A few minutes ago, my macbook pro (OSX 10.6.8) played what I think was the Skype incoming call chime. I didn't think Skype was running, and as I was Cmd-Tabbing through applications to see if I'd accidentally left Skype turned on, the webcam light briefly flashed. Skype wasn't running, but I double-checked by starting Activity Monitor, and didn't see any processes with Skype in the name. I'm not totally sure it was the skype chime, because I don't use skype often. I do have google chat running in gmail with video chat enabled, but there were no visible notifications in the gmail window. I suppose it could've been a deceptive flash ad in a browser tab, but it's the webcam light that creeps me out. Any ideas what might have happened? Should I find a malware scanner? Is that even a thing? The last ask.metafilter match for "osx malware" is almost 2 years old.
posted by moonmilk on Mar 14, 2013 - 4 answers

Open source software is considered trustworthy because anyone can validate the source code and hold the developer accountable. Usually developers will also make compiled binaries available for convenience. How can we know that these binaries are compiled from the same source code the developer published, and not a malicious variant of it? [more inside]
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis on Feb 26, 2013 - 17 answers

Can anyone help me with a malware problem in system 7, possibly related to a recent ransomware attack? [more inside]
posted by Huplescat on Jan 30, 2013 - 16 answers

ThorConnWndClass is getting serious. Anybody have a solution? [more inside]
posted by aqsakal on Oct 9, 2012 - 15 answers

How do I completely remove the funmoods search toolbar from Windows 7? [more inside]
posted by Bonzai on Aug 18, 2012 - 10 answers

How do I get rid of these banner ads in Netflix (below which say "Ads not by this site")? [more inside]
posted by lovableiago on Jun 29, 2012 - 8 answers

What do I *really* need to do in order to keep my computer reasonably save from malware and intrusions? [more inside]
posted by lord_yo on Dec 10, 2011 - 23 answers

How should I best amuse myself at the expense of fake tech support scammers? [more inside]
posted by flabdablet on Dec 7, 2011 - 40 answers

How do I keep my father from wrecking his computer - again? [more inside]
posted by koucha on Nov 7, 2011 - 27 answers

I hate intrusive facebook. My favorite facebook blocker is 3 versions of firefox behind and doesn't appear to be actively updated anymore. What's more, with the latest redesign, FB has a new social plugin thing on other sites that I can't figure out how to block. What's the best way to keep facebook and its assorted APIs, plugins, sniffers, trackers and malware on its own damn webpage?
posted by T.D. Strange on Sep 22, 2011 - 13 answers

Is someone scamming me? [Mac spyware filter] [more inside]
posted by fritillary on Sep 13, 2011 - 15 answers

Windows XP. I can't get my Date/Time dialog to popup when clicking the clock, nor the video card/monitor properties to pop up (when right clicking desktop and choosing "properties"). I also have auto updates not being allowed to be turned on (or rather, the service is on, but in the control panel it says it can't be turned on). I think i got hit w/something a while back, but everything I've done to fix it isn't working. [more inside]
posted by symbioid on Jun 27, 2011 - 28 answers

Is this malware, and what do I do to handle this?? Long, convoluted problem inside. [more inside]
posted by dunkadunc on Jun 15, 2011 - 7 answers

Help me find the right countermove in the war on malware. [more inside]
posted by Obscure Reference on May 31, 2011 - 5 answers

My networked work PC was infected with what appears to be XP Shield. Questions about this specific piece of malware... [more inside]
posted by Dr. Zira on May 26, 2011 - 10 answers

What's the best way to target malware/spyware when it's on an external drive? [more inside]
posted by lemniskate on May 4, 2011 - 3 answers

I've got a nasty bit of malware. How do I get rid of it? [more inside]
posted by TheWhiteSkull on Apr 14, 2011 - 15 answers

I was surprised to find an option in the McAfee anti-virus enterprise management software, that "jokes" are a category that they block (screenshot). What sort of jokes? Are any of these jokes awesome and/or funny? [more inside]
posted by yeahyeahyeahwhoo on Apr 7, 2011 - 5 answers

Do Cisco/Linksys routers sometimes redirect you to a Yahoo Toolbar download page when you try to go to Google, and if so how do they get away with it? [more inside]
posted by miyabo on Mar 25, 2011 - 10 answers

Malware. WIN7. Walked back into my house after UPS delivery gave me package, checked email, "Oh, look -- UPS is tracking the delivery. Cool." And I not only opened the email but clicked on the executable. [more inside]
posted by dancestoblue on Mar 23, 2011 - 16 answers

What the heck is LMIR0001.tmp.bat.js?? [more inside]
posted by Jackie_Treehorn on Mar 15, 2011 - 8 answers

How paranoid should I be about my Windows XP Pro machine after hitting a dodgy site with Firefox 3.6, scanning with Microsoft Security Essentials, updating NoScript, scanning with MSE again, and finally using Windows to restore to yesterday's restore point, about 18 hours before hitting that site? Firefox is now missing NoScript completely, but it's been installed for weeks and surely should have been here yesterday morning. Has there been a known issue with NoScript, or am I just a special (and dim) snowflake? [more inside]
posted by The True Wheel on Nov 26, 2010 - 14 answers

My firefox homepage and keyword.URL have been hijacked by "eSnips". It's incredibly persistent and resists all attempts to change. How do I kick its ass? [more inside]
posted by Senza Volto on Nov 11, 2010 - 11 answers

So, we loaned our "spare" computer to our neighbor and it came back infected... [more inside]
posted by Old Geezer on Aug 20, 2010 - 28 answers

How to protect against rootkits? Our computer was down with what we thought was malware but turned out to be a rootkit from China according to our computer guy (which would explain why we weren't able to take care of problems ourselves.) Any of y'all have any suggestions to keep this kind of stuff off our computers in future?
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies on Jul 21, 2010 - 17 answers

My computer (XP SP2) is infected with malware that pretends to be User Account Control. Help! [more inside]
posted by Praxis on Apr 14, 2010 - 32 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

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

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

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

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

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