Just another COMPUTER gripe thread.

[ccbatson]

How much do you bet?

[Jimaz]

Frankly, I never cared much for either PCs or Macs. But that's just me. I was raised on big iron -- things like CDC Cyber 6600s and such. My all-time favorite was the VAX/VMS system.

I have a lot of gripes about the industry but I'd say the top one is that the computer has been commoditized into a consumer electronic device. That changed its primary purpose from being a tool for solving important problems to simply a means of making a lot of money from consumers. This gripe is the primary cause of several other major gripes that I won't discuss here.

Don't get me wrong. I think it's fantastic that the common man can enjoy the enormous benefits of cheap computers. It's just that corporate bean counters have been pressuring professionals to accept cheaper [[granted, souped-up) PCs as replacements for much more versatile systems. It's like slapping a turbocharger onto a plinky toy piano and expecting it to sound like a Steinway. Compare the DCL and MS-DOS command languages to get an idea of the difference.

Hmm. "commoditized." Does that refer to turning something into a commodity or a commode?

Oh, well. It's a gripe thread so I griped. Shoot me.

[ccbatson]

Yea, I saw the picture of Forrest Gump, and saw that you pointed out a spelling error. I still wanted to know how much you would bet though.

[ccbatson]

Sorry, you are correct, the question is directed at Stosh.

[Stosh]

Sorry, you are correct, the question is directed at Stosh.

Why should I bet? I think he's probably intellegent enough to recognize a threat to his computer, don't you? And he's probably a Mac user to boot. No, wait... probably Linux. He's not that stupid to pay that kind of money for a lifestyle choice.

And before you pull the reference to Apple in the movie, read this:

The makers of the 1994 movie "Forrest Gump" sought a plot device that would render its main character fabulously rich, they cast him as an early investor in what Forrest Gump described as "some kind of fruit company": Apple Computer. By dumb luck, the movie suggested, its guileless hero had amassed so many millions that he could finance a Gump Medical Center, build a Baptist church and allow the family of his fallen friend Bubba to live in luxury.

In the real world, though, Apple would hardly make anyone's list of Wall Street's greatest hits, despite its considerable business accomplishments. Like Google today, Apple was a young but profitable company celebrated by the media when it made its stock market premiere in December 1980. But because much of its future potential was already factored into its initial offering price, few other than the company's founders and its venture capitalists can boast they got rich off Apple.

Had Forrest Gump bought Apple at the closing price on its first day as a publicly traded company and held it for five years, he would have lost more than 30 percent of his money, said Tim Loughran, a finance professor at the University of Notre Dame who studies initial public offerings.

Apple then rebounded, and the stock more than doubled by the time "Gump" was released, in mid-1994, but Forrest Gump would have done better in an index fund. Over time, Professor Loughran said, the company "has gotten absolutely creamed" by the Standard & Poor's benchmark of the top 500 companies.

"I always have to laugh at Forrest Gump because they never bothered to check the price," Professor Loughran said

[ccbatson]

I didn't ask why you should bet, since you stated you would bet, I simply asked how much.

[Stosh]

Fair enough, Captain Literal.
The phrase then, should have read: Even he's got antivirus on his computer.
Which, of course will sooner or later catch up with you if you don't correct the situation. Technology and criminal behavior has a way of adapting, sadly.

[Stosh]

Since I have CC ignored I don't know what he's saying, but if he's extolling the virtues of his MAC, you should listen to his advice. You should always take the technology advice from someone who, just a fews short months ago, had his password, private information, and fetish porn proclivities exposed for all to see because he used the same ID and password for everything. That's the type of person whose advice I would heed on technical matters.

I wasn't going to mention that. But it IS a valid point, Bob. Come to think of it, though, the vast majority of internet viruses come from sites such as those. They prey upon those searching for a specific thing, then once there upload their crap upon your system. Most sites can detect what OS you are using, then adapt the upload accordingly.

I can only imagine what is on CC's system.

[ccbatson]

You are referring not to the damage of a virus, but a human cancer that had to be excised. No antivirus software would do anything in that context.

[ccbatson]

BTW, BigB...how's that ignore feature working out for you? I think it may be malfunctioning.

[Stosh]

You are referring not to the damage of a virus, but a human cancer that had to be excised. No antivirus software would do anything in that context.

A human cancer? I don't get it.

[ccbatson]

The malicious actions of a person choosing to commit a crime [[identity theft)...malignant and the choice of an individual...hence "human cancer"

[Stosh]

The malicious actions of a person choosing to commit a crime [[identity theft)...malignant and the choice of an individual...hence "human cancer"

Whatever. It's your computer, do with it as you will. I'm just pointing out that you could be at risk from websites that you may frequent.

[Stosh]

LOL. Ditto on the ignore. Yet here he is, trying to give people advice on something he's obviously clueless about. No surprise there. If only people would stop quoting him, I would never have to see the drivel.

Your'e right, I'm contributing to the problem.
Sorry to have inconvenienced the ignorees. Continue on.

Anyone know what has happened to BigB23?

[Sstashmoo]

Quote: "LOL. Ditto on the ignore."

Ever find it amusing that some keep referencing the folks they are supposedly ignoring? I don't need an ignore feature to ignore someone, was ignoring some people long before it was available.

[Bigb23]

I just got back online, it was either the rent or the phone bill last week, what a great country we inherited last Jan 20th. My computer is still infected and SLOW. Any help out there with the Conficker virus ? Check my last couple of posts.

[jcole]

I just got back online, it was either the rent or the phone bill last week, what a great country we inherited last Jan 20th. My computer is still infected and SLOW. Any help out there with the Conficker virus ? Check my last couple of posts.

Did you try the file 'KKiller' that I sent you back on 3/31?

[cheddar bob]

Quote: "LOL. Ditto on the ignore."

Ever find it amusing that some keep referencing the folks they are supposedly ignoring? I don't need an ignore feature to ignore someone, was ignoring some people long before it was available.

Who do you mean by "some"?

[Sstashmoo]

Quote: "Who do you mean by "some"?"

Some, and they know who they are.

[ccbatson]

No comment, as that goes in the wrong direction and is in violation of the rules.

[Bigb23]

Jcole -

Yeah I tried the kaspersky killer with no effect. I'm still redirected off the forum to @@@www. onlinescanxpp.com@@@@/land/eurl/?code=49 [[don't click!), and it took over my desktop too ! I also get a fake Microsoft phishing filter popup and warning security report. I've been advised to reformat and start from scratch. Oh well, the pictures I hav'nt backed up will mean nothing to anybody else, except Garwooders and Cryptozoologists !
It also denies my admin access, I'm going to need help on this one.

I would have done a better job on backing up to an external, if I had the money, if not for all the layoffs over the past four years.

[jcole]

Jcole -

Yeah I tried the kaspersky killer with no effect. I'm still redirected off the forum to @@@www. onlinescanxpp.com@@@@/land/eurl/?code=49 [[don't click!), and it took over my desktop too ! I also get a fake Microsoft phishing filter popup and warning security report. I've been advised to reformat and start from scratch. Oh well, the pictures I hav'nt backed up will mean nothing to anybody else, except Garwooders and Cryptozoologists !
It also denies my admin access, I'm going to need help on this one.

I would have done a better job on backing up to an external, if I had the money, if not for all the layoffs over the past four years.

Do you have your Windows CD? If so, all you need to do is put it in the CD drive, reboot into the setup and follow the prompts. Make sure you tell it you want to do a clean install not a re-install, and format the drive using NTFS.
This is assuming it's Windows XP. If it's an earlier version, you may need boot floppies.
You don't need admin access to do a format/ clean install. It will set up a new admin account for you in the process

[Stosh]

Bigs, that redirect is associated with this trojan:

http://home.mcafee.com/VirusInfo/Vir...34&ctst=1#none

Virus Profile: FakeAlert-CK
Description

This is a detection for a trojan that displays misleading fake alerts to entice the user into buying a product to "repair" malware problems.
Indication of Infection

Presence of the mentioned files and registry keys.
Methods of Infection

Trojans do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that the executable is something beneficial. Distribution channels include IRC, peer-to-peer networks, newsgroup postings, etc.
Back to Top View Virus Characteristics



Virus Characteristics


Upon execution, the Trojan drops the following files:

• %System%\frmwrk32.exe [[detected as FakeAlert-CK)
• %System%\uniq.tll
• %System%\win32hlp.cnf

Note:
%System% is a variable location and refers to the windows system directory.
It creates autostart entry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Run
Framework Windows = "frmwrk32.exe"
It also added the following registries as part of its installation:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop
NoChangingWallpaper dword:00000001
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Policies\System
DisableTaskMgr dword:00000001
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Policies\Explorer
NoSetActiveDesktop dword:00000001
NoActiveDesktopChanges dword:00000001
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\policies\ActiveDesktop
NoChangingWallpaper dword:00000001
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\policies\Explorer
NoSetActiveDesktop dword:00000001
NoActiveDesktopChanges dword:00000001
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\General
Wallpaper "%SystemRoot%\system32\ahtn.htm"

In effect, the following system modifications were made:

• task manager is disabled
• wallpaper is changed and user can't modify it
• active desktop is disabled

The Trojan displays the following as wallpaper.


The Trojan shows the following fake warning in bubble warning.



It downloaded files from the following URLs:

• hxxp://trucount3001.com/cgi-bin/promo.pl?code=0000049 - saved as %System%\ntdll64.exe [[detected as FakeAlert-CK)
• hxxp://onlinescanxpp.com/warning.gif - saved as %System%\warning.gif
• hxxp://onlinescanxpp.com/winlogon.htm - saved as %System%\ahtn.htm

It then executes ntdll64.exe.
This Trojan replaces the Windows System file "userinit.exe" found in %System% with a copy of ntdll64.exe. However it renames the original "userinit.exe" as "init32.exe" first.

NTDLL64.EXE drops the following files:

• %temp%\mousehook.dll
• %temp%\ntdll64.dll

It then injects to the some processes such as svchost.exe or iexplore.exe.
Both are detected as FakeAlert-CK.dll
MOUSEHOOK.DLL hooks mouse click. Thus any mouse click may open the following site: hxxp://onlinescanxpp.com/land/eurl/?code=49

Once user click on "Scan your system for viruses", it will connect to the following URL to download Rogue Antivirus Program AntivirusXP Pro and executes it:
hxxp://antivirus-xppro-2009.com/cgi-bin/download.pl?code=0000049

Once AntivirusXP is executes it creates a copy of itself in Program Files as AntivirusXP.exe and will show fake malware scan reports.

It pops up the following registration pane to let users to type in registry keys.

Rogue Antivirus Program AntivirusXP Pro is also detected as FakeAlert-CK.

[Bigb23]

As long as my drives aren't disabled. My USB's don't seem to work. May the death of a thousand cuts be delivered to the hackers on this !

I have my OS info earlier on this thread. I'm trying to get help with this, instead of trying it all by myself. And thanks Jcole for trying with the fix.

[Stosh]

Are you able to download anything at all?