Is the new Microsoft Worm Giving You Problems This Morning? (I switched to Netscape)

Internet Weather Report/Network Overview ^ | September 12, 2003 | staff report

[meg70]

Traffic in Asia is slowed down to about half of the US

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I had a strange occurence this morning in which something had gotten into my computer that changed my default internet page (FR, of course!) to a page advertising some kind of anti-virus system. It also caused me to lose my internet connection till I rebooted.

[Ex-Dem]

I think your link may be wrong. I can't seem to load. It may be a double "T" in the link.

"internettrafficreport", not "internetrafficreport"

http://www.internettrafficreport.com/main.htm

[Sabertooth]

I'm using Safari and Explorer here, simultaneously.
No problems with either browser.

[martin_fierro]

FREE PC PROTECTION (not an exhaustive list): Spyware removers: Spybot S&D AdAware Bayden Systems Popup Popper: Blocks popup ads well in MSIE MailWasher: Good for pre-screening & bouncing SPAM AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition: Free anti-viral protection Windows Update: At least install the critical ones ZoneAlarm: Excellent Firewall Test your firewall from without with ShieldsUP! Test your firewall from within with LeakTest Alternative browsers: Mozilla Opera

[Ex-Dem]

There're certain annoying websites that have code embedded that will change your default webpage to their webpage. Maybe disable ActiveX controls? I don't know...

[meg70]

Thanks..

[js1138]

Sounds to me like a system that hasn't been updated in a while.

[meg70]

Microsoft Browser was crawling along, about 30 minutes ago..

[ConservativeLawyer]

bump for later

[Hodar]

( sigh ) ... If you click the Start Button, and look up towards the top you will find "Windows Update". If you to to Internet Explorer and click on Tools, you will see Windows Update (3rd down). They are there for a reason.

When you first booted your machine, or installed Windows on either an update, or fresh install; you were asked about allowing Windows to automatically update the OS.

There is a reason for this. If you had done this, you wouldn't be affected by the MSBlaster or the hordes of other virus's making the rounds. If you have not YET done this, do it now. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy random restarts, and infecting your friends with virus-ridden email. In the case of MSBlaster, you can get it simply by being connected to the internet (no mail to open, no program to run, no attachement required). Once you are infected, you will have poor performance, and will be yet another virus spreading engine, as your machine will be devoted to spreading the virus to others first; and serving you in the background.

Go to the Windows Update site, download and install ALL of the updates. You will avoid the fun and excitement of getting virus's, and you will have a more stable machine as a result. Also, I would suggest making a purchase of Norton SystemWorks 2003 (or 2004) as a superb piece of software to keep your machine in tip-top shape.

[meg70]

California, Florida, Colorado, Texas and Georgia seem to be having problems

http://www.internettrafficreport.com/details.htm

[jwalburg]

Happened to us a couple weeks ago. I'm back to Netscape, too.

[freebilly]

Adaware puts a trojan on your system. Don't like it....

[CheneyChick]

Is it me, or are there a plethora of these threads lately?

(Safari humming along just fine here, too.)

[=Intervention=]

*shaking my head* I sympathize with all y'all, 'cause we are still wedded to M$ at work. I'm surprised that no-one has started a Windows schaenfraud ping list...

[MotleyGirl70]

I'm unable to send/receive email this morning from WinXP.

[Rain-maker]

That's called homepage hijacking. Usaully from invasive java script written on a web site.
It can happen to any browser that the script targets.

Go get Spybot (freeware) and get rid the hijackers, dialers and spyware on your hard drive.
http://www.safer-networking.org/

[martin_fierro]

That's a bogus, hacked copy.

The version you download directly from Lavasoft should be OK.

[MotleyGirl70]

I've rebooted three times and Outlook is still messed up. I have cable connection and this has never happened before. I'll just wait and reboot again this afternoon.