Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Updating my address book - Virus alert
Computer | March 3, 2005 | wai-ming

Posted on 03/03/2005 3:44:28 PM PST by wai-ming

If you receive an e-mail message entitled "Updating my address book," even from someone you know, Beware! Don't click on the link. It may be a virus.

I recently received such a message from a former business contact, and thinking it was okay, clicked on the link. Bad news. It appears to have infected my home page to the point that the page doesn't even load on my screen anymore--not even from other computers.

I checked a few computer message boards, and sure enough, it's some kind of new virus.

Does anyone out there know anything about this virus? What is it, what kind of damage does it do, and how can I get rid of it and restore my home page?


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: computer; virus
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-63 next last
To: Conservatrix

:)

Love what it STANDS for!

Love those TROOPS!

WHOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!


21 posted on 03/03/2005 5:32:24 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (aitch tee tee pea colon 2 slashes dubya dubya dubya dot proud patriots dot org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: wai-ming
Here is a good article on browser hijacking. I am by no means an expert, just another victim that had to learn the hard way.
22 posted on 03/03/2005 5:46:00 PM PST by Yo-Yo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo; wai-ming
That's a good article. I had to clean up two messed up computers in the last two weeks, and I basically followed a similar routine.

One thing to check is to make sure your "hosts" file isn't filled up with entries. The hosts file is a text file located in C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc. The "windows" directory might be "winnt" depending on the operating system. The only entry that should be in a default hosts file is "localhost 127.0.0.1". Any other entries are suspect, especially if they point to the 127.0.0.1 address and are for URLs such as Windows Update or Antivirus software vendors.

There is a block of text with examples in the file, but it will have #s in front of each line, rendering them harmless.

23 posted on 03/03/2005 7:21:53 PM PST by Disambiguator (Encouraging heteronormativity wherever I go!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: feefee
Do these things infect all types of computers (PC and Mac)? I went to that site as well and my browsers have been acting up.

While any computer can be infected by a trojan (a program masquerading as something else that trick users into installing and running them) written for its operating system, some OS are much more secure than Windows.

The Mac OSX is one of those more secure operating systems. As of this writing there only a couple of trojans concept program written and none have been observed in the "wild". Macs are immune to most viruses and worms as getting them to download, install, and execute a malicious program is extremely difficult if not impossible.

24 posted on 03/03/2005 9:49:30 PM PST by Swordmaker (Tagline now open, please ring bell.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: backhoe

Big ole BTTT!!!!


25 posted on 03/03/2005 10:40:17 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (aitch tee tee pea colon 2 slashes dubya dubya dubya dot proud patriots dot org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Brad's Gramma

26 posted on 03/04/2005 12:27:23 AM PST by backhoe (-30-)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Swordmaker

Thank you for the reassurance.
I understand how the virus works (for the most part) and that I don't have to worry too much about them. I have no idea of what these 'new' things are capable of.


27 posted on 03/04/2005 4:48:05 AM PST by feefee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Brad's Gramma

Hey,..I finally figured out your tagline....

Been a nice day on the beach, Onyx said she had rain in San Diego though....


28 posted on 03/04/2005 10:58:21 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (This tagline no longer operative....floated away in the flood of 2005 ,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: wai-ming

it's an ARMS Race, I am trying to outrun them by moving to Linux, Xandros specifically, for World Wide Web interface!

Don't know what your specific requirements are for business access to the Web.


29 posted on 03/04/2005 11:01:18 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (This tagline no longer operative....floated away in the flood of 2005 ,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: backhoe

LOL!!!

Backatcha!


30 posted on 03/04/2005 11:15:37 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (aitch tee tee pea colon 2 slashes dubya dubya dubya dot proud patriots dot org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Hey,..I finally figured out your tagline....

Well, it TOOK ya long enough! LOL!!!

YOU didn't have rain??? We did! And an AWFULLY dark, ominous sky around 2:30 today. Nothing came of it, but BOY did it look tornado-y.

31 posted on 03/04/2005 11:16:54 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (aitch tee tee pea colon 2 slashes dubya dubya dubya dot proud patriots dot org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Brad's Gramma

Well, I didn't focus on it very much, just figured it was some catholic latin saying....


32 posted on 03/04/2005 11:29:21 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (This tagline no longer operative....floated away in the flood of 2005 ,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Whoo HOOOOO!!!! Now THAT'S funny!!! :)


33 posted on 03/04/2005 11:30:00 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (aitch tee tee pea colon 2 slashes dubya dubya dubya dot proud patriots dot org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Brad's Gramma
aitch tee tee pea colon ...

Or maybe something risque, pee and colon....are special words you know....

34 posted on 03/04/2005 11:39:56 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (This tagline no longer operative....floated away in the flood of 2005 ,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Brad's Gramma
aitch

Now that word I had no idea what to make of it.....

35 posted on 03/04/2005 11:41:20 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (This tagline no longer operative....floated away in the flood of 2005 ,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Brad's Gramma; Ernest_at_the_Beach

Where's our CA storm thread?

1 1/2 inch here this evening and still pouring right now.

Get this: dined at a restaurant 5 miles from house.
Took almost one hour to winde my way home due to
flooded out streets and closed roads. Unreal.

The water is over the curb in front of house right now.
The storm drains can't handle it tonight.
It's GRAND, save for the damage and destruction.


36 posted on 03/04/2005 11:45:34 PM PST by onyx (Henry Kissinger: Asked if SoS Rice calls him, replied, "no never, she doesn't need advice.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: onyx
Well that is just plain wierd, I had sunshine all day, and the radar at Santa Ana didn't look like much was happening, just scattered showers. Tonight it looks like Barstow is getting blasted and maybe Vegas as well! see this:

Edwards Radar

37 posted on 03/04/2005 11:59:38 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (This tagline no longer operative....floated away in the flood of 2005 ,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

My news said Escondido, Oceanside in the North
County have less than a 1/4 inch. The rain might
be headed your way. News said we will get pounded
for 12 more hours minimum. Maybe the storm is
moving east, not north to y'all.


Let me look at your radar link.


38 posted on 03/05/2005 12:04:44 AM PST by onyx (Henry Kissinger: Asked if SoS Rice calls him, replied, "no never, she doesn't need advice.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: onyx
Santa Ana Radar here
39 posted on 03/05/2005 12:06:13 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (This tagline no longer operative....floated away in the flood of 2005 ,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach


OK, now LOOK at this!

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/radar/latest/DS.p37cr/si.knkx.shtml


40 posted on 03/05/2005 12:06:45 AM PST by onyx (Henry Kissinger: Asked if SoS Rice calls him, replied, "no never, she doesn't need advice.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-63 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson