[ARC5] OT - comment on computer security, viruses & co

[Richard Knoppow]

    Have you considered installing an anti-malware program?  It turns 
out there are programs you don't want that look enough like legitimate 
programs to fool most anti-virus programs. I had a problem with those 
when I first got this machine. I eventually got rid of a bunch of stuff 
by using Malwarebytes which seems to do a decent job. If real life was 
like the Internet you would have to keep a .50 caliber machine gun on 
the porch at least.

On 10/27/2015 11:29 AM, Leslie Smith wrote:
>    G'day all,
>    Some months ago I found a root-kit virus on my PC.  The role of this
>    virus was to make money (by collecting advertising "clicks").  The
>    virus intercepted code to every web-page I visited and insert adverts
>    into the HTML stream.  The result (this won't surprise you) was an
>    over-all slowing of my PC (and poor pagination of web-pages).   I got
>    rid of the virus - eventually.
>
> Or so I thought.  A moment ago I booted Firefox.  In the process of
> loading that program, Avast, the anti-virus software, informed me that
> "another program" (un-named, maybe Firefox, maybe not) had request to
> modify Chrome so that it (Chrome) could modify file-types.  Should I
> allow that?
>
>   I clicked 'no'! - but there is a lot inferred in this transaction.
>
> My purpose in posting this message is two-fold.  First, I suspect that I
> removed the root-kit virus from my PC, but suspect a 'lurker' remained -
> a program (I would call this a 'loader)  that can/will re-load another
> virus in the future.  I think it's useful to pass on my suspicion to
> 'the group'.
>
> Second, the report that "another program" wanted to modify Chrome is
> both fascinating and disturbing.  Personally, I use FireFox, not Chrome,
> but for those that do, such a request, (if reported reliably) is
> disturbing.  Finally, this business called "security" has become rather
> like spy vs spy vs spy in Mad Magazine.  (Remember Alfred E. Newman -
> "What, me worry?")
>
> How can I tell that the box I clicked was posted by Avast?  How can know
> the box I clicked was actually "no" and not, "Go ahead and load a
> virus".  There is a great deal of trust involved in this.
>
> Now I return to building a power supply for my T-19.  A (very nice)
> friend 'rescued' a useful power transformer for me:  300 - 0 - 300 volts
> wound around several kilos of soft iron core.  Nice!  Richard Dawkins
> says "There is no god", but what other explanation is available for such
> good luck!  Of one thing I'm certain.  My transformer is virus free.
>
>    73 de Les Smith
>    Be alert for strange happenings on your PC!
>
>    vk2bcu at operamail.com
>

-- 
Richard Knoppow
1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
WB6KBL