New Hacker Alert - 1/3 computers infected

? So, what are the hacking software's names? And, how do we rid ourselves of them?

Seems a little alarmist (not to mention arrogant) that Webroot and Earthlink would have access to and survey all connected PC's...

Maybe the ones using Webroot E-mail and earthlink are the ones with that high of an infection rate?

Fact is, though...

You *do* need to be vigilant...

1. Zone Alarm or another Firewall is useful...

2. Spybot, Pest Patrol, and AdAware all help locate, remove and destroy. Spybot can even do some immunizing...

3. Lastly, a good Anti-Virus program...

Remember, Scripturally speaking, a Three-Fold Cord is not easily broken...

 

My guess is that they are talking about many trojan horses on the internet.

Some program read your every keystroke. These are called "Keyloggers" or "Keystroke Recorders" or even "Keycapture" programs.

However, there are several simple steps you can take to be reasonably safe.

* I agree with SpiritualMadMan about a firewall, although I strongly advised a hardware firewall hooked between your computer and the internet especially if you have a fast and permanent connection (such as a DSL or Cable modem).

There are software firewalls, too. Zone labs makes zonealarm and it is good for a software firewall.

* Make sure your antivirus software is up-to-date. If you don't have antivirus software, you can download AVG-free, which is free antivirus software and I have seen them do multiple updates in a single week.

* And like SpiritualMadMan said, Ad-aware from lavasoft is good for extracting spyware.

I was just at a client's house where he was badly infected (3 trojans and 42 virii plus spyware).
McAfee/Network Associates claims 1 in 4 PCs on the internet are infected. And it was all because his Norton antivirus was 4 years old and he hadn't updated!

[ June 19, 2004, 12:45 AM: Message edited by: Shammai ]

 

Shammai,

A lot of people have anti-virus software but, like your client, it has expired and they thought they were safe. I know, because I did the same thing before.

I am no computer expert, but I like to tinker. And it seems that I have become an unofficial "computer guru" in that a lot of people at work and church come to me for help. Most of the problems are really simple, but not all.

A lady at church came to me last week. Her computer had been giving her trouble. Wouldn't let her check her email, slow, unable to open certain programs (McAfee was one of them). My first thought was "virus". I recommended her to go to www.housecall.trendmicro.com and get a free scan (thanks for the address, Diane). I also told her to go to www.lavasoft.com and download AdAware. She did both. No virus, but AdAware showed her that she was totally infested with adware. She quarentined it all, and deleted it. Now her 'puter purrs right along.

There is no excuse for not having anti-virus/firewall software. Many are offered for free. And a $40-$50 per year ia a lot cheaper than replacing all that you could lose to a really nasty virus.

In Christ,
Trotter