Close Call

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Two weeks ago i did a google search for a Matrix "digital rain" screensaver. I found what appeared to be a reputable site and downloaded the screensaver. It was totally awesome.

Today i was fiddling around with my Windows Media Player when a window popped up. It was my antivirus software, reporting that it had detected a Trojan. The infected file? You guessed it: my Matrix Code screensaver!

I immediately shut down my internet connection, and proceeded to isolate the file. Although the damage to my computer is unknown, the file was quarantined and deleted sucessfully. I was worried sick, though, and am currently running a more thourough scan to check up on my system.

The morale of the story is: The internet is not a friendly place (Except for WP, of course)

!%@#^@# TROJANS!

And it was such a nice screensaver too ...

Ok, virtual perimeter secured, no intruders. PHEW. Imagine having to explain a fried motherboard to my dad...

i never had a problem w/ viruses/trojains/spywayre/w.e
but then again, i dont go and DL crap like a matrix screen saver.

http://knoppix.ru/matrixgl.shtml
Try this instead. Don't let the russian turn you off, it's open source. Scroll down for English. If I'm thinking straight it's actually part of the LiveCD Linux distribution: Knoppix. There's a windows version though.

Y2K!! !! !:P

seriously:
i have never really had a serious error with my computer
i have had the odd Trojan and spyware (thanks to my brothers)
my advice is to download from sites you know aren't full of viruses and if you don't know for sure do a scan BEFORE opening it
i have even made a list of legit sites

In 1998 I had a problems with a computer after I had been given the infamous whack-a-mole game/trojan. I have not had any issues since. BTW, Most linux distros come with the Matrix screensaver already installed. --I think it may be the one that was used in the actual movie.

I would calmly assess the situation and try to sort everything out.

If I didn't know that it happens quite often, I would panic but I've been told that it happens all the time, and there is an easy way to fix it.

Try McAfee. It has a SiteAdvisor that tells you if it has bad downloads.
Usually, you want to be wary about free screensavers. They tend to be virus infected. Only trust well known websites, and, if you do not know about the website, look it up.
If it is a free music... uhhh duh, don't download AT ALL. Strings and viri are usually attached.
Also, the virus' activity is usually stopped by anti-virus if it does something without your consent.

Last edited by St33med on 03 Mar 2007, 12:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I have Antivir, but the person who told me about how to handle viruses knew what they were talking about, I'll tell you that!

I use AVG Anti-Spyware (used to be Ewido before AVG bought them out), AVG anti-virus, and Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall. I also run Ad-Aware every week. I have never had a problem with virii or other malware.

Pretty much ditto. Except I love Spybot (get the genuine one from http://www.safer-networking.org/, as there are a bunch of ripoff versions all over the place, some of which are very heavy malware).

With Spybot, you get a full set of "bolt-on-goodies". Just be sure you know what you are doing with them!

I've never really bothered with a firewall. They are a little over-rated.

Norton is great until it a) breaks or b) requires money. In both cases, rip it out and replace it with AVG.

(You can substitute "Norton" with any other AV name in the above.)

(NB. For people who have trouble finding the free AVG, it's at [url]//free.grisoft.com[/url].)

That must be different, but how I got a virus on one of my old computers was quite interesting.

Norton causes my system... to... s l o w . . . d o w n .


I'll take a look at SpyBot, thanks.

I agree with the above. Norton's is a resource hog, and if you use Norton Utilities, it also micromanages your system. I have no about McAffee, though I do know that both of them not only cost a bit, but are also subscription based after your free initial downloads of Virus/Trojan updates. I would perhaps be a bit more amenable to purchasing McAffee if all future updated definitions were free, however, that is simply not the case. I would go with the free AV/Trojan removal software.

Antivir came with my computer for free, believe it or not!

That is actually quite common nowadays.