Computer warning

A few minutes ago I was browsing the web and got a pop up , from webpage, that my computer was infected by viruses, and that I should click to clean things out. I hit exit, and of course, the program started to run. I immediatly hit the power button. Am I correct to feel this is an attempt to load bad stuff on my computer? I immediatly initiated a manual scan through my anti-virus, ESET, which has been totally effective (so far) in keeping my computer clean. It's still running, so don't know if anything got in in the seconds it was connected. What are they trying to accomplish with these? It has happened several times in the past, so I know I'm not the only one getting hit.

They are trying to sell you by stating you have a virus, only way to fix the virus is to run their scan. When you do a) either you pay for it or b) they use that as a back door to get in and get other information.

That's what I thought. Scan is still running, at 90%, nothing detected yet.

Even if these "scanners" are legitimate, they are effectively viruses that will sit on your computer and Constantly remind you that you may have a virus and need to buy their program. It is a form of cyber strong arm extortion. Once their "tool" is installed, you can only remove it with a virus tool (which of course is sadly ironic).

You did the right thing. Things you should consider:

• Get or activate a pop-up blocker (the modern browsers have them built in)

• If you get one of those screens again, try closing the browser rather than the window of the pop-up.

• Consider installing Firefox and adding a script blocker add-in.

• Do install AVG (free edition) or some other virus scanner (if you don't already have one)

ESET finished the scan, came up clean. My wife's son is a Big Time Computer Admin, and does not suggest Firefox, but it seems quite popular here. Is there a downside to it?

Firefox is the safest browser IMO. I don't have any downsides and I build websites for work/play.

@cwh - which browser does your son recommend? Just curious because the consensus amongst most techies seems to be that Firefox is the best mainstream browser. IE has too many issues still (even though it is getting better) and is not very good at supporting web standards.

The Firefox script blockers are doing their job but make a lot of websites unusable until you've configured it properly. Yes, it does make you somewhat safer but I think in most cases the cost might be too high. I'd recommend installing an adblocker, though.

The kid is a Microsoft fanatic, wants me to stay with IE. He can be an arrogant jerk sometimes, but is quite usefull otherwise.

cwh wrote: The kid is a Microsoft fanatic, wants me to stay with IE. He can be an arrogant jerk sometimes, but is quite usefull otherwise.

This is not one of those times where he's being useful.

It's hardly a scientific study, but I'd wager that fully 90% of the site users with specific troubles are using IE.

I prefer Firefox.

93celicaGT2 wrote:

cwh wrote: The kid is a Microsoft fanatic, wants me to stay with IE. He can be an arrogant jerk sometimes, but is quite usefull otherwise.

This is not one of those times where he's being useful.

No kidding. I've heard of a computer shop in the area voiding warranties if you use IE. Don't know if its true, but sounds like it could be.

mtn wrote:

93celicaGT2 wrote:

cwh wrote: The kid is a Microsoft fanatic, wants me to stay with IE. He can be an arrogant jerk sometimes, but is quite usefull otherwise.

This is not one of those times where he's being useful.

No kidding. I've heard of a computer shop in the area voiding warranties if you use IE. Don't know if its true, but sounds like it could be.

I used to build computers and service them as a side job. You bet your ass i did the same thing.

Firefox since 2004 and haven't looked back.

cwh wrote: My wife's son is a Big Time Computer Admin, and does not suggest Firefox

Wut... does not compute. Danger Will Robinson, Danger Will Robinson.

I took one of those stupid thiings off of someones computer for them, it wasnt too hard. Microsoft process explorer will stop it from running, and this program will find and remove it once it is closed. http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html

The only trick is that you have to rename process explorer as iexplore.exe for the virus to let it open so you can stop the virus from running. If it seems to have gone away, download that program anyway and run it and if there is anything bad left it should find it.

My uncle just fell for one of these scams to the tune of $80...man was he pissed when I told him what he had done.

As for the kid that is trying to tell you to use IE, he obviously has not been a tech for very long or has seriously drank the Microsoft koolaid.

rebelgtp wrote: or has seriously drank the Microsoft koolaid.

What flavor is Microsoft KoolAid? Can I find it in the same aisle as AppleAde and LinuxAde.

autoxrs wrote: What flavor is Microsoft KoolAid?

Used urinal cake.

Tom Heath wrote: It's hardly a scientific study, but I'd wager that fully 90% of the site users with specific troubles are using IE. I prefer Firefox.

I'm using Firefox right now, but I've been using Chrome a bit, too, lately. It has most of the same functionality, and it seems a little more stable/fast than Firefox.

just pulled one of the various antivirus trojans off this laptop earlier today (my bro in laws)

keep malwarebytes (malwarebytes.org) on the computer... log in safe mode with networking and update then login to outright safe mode and do a full system scan... pulled 70 or so infections... remove them, restart, computer is happy... did have to reset some proxy settings in IE but 'm getting used to that... I work tech support for an ISP and a good portion of our calls are Virus related.

firefox is a good step to getting rid of these issues... along with a good AV... i've been a fan of avast now since AVG went to it's new version... but that being said no one program is going to catch everything.

There's a big difference between a Helpdesk Monkey and a true Admin.

Sorry to say, he sounds like a Helpdesk Monkey who's been promoted.

IE makes some sense in a corporate environment where the stupid Microsoft product sites (Sharepoint, SCCM/SCOM, etc) don't work with Chrome/Safari/Mozilla because they've all been built for use with IE 6. IE 8 isn't bad and is all I try to run at work (except when developers are too lazy to fix their websites to work with newer browsers)

For everything else, there's Firefox with NoScript.

turboswede wrote: There's a big difference between a Helpdesk Monkey and a true Admin.

Hey now I know many a helpdesk monkey (I was one for years) that would kill another tech for saying IE was better than the alternatives. It always seemed the people that were helpdesk monkeys with certifications were the ones that had drank the Microsoft koolaid (and normally were worse techs). The guys that just came by it naturally and were true geeks were great techs and saw IE for the POS it is for most circumstances.

OK, now that you guys are starting major family issues for me, how do I find and load Firefox?

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/firefox.html

firefox

cwh wrote: OK, now that you guys are starting major family issues for me, how do I find and load Firefox?