WARNING - Intelligent Explorer Virus

12/7/03 | TC

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

I sat dont at my station over an hour ago and responded to an Explorer upgrade option without thinking.

This ISN'T a normal option, it was simply a pop-up. Without thinking I responded to upgrade and downloaded a nightmare.

I have yet to break this.

It consists of an additional bar which creates a new home page, http://find.intelius.com with files I've deleted in addition to wwd.ieplugin[1] - and proceeds to iniate infinite pop-ups of EVERY type out of http://www.n-case.com.

ANYTHING internet related will be tattooed with the new bar. View - Toolbars - Intelligent Explorer" will eliminate the bar from your current page but each new one you bring up will require you to go through the process of removing it again.

[pctech]

I actually don't like Spybot, it just isn't too friendly to me, I'm gonna try ad-aware

[ChadGore]

I've been using Mozilla for almost 2 years now, and it's AMAZING.

http://www.mozilla.org

[Ronin]

My popup ad killer (courtesy of Avant browser) is on 6 right now. Sometimes it gets as high as 50 or 60 if I am online and zipping around all day.

I wonder if this thing you clicked was a pop-up ad designed to look like an upgrade. In any event, thanks for the warning, I will be on the lookout in case it sneaks past me.

[pctech]

On the Mozilla website it says there is a new browser called Mozilla Firebird. Is this better than Mozilla 1.5?

[Free Trapper]

I bookmarked 3 or 4 threads over a period of time that you posted those links on.It gave me a simple way to find the links and have the other comments handy.

After those installations,I've even been able to help some others do a few things.My first "puter" class went fine.:)

Thanks again.

[Petronski]

Firebird is an attempt to be browser only, without e-mail. I have not tried it, but I have read (grain of salt) that it still plays 'feature catch-up' with Mozilla.

Seeing how Mozilla Mail is far more secure than Outlook Explorer, I'd advise you go with Mozilla.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Took me forever to stop locking-up and get out through RealOne.

I downloaded SpyBot and my situation is worse.

Thanks anyway for trying.

[general_re]

I have not tried it, but I have read (grain of salt) that it still plays 'feature catch-up' with Mozilla.

It's actually fairly complete, but it's a "technology preview", which is code for "stability and performance not guaranteed". So personally, I would also say stick with Mozilla for now as a primary browser, and play with Firebird on the side if you like.

But keep in mind the Mozilla suite is a dead-end. Eventually, the plan is to gradually merge the two together, such that the changes and features present in Mozilla 1.x are present and stable in Firebird. At some point during that process, Firebird 1.0 will exist, whereupon the Mozilla suite will be retired in favor of two standalone apps - Firebird, the browser, and "Thunderbird", the news/mail reader. The current timetable has that happening sometime next year, perhaps mid-2004. And in the meantime, you should see Firebird and the browser side of the Mozilla suite gradually converging. So if you're a Mozilla fan, Firebird is in your future eventually anyway...

[Yohan]

FYI My son tonight had about 30 emails from "Microsoft" that said urgent update. Microsoft does not send out these emails, delete them.

[Free Trapper]

Check my post above.

Those links helped me a lot and I just took my time and only put one or two a day on.That way I had time to get used to doing things without stressing if some little thing went wrong.

The threads I bookmarked might be hard to find in my other links and the links here should do it for anyone that wants to use them.

[Danette]

bumping/saving this thread. Thanks.

[Happy2BMe]

Get and start using MailWasher Pro religiously!

[orbitboy]

check this help site out.

http://boards.cexx.org/viewforum.php?f=1

they helped me with the same problem.

[EUPHORIC]

WOW! That sucker just trit to get me when I tried to save the pic of Eminem flipping the bord on Drudge!!! This is not good!

[Mixer]

I downloaded SpyBot and my situation is worse.

---

Not really sure why this would be the case? Did you download all new updates for Spybot? If you just downloaded the software and ran it straight from there it will not be able to detect all known spyware.

Launch Spybot click on search for updates, then click on download updates if and when any are found. Then run the scan again.

Hope this helps.

[blowfish]

find.intelius.com ?
Oh my god.
That's the company formed by Naveen Jain, former CEO of InfoSpace and a notorious scumbag. I'm not surprised if he stoops to this kind of promotional stunt.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Thanks for the post.

[general_re]

In addition to the technical benefits, I should point out that somebody updated the old Netscape "American" theme for Mozilla, so using Mozilla is also much more patriotic than IE ;)

"American" theme downloadable here - Mozilla 1.5 and later only...

[steplock]

I was notified today of an update popup attempt but my FREE personal firewall from Sygate prompted me in advance so I responded "NO" to downloading.

NEVER NEVER NEVER hit *NO* on those pop-up ads! Just because it says no means nothing. It can just as easily load a virus by clicking on *NO*

Use the Close Window " x " at the top-right of the window. If it REFUSES to close (you'll know it's intentions for sure then!) use ALT-CTRL-DEL and shut down the IE process. You may just have to reboot at times to get rid of it.

.

[pctech]

I just tried installing Firebird and it doesn't really "Install", it just downloads the files to use and you make your own icons. It seems to handle much like Mozilla and Netscape 7.1. I'm gonna download Mozilla and see how it runs. Netscape 7.1 is ok, and most websites work with it. The user interface though seems so "bland" for lack of better words and the there seem to be no skins designed for it yet.