Is there a technology forum?

[senseandsensibility]

I have a really basic (okay, dumb) technology question but when I went I went on topics I didn't see it. :shrug:

[longship]

1. Bmmmmm! Bmmmmm! Bmmmmm!

That's my mind reading card in my computer activating.
Sorry, it doesn't seem to be working.

I guess you'll have to actually state what your question is.
;-) ;-)

[Nite Owl]

2. Someone here can

probably help

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=242

[acmejack]

3. Post it here! They'll let you know if there is one then!

We generally discuss technology here all the time!

[senseandsensibility]

6. Okay! Here goes!

I apparently have a virus on my computer since I am getting constant popup warnings to that effect. I'm being told that others can steal my info, etc. The last popup stated that I am infected with spyware, but the warnings say various things. If I am infected, can my information be stolen when the computer is off, or only when it's in use. Sorry, I'm a dummie.

[MercutioATC]

8. Do this:

Download Spybot from here:

http://www.tucows.com/preview/310138


Download AdAware from here:

http://www.tucows.com/preview/236049


Install (it's easy) and run both.

That has about a 90% chance of solving your problem. If it doesn't, you may actually have a virus (and not just spyware telling you that you have a virus). If that's the case, let us know.

[senseandsensibility]

12. Thanks!

Will try it now!

[senseandsensibility]

13. Thanks!

Will try it now!

[acmejack]

9. Only when it is connected to the internet.

If it is not on line you are safe, but you will still need get rid of what ever is going on. If you turn the machine off though you are fine.

here is the link to the computer help group: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=242

[senseandsensibility]

15. Thanks!

I appreciate all the help.

[MSgt213]

10. You might not have a virus, but instead a pop problem. Are you running a

virus protection program? If so the pop ups you are mostly liking are seeing are trying to trick you into click on their site and buying their software.

[longship]

11. Cannot be stolen when it is off.

What you probably have is an adware program which nags the hell out of you with pop-up commercials, although it might also be a virus, or spyware.

The best thing to do is to download a virus/spyware/adware scanner. There are many free ones on the net.

Once you install the scanner program and run it, it should clean the nasty bugger off your machine. Then, you should remove the scanner program as they are one of the *worst* offenders for slowing down your machine and popping up ads, etc.

I'm sorry that I cannot be more specific here, but I am not a Windows user for the very reasons which are becoming all too apparent to you at this point. I use Linux which is more-or-less immune to all these type of things. (Apple Mac is too.)

[Rude Horner]

14. Not a dumb question

First off, do NOT trust what the pop-ups say. Chances are (unless you're getting a warning from your legitimate antivirus or spyware program) it's an advertisement that's just trying to lead you into clicking on it, and then things will probably get worse. A lot of those pop-ups try to fool you by saying "Hey, you've got spyware. Click here and I'll make it go away", and when you do, you unknowingly download more spyware or something. So first things first, don't trust those things.

Secondly, nobody can steal your info when your computer is off. It can only happen when your computer is on, and it's connected to the internet.

My advice - Make sure you have a good antivirus program, and you keep it up to date. Secondly, I'd download some adware/spyware removal programs:

Adaware - http://www.download.com/3405-8022-5153545.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5
Spybot - http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
Windows Defender - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=435BFCE7-DA2B-4A6A-AFA4-F7F14E605A0D&displaylang=en

Download those, install them, and use them to scan your system to look for adware and spyware. Also, with Adaware and Spybot, you need to occasionally update those to keep them current.

Finally, I'd recommend a good firewall. Preferably, a hardware firewall but if you're running Windows XP, it comes with a software firewall that is better than nothing.

Hope this helped

[tkmorris]

18. Beware those pop-ups!

Oftentimes those pop-ups which are "warning" you that you have spyware or what have you on your machine are nothing more than a fishing attempt to get you to click a link or download some software. That software WILL be spyware.

Look closely at the pop-up. Does it identify what program on your machine is saying you have a virus/spyware? If it is an antivirus program that you installed on your machine it should identify itself as such.

The basic toolkit to protect yourself from spyware and viruses will include an antivirus program and a spyware identifier/remover. I recommend AVG for a good free antivirus program and Spybot Search and Destroy along with AdAware for spyware protection. Seriously, get these tools and run them, starting with the spyware ones and ending with the antivirus. Unless you engage in some very risky internet behaviors these 3 alone should be enough to keep you worry free.

Good luck and please post back whatever results you get, I'll keep an eye on the thread.

[bananas]

4. There is a Science Forum

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=228

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. Ironically, we don't have the technology for such a forum.

:-)

There is a computers/computer help group.

And the Lounge is a perfect place for getting quick help. And some sarcastic and/or hilarious answers, but you will generally get a LOT of answers, and good ones, very quickly.

[Rude Horner]

7. There are no dumb questions, grasshopper

Post your question and we'll see what we can do. :)

[Jazz2006]

16. Ask in the Lounge - there are lots of helpful people there...

I bet that the pop ups are from WinFixer and things similar to that, and that sometimes when you try to close the popups, other ones come up in little boxes that look like legit Windows boxes, and that when you close them and then close the main window, it also closes whatever other window you had open like the one you were viewing DU in, for instance?

I had the same thing and asked in the Lounge - turned out that others have the same problem. Some people there were able to talk us neophytes through what to do to get rid of it.

It wasn't the usual "spyware" problem that spybot can take care of. The crux of the problem is that microsoft/msn/etal seems to support the stupid thing.

I can't remember the details on how to get rid of it but some of the Lounge lizards should be able to help!

:hi:

[tkmorris]

19. Spybot should remove WinFixer

I have never had to use it do so but it is included in list that Spybot will search for and repair, as of August 2005.

[Jazz2006]

21. It seems that it may not have been

Winfixer itself that was my problem, since the files that should have appeared in that case, were not there, so I may have worded my prior post poorly - sorry about that - but it was the Winfixer pop ups that I kept getting.

I'm no techie, so I don't know what it actually was - just that it kept giving me annoying multiple pop ups featuring Winfixer, some - ahem - "adult" websites, and some other dubious computer virus and malware fixes, etc.

:hi:

[pinto]

17. This might be helpful:

DU Computer Help and Support Group

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1260380#1260425

[Jazz2006]

20. There is also a link at Symantech but it was complicated...

and it didn't work for me because the files that should have been located in the registry, etc. weren't there on my hard drive.

So, I turned to the Lounge instead :D

But, for what it's worth, here's the link:

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/winfixer.html