So I'm helping my ex-wife with her computer (insert joke)...
A few weeks ago, she had spyware attack her system, and she actually saw people buying music on the iTunes store website in real-time, she could see the songs being added one at a time.
She spent the better part of an entire day on the phone with Dell tech support to clean out the spyware and make all kinds of "changes" that added programs to her main system.
Since then, the usability of her little Dell laptop has gone down the tubes.
I'm not a tech wiz, but I can troubleshoot a PC. Here's what I'm dealing with:
Microsoft Vista. A full-time SpyWare blocker. A Linksys router - with a configured secure wireless network. iTunes not connecting to the iTunes store (even after a re-install AND running cmd (as admin) > ipconfic /flushdns), now Firefox won't connect, but IE will... Turning on or turning off the Windows firewall does almost nothing for connectivity on the machine.
Taking the LAN feed straight from the cable modem to the PC - no change in internet connectivity either.
I run through multiple permutations of all the stuff in the last two paragraphs trying to get both iTunes to connect to the store AND get Firefox to connect... and nothing I do seems to work.
What else - she runs a secure connection to her work servers (BIG company) so she can work from home. It works.
I spent 3 hours of my day being a good guy trying to trouble shoot her PC. This all started last week when she tried to download the 2.0 iPhone software, and the PC blocked it.
I'm really NOT looking for any thoughts here, just wanted to share my hell. It's a war of pride for me. I will fix this problem.
THIS is why you protect against spyware!!!!!!!
As you specifically said you weren't looking for opinions/advice etc, I'll just confine myself to saying 'good luck'! [thumbsup]
I was working on a customer's computer running one of our systems, trying to deal with the registry which had gotten corrupted >:(, and noticed there was no anti-spyware or anti-virus software on there.
I mentioned it to the customer, who is at a university where any number of users can access the computer, and there is no global firewall.
His answer? He didn't need it, as he told the other users not to install software, and just to use Firefox. [bang]
Quote from: roy-nexus-6 on July 28, 2008, 09:27:30 PM
As you specifically said you weren't looking for opinions/advice etc, I'll just confine myself to saying 'good luck'! [thumbsup]
Thanks - I need it! [thumbsup]
I am a big fan of I'll figure it out my damn self once it has become a pretty good challenge. So much more rewarding. You get to do some cussing and shouting, maybe even a couple WTF! screen smacks. Have fun with it!
download super spyware remover. A lot of people I know have used this and it cleared them up.
Ignore this:
I am not sure that spyware would allow control of the PC or her iTunes account - I am saying there may be something more nefarious afoot. This sounds more like an exploit of some kind. A clean reinstall might take less time/effort than exorcising all the bad registry entries etc. More unsolicited advice available upon request.
Begin paying attention:
Good luck with this - fight the good fight...
I'm kinda with il dood. I don't know how itunes works since I avoid anything Mac related like the plague but I would assume that if someone is buying stuff with her account you should set her up on your computer for now so that she can change all of her passwords and whatnot. If she's got enough stuff on her computer that someone else can remotely control it they've likely got a keystroke recorder as well.
You probably got that far already but I just thought I'd think out loud. My solve all is to just grab the data I need and wipe the system. ;D Good luck!
Good luck... [thumbsup]
I run a Mac... Runs everything except spyware and viruses...
Quote from: erkishhorde on July 29, 2008, 09:54:39 AM
I'm kinda with il dood. I don't know how itunes works since I avoid anything Mac related like the plague but I would assume that if someone is buying stuff with her account you should set her up on your computer for now so that she can change all of her passwords and whatnot. If she's got enough stuff on her computer that someone else can remotely control it they've likely got a keystroke recorder as well.
You probably got that far already but I just thought I'd think out loud. My solve all is to just grab the data I need and wipe the system. ;D Good luck!
Guys - that's the past.
The spy ware that caused the iTunes theft problem was already solved a few weeks ago.
SpyWare tracking / blocking / blasting software was installed and NOW there are problems throughout the system.
I blame Vista, I blame the SpyWare software, I blame Linksys, and I blame iTunes... in that order.
I will attack it again this weekend.
Quote from: Dxomas on July 29, 2008, 09:59:21 AM
Good luck... [thumbsup]
I run a Mac... Runs everything except spyware and viruses...
Yeah, here's the bitter irony...
We bought an iMac back in 2002 while we were still married. Still runs perfectly. I bought a MacBook in 2006 after we were separated. It runs flawlessly.
She got a Dell so she could run her office connectivity software (Citrix) and work from home. Nothing but problems.
She is promising to get a Mac, get VMWare Fusion, and run Windows XP when she gets her bonus. [thumbsup]
In the meantime, I have to get this thing to work - it's a personal ego challenge!
I know I didn't ask for advice, but there is some good advice here! Thanks all!
Quote from: tommys67 on July 29, 2008, 10:04:59 AM
She got a Dell so she could run her office connectivity software (Citrix) and work from home. Nothing but problems.
I CAN'T STOP
Is Citrix not working on the iMac? There was a Citrix client that worked OK for me on my G4 iBook.
FWIW, I have never worked with a software firewall that has not caused more problems than it has fixed. Good luck. Again. Additional good luck...
try removing or lowering security 1 piece at a time and test to see if things are working or not.
My overall advice though, she is your ex, drop the ego trip, tell her to call geek squad and use your time for you. From things you have told me I wonder if she will blame you if you can't fix the computer issue in the short or long term.
Quote from: Pakhan on July 29, 2008, 10:47:10 AM
From things you have told me I wonder if she will blame you if you can't fix the computer issue in the short or long term.
[laugh] [laugh] Oh that's right, I did tell you that story... 8)
Actually, she did question me strongly yesterday after I re-installed iTunes and it still didn't work.
Quote from: tommys67 on July 29, 2008, 10:04:59 AM
She is promising to get a Mac, get VMWare Fusion, and run Windows XP when she gets her bonus. [thumbsup]
When running Windows, that'll have the same spyware vulnerabilities. The bonus is that you'll be able to run Windows less. That'll reduce exposure, at least.
I dual-boot Mac OS X and Vista. I use Vista only when I have to, and consider Firefox, AVG Anti-virus, Spybot S&D, and Ad-Aware to be my special Windows buddies.
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/ (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/)
http://free.avg.com/ (http://free.avg.com/)
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html)
http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php (http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php)
I understand if you feel the "need" to do this computer fix. I have been in that state of mind before. Check to see if the software you are using is compatible with Vista, if it is compatible with other software running. Sometimes the site for the software will have info about conflicts. Sometimes it's just an update. I use zone alarm firewall as one of my security levels and the most recent update blocked internet access completely adn I had to play with settings to correct.
If I haven't been able to solve it after trying for a while I have everything backed up and just format and reinstall everything. I would also recommend tossing Vista, IMHO it is a pile of crap. I will use XP pro until they come up with an adequate substitute.
Last but not least, just in case you need it http://www.geeksquad.com/ 8)
I know how you feel about the spyware PROTECTION causing problems. I let my dad setup my system all the time since it makes him feel needed. He always puts zillions of protection software on my system and they screw the heck out of my games and other programs.
-ZoneAlarm, OK. It's a firewall. I need a firewall but let's leave all the addware blocking stuff turned off.
-ThreatFire? WTF? It seems like it's doing the exact same thing as ZoneAlarm so why the heck do I need it. All it does is screw up stuff when I try to install things. It has yet to catch any "dangerous action" that I didn't do intentionally. Actually, it has yet to detect any "dangerous action" that ZoneAlarm didn't detect first! [roll]
-McAfee? Psh... Yeah, I need an anti-virus but this thing eats up resources like mad. >:(
-Peer Guardian? Ok, I can see how it could be useful for when I'm trying to get my hands on stuff in less than legal ways but for the most part it's just a pain in the butt. It took me a whole day to figure out that PeerGuardian was blocking my BattleField 2142 from accessing servers. [roll]
Then on top of that I've got built-in firewalls to deal with in the AT&T router. [roll] I feel your pain man. Just start turning things off and see how far that gets you. ;D Good luck.
Oh yeah, Pakhan, there's a new update to ZoneAlarm that makes it work properly with Service Pack 3. I think everyone using ZoneAlarm had that problem. [roll]
Quote from: erkishhorde on July 29, 2008, 11:56:49 AM
Oh yeah, Pakhan, there's a new update to ZoneAlarm that makes it work properly with Service Pack 3. I think everyone using ZoneAlarm had that problem. [roll]
I installed the ZA update before I had SP3 and it blocked access. After i corrected it I installed SP3 weeks later without issue. [popcorn]
http://www.apple.com
Quote from: corey on July 29, 2008, 12:49:33 PM
http://www.apple.com
Boooo
(http://www.poster.net/jim-henson-prod/jim-henson-prod-waldorf-statler-2401676.jpg)
sorry couldn't resist.
i used to be a PC guy... had all these same types of spyware problems that your ex is having. decided i would give OSX a try... best decision i ever made in my life. and i miss the hecklers. dammit i loved that show.
Quote from: corey on July 29, 2008, 01:01:19 PM
sorry couldn't resist.
i used to be a PC guy... had all these same types of spyware problems that your ex is having. decided i would give OSX a try... best decision i ever made in my life. and i miss the hecklers. dammit i loved that show.
Tommy67 is the OP, not me and he loves mac.
I am a PC guy obviously, but I will be the first to say I think mac os is better than any windows os to date. I still refuse to go mac, too many reasons to list them all. one of them is because of the wide variety and availability of hardware and software out there for PC, even if 1/3 of it doesn't work right [cheeky]
Waldorf and Statler kicked ass, I loved the muppets.
Quote from: Pakhan on July 29, 2008, 01:05:41 PM
Tommy67 is the OP, not me and he loves mac.
True, true.
It amazes me is how few of the responders are reading the posts in this thread accurately.
Forgive me, just cranky today. [coffee] [bacon]
Quote from: tommys67 on July 29, 2008, 01:14:58 PM
Forgive me, just cranky today. [coffee] [bacon]
Did the ex call about another computer issue? ;D [evil]
Quote from: Pakhan on July 29, 2008, 01:05:41 PM
Tommy67 is the OP, not me and he loves mac.
I am a PC guy obviously, but I will be the first to say I think mac os is better than any windows os to date. I still refuse to go mac, too many reasons to list them all. one of them is because of the wide variety and availability of hardware and software out there for PC, even if 1/3 of it doesn't work right [cheeky]
Waldorf and Statler kicked ass, I loved the muppets.
i will say that i do miss my options in the gaming world. not a real fan of running parallels or anything like that...
also wishing i had some PCIII compatibility for the future...
Quote from: Pakhan on July 29, 2008, 02:00:41 PM
Did the ex call about another computer issue? ;D [evil]
No, but it sorta feels like it. [coffee]
Get rid of the zone alarm and use a router with firewall.