Hive knowledge about malware and strategy of redirecting user profiles to other partitions [more inside]
posted by atm on Oct 27, 2009 - 23 answers

I just got a raging beast of a new laptop. Runs Left 4 Dead like a dream. Problem: I've been in Mac-world for 7 years. Now that I'm back in Windows Land, I gotta be careful. What's the best free/low-cost/open-source spyware/malware/virus protection around? [more inside]
posted by GilloD on Aug 19, 2009 - 24 answers

So for the first time in...well, ever. I let my pc get infected. The virus is calling itself 'Internet Antivirus Pro'....and this is how it happened... [more inside]
posted by dawson on Jun 1, 2009 - 9 answers

I downloaded a .scr file that was probably a virus. I was at least smart enough to trash the file instead of opening it, but is it likely that my computer is infected, anyway; that the file is executed merely by downloading it? (NOTE: This happened on a Macbook Pro.) [more inside]
posted by ProfLinusPauling on May 24, 2009 - 9 answers

Can a virus on my desktop infect my external HD? Solutions needed for backing up data on a computer I'm about to nuke. [more inside]
posted by gnutron on May 20, 2009 - 7 answers

In light of the increasing number of PDF security exploits, what is the most secure PDF viewer for Windows? [more inside]
posted by benzenedream on Apr 1, 2009 - 5 answers

Fraudulent Skype transactions: eerie coincidence, malware, or something else? [more inside]
posted by jferg on Mar 31, 2009 - 3 answers

I've been attacked by some malware called "Spyware Protect 2009". Have you guys seen this before? Screenshot and symptoms inside - hoping someone can help me kill this thing. [more inside]
posted by CRM114 on Mar 26, 2009 - 22 answers

Facebook-filter: Somehow two links have been posted to my facebook page, NOT by me, which directly people to a website to "Vote for my modeling pic please :) http://theimageparlour.com/images/?&uploaded=58291H560.jpg" or similar ... that pages contains malware or virus. How is this getting posted? How can I stop it? [more inside]
posted by unclezeb on Mar 15, 2009 - 8 answers

How do you rid a web site of Malware? [more inside]
posted by tangyraspberry on Mar 3, 2009 - 8 answers

Basic applications on my computer seem to be temporarily "blanking out" on me. Especially noticeable when I'm typing. What might be causing it and how can I fix it? [more inside]
posted by aspenbaloo on Feb 5, 2009 - 4 answers

Did Google break today? Please reassure me that this is a mistake. [more inside]
posted by kellygreen on Jan 31, 2009 - 13 answers

So how vulnerable is the Internet to some sneaky worm attack that targets Windows? It looks like organised crime is running increasingly sophisticated malware attacks to control large numbers of clients, if I were a bad person I could imagine a smart, quiet rootkit or similar that infected many, many machines then went live and could be very disruptive. [more inside]
posted by bystander on Jan 23, 2009 - 14 answers

I'm heading out tomorrow to work on my Mom's computer, which has been infected by Antivirus2009. Help me load up my flash drive with everything I need. [more inside]
posted by tdismukes on Jan 2, 2009 - 25 answers

How can I clean an infected laptop without booting to it's own drive? [more inside]
posted by covert7 on Dec 29, 2008 - 7 answers

Is there a nastyware lurking in this computer? Strange Yahoo! Mail contact list kidnapping observed... [more inside]
posted by Iosephus on Aug 18, 2008 - 3 answers

Now I'm just mad. Before I drag my stupid, crap laptop over to the Geek Squad, help me figure out some solutions for what's like a malware/adware problem. [more inside]
posted by santojulieta on Aug 16, 2008 - 24 answers

Has the Galbaldia Hotel infected my computer with malware? [more inside]
posted by Jack Alucard on Aug 4, 2008 - 4 answers

I've read so much here lately 1 2 3 about not browsing as an admin, decided to check it out and yepper, I surely was using an admin account. I've set up a non admin account, made a few other changes (described inside), hoping to find out from The Hive Mind if I am now safe enough to breathe easy(er). [more inside]
posted by dancestoblue on Jul 21, 2008 - 14 answers

I have some sort of malware on my Dell that constantly redirects me away from where I desire to go. Specifically, it seems to prevent Gmail from working. Also prevents any major search site from loading. Always redirects to some idiotic ad site. [more inside]
posted by Arquimedez Pozo on Jul 20, 2008 - 18 answers

What free Windows malware detectors/removers should I put on a CD or USB stick? [more inside]
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen on Jul 9, 2008 - 6 answers

Is 'Trend Micro Antivirus plus AntiSpyware' and Spysweeper (along with the firewall) enough to keep a PC clean? [more inside]
posted by Kronos_to_Earth on Jul 4, 2008 - 10 answers

I have some malware on my machine -- yes, I know, stupid. Prolly got it from pr0n. I'm running Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002 on a Gateway laptop with a Pentium 4, 3.06GHz and 480 MB of RAM. I can connect to the nets, but I can't FTP into sites (I'm a freelance web designer) with either Dreamweaver or WS-FTP, my weapons of choice. [more inside]
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit on May 20, 2008 - 26 answers

Can simply connecting an infected jump drive release bugs onto a computer? [more inside]
posted by Kronos_to_Earth on May 1, 2008 - 8 answers

What software (or combination of software) are you using to keep your computer internet-secure these days? [more inside]
posted by danwalker on Mar 12, 2008 - 13 answers

I'm currently running a business where I monitor computers for people. I use custom made software that gets by all the anti-malware scanners and through the firewalls. I have been charging $40/hr for the first hour, and $45 for each hour after that. Since most of work may only take 1-4 hours per client I've been told that I'm charging too little. Figures have been thrown at me by friends, family and even clients that I should charge $60, $75 or even $100. What is a fair amount in this business. Yes this involves spying on people at the workplace, churches and spouses. My first question. I've searched mefi for similar stuff and came up empty.
posted by Jack Feschuk on Mar 10, 2008 - 15 answers

I have a mysterious service listed.... It has the name ZPIXLKJXJ; the path to the executable is C:\DOCUME~1\User\LOCALS~1\Temp\ZPIXLKJXJ.exe . The description in the column in the Services window is blank, the status is stopped, it's manual, and "log on as" is local system. A Google search turns up "no matching documents"; Norton AV says it doesn't find anything untoward, as does Spysweeper, Ad-Aware, and Spybot. What in the world?
posted by Kronos_to_Earth on Feb 17, 2008 - 22 answers

Why (and how do I fix it) does my Windows desktop keep crashing? [more inside]
posted by ZaneJ. on Jan 17, 2008 - 15 answers

Browser hijack- on a MAC?! Both Firefox & Safari on our iBook will only access a page that says, "Welcome to Comcast" and wants us to "Click here to install". We have internet service with AT&T and my PC on the same network is working fine. [more inside]
posted by Mamapotomus on Oct 21, 2007 - 14 answers

Macbook keyboard issues: I clicked on a google search result and was sneakily redirected to one of those malware scan sites, now macbook keyboard is doing funny things. The arrows do not work and the apostrophe and forward slash keys bring up the "find" window at the bottom of the screen (firefox). How do cancel out whichever setting was changed and get my key functionality back? [more inside]
posted by birdlady on Oct 3, 2007 - 7 answers

My desktop is my IE homepage! [more inside]
posted by schoenbc on Jul 22, 2007 - 6 answers

I need help finding an online security quiz I took a year ago or more... [more inside]
posted by tdreyer1 on Apr 4, 2007 - 2 answers

Why is Google warning that Yochai Benkler's site is bad? Here's Google's warning [more inside]
posted by Toekneesan on Feb 25, 2007 - 6 answers

Please help me get rid of this spyware infection before I just give up and re-install Windows. [more inside]
posted by Venadium on Feb 7, 2007 - 14 answers

Help this desktop power user protect his new laptop from evil internet demons while using public Wifi hotspots. [more inside]
posted by chrominance on Oct 27, 2006 - 18 answers

What are effective anti-virus and anti-spyware programs that work in harmony? [more inside]
posted by Smarson on Aug 24, 2006 - 17 answers

Has anyone heard of a computer virus/worm/trojan that causes a photo of someone's rotten teeth (meth mouth) to pop up at startup and occasionally? [more inside]
posted by bradn on Jul 25, 2006 - 3 answers

Where does my spyware go? [more inside]
posted by Postroad on May 26, 2006 - 10 answers

Starforce copy protection: Threat or menace? [more inside]
posted by arto on Apr 6, 2006 - 12 answers

Particularly stubborn infestation of dialer.gbdial (or something very similar) on a Windows XP machine - any suggestions, either of solutions or reliable anti-malware forums where I can post logs? [more inside]
posted by terpsichoria on Mar 16, 2006 - 6 answers

I know that cookies may be automatically and surreptitiously installed on my computer when I arrive at a webpage, but what about spyware/malware/virus ? [more inside]
posted by studentguru on Feb 25, 2006 - 13 answers

run-mbi16.exe virus/worm/trojan [more inside]
posted by Kwantsar on Nov 23, 2005 - 7 answers

My wife's computer (running XP Pro SP2) has fallen victim to a piece of malware called "WinFixer 2005". None of the spyware or virus tools I've tried (Norton, MS AntiSpyware, AdAware) have even been able to find it, let alone remove it. Has anyone managed to get rid of this thing?
posted by timeistight on Sep 16, 2005 - 9 answers

My computer illiterate family has an HP box running Windows XP Home SP 2. They are constantly installing random programs from suspicious websites and allowing nefarious Active X controls to run – often leaving a trail of destruction for me to deal with. Is there an easy way to restrict their ability to install software? (Also - was I dreaming or did Microsoft just release some kind of policy editing tool that deals with this kind of problem?)
posted by mockjovial on Aug 26, 2005 - 11 answers

An extremely malicious malware/adware program has rendered my C: drive inoperable. I have a second hard drive in the closet, which I can connect as the C: drive, install XP onto, and then connect the old C drive as the D drive and copy some vital files over. Can I get most of my data safely this way? [more inside]
posted by XQUZYPHYR on May 2, 2005 - 12 answers

Spyware/Junkware question. I've just spent six hours trying to remove what seems to be a new parasite based on VX2. There's plenty of information, tools, tips and advice, but nowhere have I been able to find how this particular pest actually works. Does anyone know? [mi] [more inside]
posted by grahamwell on Oct 28, 2004 - 7 answers

What's the best Anti-Spyware program? I've got one or two processes that just keep coming back...
posted by kaibutsu on Sep 15, 2004 - 13 answers

Malware problem. (Yes, on IE. Why would you ask?) This is some kind of browser hijack that keeps trying to reset my relly's home page and has added a tool bar to everything in his Windows files inviting him to pharmacy and gambling sites. [mi]
posted by realjanetkagan on Sep 3, 2004 - 10 answers

Linkedin Virus: Have any of you guys received an email in the last week from a friend's valid email address asking you to join their LinkedIn network? It seemed harmless enough so I clicked the link, wasn't interested and closed the browser. Soon enough, my whole machine slowed down to a crawl and even after repeated reboots, it's still almost locked. Sound familiar? [more inside]
posted by dhoyt on Aug 21, 2004 - 16 answers

I have something on my MS Word window I can't get rid of, and I think it's spyware. Pic of offending thing inside. [more inside]
posted by johnnydark on Aug 5, 2004 - 8 answers