wear baggy pants, bright colored shirts and spiky hair dyed in bright colors to match their clothes. They may take to carrying “glow-sticks” and some wear pacifiers around their necks. (I have no idea why they do this) There are many such hackers in schools today, and your son may have started to associate with them. If you notice that your son’s group of friends includes people dressed like this, it is time to think about a severe curfew, to protect him from dangerous influences.

10. Is your son struggling academically?

If your son is failing courses in school, or performing poorly on sports teams, he may be involved in a hacking group, such as the infamous “Otaku” hacker association. Excessive time spent on the computer, communicating with his fellow hackers may cause temporary damage to the eyes and brain, from the electromagnetic radiation. This will cause his marks to slip dramatically, particularly in difficult subjects such as Math, and Chemistry. In extreme cases, over-exposure to computer radiation can cause schizophrenia, meningitis and other psychological diseases. Also, the reduction in exercise may cause him to lose muscle mass, and even to start gaining weight. For the sake of your child’s mental and physical health, you must put a stop to his hacking, and limit his computer time drastically.

I encourage all parents to read through this guide carefully. Your child’s future may depend upon it. Hacking is an illegal and dangerous activity, that may land your child in prison, and tear your family apart. It cannot be taken too seriously.