A question re: security updates for microsoft users

Self | December 20, 2003 | stanz

[martin_fierro]

That "Interstitial Ad Delivery" sounds more like Spyware from a source other than Microsoft.

Have you tried a Spyware remover like Spybot S&D or Adaware? (link to come if you want it)

[Jeff Chandler]

It sounds as if you were fooled into downloading a program from someone other than Microsoft.

[jude24]

N-case isn't a MS patch; its spyware that you might have downloaded with a file-sharing program or something. More information may be found here.

Download AdAware, and it should take care of it. You can download it here

[MEG33]

Where did you get the patch?I click on"tools" and windows update to go to the Microsoft Windows update site on my xp.

[ErnBatavia]

Awhile back, I downloaded Service Pack 1 onto my HP.....my computer totally died then...after about 4 hours on HP's help line (not toll free) I gleaned the fact that there were "issues" between Microsoft and HP.

HP ended up sending me the recovery discs and I got going again - of course anything I had on the computer before that had taken the ride to Neverland.

I'll live without their "critical updates"....I don't know enough about computers to mess with this stuff any longer.

[gatorgriz]

Get Spybot and make sure you check for updates and install them and immunize your PC... I also run Win XP Professional and I'm fully patched and I'm not having any problems... You've got spyware on your system and you need to clean it off... For that matter you should also get Ad-Aware and run it too. I use both and they both do a GREAT job of removing this crap. They are also free... Get 'em at Kim Komando's web site...

[Consort]

What was the ID number of the update so that we can watch for it?

[DCPatriot]

You just received the Swen Virus. My administrator has tried to remove it, but all he could do is fix it so that any duplicate notices (which I receive dozens daily) go into a junk folder.

Also get twice as many notices in Outlook Express that numerous messages could not be delivered...emails that I never sent to begin with.

It truly sucks and would like to know if any experts in here could help me get rid of this. Or, do I have to change my email address to be free of it?

[The Mayor]

AdAware is a great program, I run it at least once a week with my kids going to all kinds of sites alot of crap follows them around.

It gets rid of stuff that we can't find..

[Consort]

more n-CASE removal info

[MediaMole]

Backup all the important data on your hard drive, reformat and reinstall Windows.

It's a good idea anyway to reinstall windows occasionally, but when things start to crash regularly, it should fix many of the problems.

One thing that makes it easier to maintain windows is to partiton your disk with a 10gb c: drive and a d: drive using the rest of the disk. Put nothing but the OS and programs on c: and nothing but data on d:. That way, you can reformat c: and reinstall windows without affecting the data on d:

Also, get ZoneAlarm, a good free firewall which will inform you when any program tries to contact the internet. It is great for catching new programs calling home.

[Ichneumon]

I recently downloaded one of those Microsoft security updates that pop up from time to time.

Unfortunately, many ad-spammers/virus-writers/etc. will pop up windows (or web pages) that intentionally mimic the Microsoft "you need to update now, press here" screens. When you accept the "update", you've just given them permission to install their garbage on your computer.

The same goes for a lot of virus-spreading emails these days, which will be written to look like an "update" emailed to you from Microsoft (it will even have a spoofed Microsoft source/return email address). Note that Microsoft will *never* send you updates via email. If you seem to get one through email, it's a trojan horse.

Whenever you get what appears to be an update notification, first look at it *very* carefully for signs that it's a lookalike and not a real Microsoft message. Then if it seems to be an actual notification of updates, the *SAFE* way to get the update (if there really is one) is to load your Internet Explorer web browser, then click the "Tools" menu on the menu bar at the very top, and select the "Windows Update" menu item. This will take you to the *official* Microsoft update site, and from there you can safely see and install the appropriate updates (if any) for your Windows system.

[TheBattman]

I second that - he was tricked into downloading spyware.

My understanding (I'm not a Windows user) is that MS does not use pop-ups to get you to update software.

Spybot or Adaware are the cure.

[technomage]

As others have mentioned, get BOTH Ad-Aware and Spybot. By running both of these from time to time, they should get rid of most, if not all, of your problems.

[LADYAK]

It is interesting that you should mention this N-case alert. For awhile I was experiencing problems sending emails via hotmail and yahoo, I would type in my message from home and the message would not send but popup'd with a message that was trying to redirect me to another location for buying items. I tried sending from these accounts from work and it was fine..so I knew something had attached itself on my home XP. I read somewhere to run Spybot or Adware and noticed that my system had Spybot. I ran this and it cleaned up my system and I could immediately send emails from these accounts. The only problem I now have is that I have these N-Case Alert notifications when I start my system...asking if I want to reinstall the program. I have researched this problem on Yahoo and other recommendations and found that this is an ad program..but I have tried to locate the file on the regedit but could not locate the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE to delete any programs with the 'msbb'. So any suggestions on eliminating this would be helpful....thanks for the post

[stanz]

Would appreciate the link.
I really thought I was downloading a microsoft program.

[stanz]

I don't know...the pop-up box looked pretty authentic at the time.

[stanz]

Thanks so much for the links.
Just when I thought I could relax for a while, this happens. Go figure.

[Cicero]

If you are notified of a so-called Microsoft Update by e-mail, you can be sure it's a fake. All microsoft updates are installed at the MS Update Center.

The exception would be if your workplace administrator installs stuff through the network.