Posted on 12/30/2009 3:17:29 AM PST by don-o
I am getting a neighbor / friend's computer running. It's a Dell (4100 I believe) running XP home. According to her, she has never been on the internet or e-mail. I can verify the latter because I set up her Outlook Express. (I know someone was using it, because of the shortcuts on the desktop.)
Nevertheless, she had the computer hooked to the internet, but powered off. I removed McAfee and am installing Charter's Security Suite. Began a scan last evening and it's finding a ton of virii.
My question is, can a computer be infected w/o active participation of a user?
by which I mean, the cable modem, which was powered on.
If someone had been emailing on it, a whole world of hurt could have gotten in.
by which I mean, the cable modem, which was powered on.
Very doubtful that any e-mailing had been going on - Outlook express was totally empty - I had to configure it and set up her account. There was evidence of internet activity - earthlink toolbar, etc.
I did not take time to peep in the cache before I dumped it.
Just curious about whether simply being connected through a cable modem can infect. It had found maybe 50 instances of virus after about an hour of scanning, when I left
Just some suggestions of possible issues:
Is the XP patched?
Is the firewall on?
Is the computer itself hooked directly to the cable modem without a router?
AFAIK that combination could be vulnerable.
If someone were driving her car, could they leave something in it?
Get Spybot and fprot
For her, I’m going with her isp (Charter) security package. I ran Spybot myself for years, but it have switched to Anit-Malware Bytes.
What is fprot?
If she had any malware installed on her system, then all it takes is to be connected. You should check what programs are running at startup if you continue to get infections after running your AV. You should also download Malwarebytes and run that.
Obviously someone has been using that computer on the internet, so the answer is obvious. Use a password, if necessary.
I was going to suggest malware bytes. I just took over 30 nasties (stubborn ones) off my non-technical middle son’s computer. He’s moved to Chicago and doesn’t maintain his laptop very well.
I found malware bytes to be the most effective, although I did also scan with spyware and adware (adware found nothing but cookies, btw.)
Patched - Nope - Next order of business is SP 2.
Firewall - Nope
Router - Nope. Only one box in the house.
I am thinking that Charter’s security will be sufficient. Do you think I should turn off their firewall (if I can) and use either the Windows one of perhaps Zone Alarm.
I want to make this as clean and simple for her as I can.
spyware = spybot
Yep.
If you are looking for firewall and virus protection that is pretty much set up and let run then Avast! Home (free) and Comodo firewall (free) update themselves once running and I have had no problems with them over many, many months.
There are other FReepers much more qualified to offer you correct answers to your very good questions - I had best defer to them.
I was just raising the questions which came to my mind. If I recall correctly SP-2 did close a worm vulnerability?
Can the OS be re-installed? That might be your best option at this point frankly, it seems to me.
Disclaimer to all of the above, I’m on Linux most of the time.
(for exactly the reasons you describe)
Windows doesn't protect you against outgoing connections. I use PC Tools Firewall Plus (free). It does a good job of alerting you if something is trying to access the internet.
Appreciate the suggestions.
I’m asking if there is a down side to using Charter’s (free) protection package?
Fprot is Enterprise class virus protection and doesn’t rip you off for resources like McAfee and others.
I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with it.
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