Spyware dudes are sure getting more creative. Norma informed me last week that her computer had been infected when she got on twitter. She was getting some unwanted content on her computer and asked me to take a look at it.
When I got to her house, her pc and username was pretty messed up. Here are a few of the tricks the spyware guys had wreaked on her computer:
1. Access to task manager denied by administrator (cute)
2. Rundll32.exe hijacked (bad, bad news)
3. Tons of browser toolbars added.
4. Windows Security Center disabled.
5. Fake Windows Security Center alerts constantly popping up telling her she needed spyware protection (day late, dollar short).
6. This is my favorite, her google search and dns was being hijacked. Any request I made for SpyBot (my favorite spyware removal tool), AVG Free, or FireFox, was redirected to sites the spyware authors obviously wanted… they looked sorta like the real sites, but it just linked you to more spyware!
I got a clue to #6 when Norma originally claimed she probably got infected on Twitter, because Twitter had links to movies and stuff. I told her, “… Twitter doesn’t have movies.” They even redirected requests for Twitter to their bogus sites! So, her computer had obviously been infected before she even tried to find twitter.
Fixing it was no easy issue. I had to get spybot and avg without using the dns… in Safe Mode. I then cleaned up her computer, but it totally trashed her user account (rundll32.exe was so badly messed up it had to be removed). I set her up a new account, and that seemed to work ok.
The guys that write this garbage should be locked up. Then give them a key to the cell that looks exactly like the real key, that makes a sound like the door is unlocking when you turn it… that ultimately does nothing.
Aunt Kimmy
July 23, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Brian, thanks for making the impossible, possible! You have helped so many people with computer troubles. God has truly gifted you in this area and instead of using your talents in a negative way( like those pesky hackers) you are like the hacker police. I totally agree with you on locking them up and offering them a fake key to get out…hilarious!
Sue
July 23, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Good idea about the punishment for those hackers. You could also give them a computer that no matter what website they go to, it automatically redirects them to a video of “dramatic chipmunk.”
mom holdren
July 23, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Brian, I say this,,,YOU ARE VERY SPECIAL!!! You are the answer to sooo many people’s puter woes,and I surehope you are appreciated and not taken for granted, which can so easily happen. GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY!!!!
Andrew
July 25, 2010 at 7:40 pm
A point that needs to be made here is that Windows is highly insecure. It’s fine for us to be upset about spyware, viruses, and the like, but the fact is that we have left the front door wide open, let alone lock it.
As one who is a highly experienced computer user, you know there are operating systems which are much more secure. Linux types, obviously.
What we need to do is wean ourselves off of Windows, and start accepting other options. Once you start making the move, you realize how great things can be.
I for one, am unlikely to ever purchase a serious computer that runs Windows. I may always keep a basic one on hand for things such as Taxes (Quick Tax does not yet come for Mac, and I have other options if I was serious enough) but there are other totally realistic options out there. They’re a bit more expensive, but think about the value in time savings when dealing with these problems, and besides that, the simple peace of mind of knowing you’re not going to get hacked by visiting a site, and no program is going to be installed without you approving it.
In short:
Viruses and spyware: No!
Better and more secure operating systems: Yes!
tbholdren
July 26, 2010 at 9:29 am
@Andrew: I know you use macs, so you’re pretty safe. I would LOVE to have installed Linux on Norma’s computer (was very tempted), but as is usually the case with a novice user, the price you pay afterwards in explaining why she can’t install her new Bible software she just bought at Wal-mart was unappealing to me.
Honestly, it’d be nice if M$ would make some sort of “Windows XP: Super Secure Edition That You Can Lock Down So Grandma Doesn’t Get It Infected With All Kinds of Junk Edition.”… or something like that.
Of course, she just called me last night to say that something is wrong with her DVD drive… so now I have to look into that.
Maybe I should have went Ubuntu Linux for her after all.