VERY O/T...Spyware computer problem

[spilled_milk]

Help!


I have had computer virus/spyware problems before, and had to re-build my computer. (Don't worry, I'm on the family computer right now, not my own.) For the past few weeks, my virus update has not been updating so I have to go onto the internet and find a new thing to update it with as it will NOT update. When I do this it updates, and it runs a virus scan. The virus scan comes up with no viruses. Now however, I got a message on my AIM that someone else was on my screename, so I kicked them off. Then I found out that my friends ( and people whose sn's I have but don't really know) had recieved nasty IM's from "me" calling them names and insulting them! I changed my password but i'm afraid that if the hacker has compromised my computer and put things on it to gain passwords and ultimately destroy it (because I had to re-build it last time) I will 1. lose my reputation and have to soother hurt feelings and 2. have to rebuild my computer again. Is there anyone here who is good with computers or has some advice?


sorry that was VERY boring (i couldn't stand writing it) but I really do NOT want this to continue. I mean, how do I know that this person is not IMing my friends right now?


<3 Anya--

[kmarie]

I would reccomend running spybot and adaware to clean out any spyware, what do you use for anti-virus? I use nortons...its the ebst out there. Also you may want to look into a fire-wall..such as Zone Alarm. All fo the programs (with the exception of nortons anti-virus) are free downloadable programs that can be found by doing a search at google. I use all of them on my home machine and we use them here at work (I work for an internet service provider).


good luck

[mystikal star]

About a month ago my Compaq crashed after I got a huge virus. I bought a brand new HP, only to get attacked by viruses for some reason. So I downloaded a few things from the internet and I havent had a virus or "threat" for a long time.


What anti-virus program are you using? I highly recommend AVG Anti Virus. It is free and you can download it at www.grisoft.com. The guy who fixed my Compaq awhile ago installs this on every computer he fixes. This thing is quick to find viruses and alerts you of them immediately.


Do you have a firewall? If not, you can download a 15 Day Free Trial ZoneAlarm Pro. I downloaded this on my computer and it monitors everything. I've only had it downloaded for about 14 days and it has blocked over 1000 access attempts to my computer. It somehow makes your computer "invisible" to hackers and spyware stuff supposedly. It is great. It can be a pain in the butt when you're trying to log into a website though. All you do is shut it down, log into the website, and then reopen it. Doing that is better than dealing with viruses. One day I shut it down not even for 5 minutes and I got 2 viruses. No lie. You can download this at www.zonelabs.com I believe. It sucks when the trial runs out, but you can buy it or "buy" it like I did.


Next I downloaded Spybot Search and Destroy. It detects all kinds of spyware on your system and somehow "immunizes" you from attacks. It is free and you download it at: http://www.download.com/Spybot-Searc...3000-8022_4-10 289035.html


Next I downloaded Spyware Blaster. This protects you from Spyware basically. Dont know how but it does! Free download here:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2859.html


And then finally, I downloaded Ad-Aware SE Personal. Free here:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/


It's alot to download, but trust me, it's keeping my computer free of losers who are trying to get into it. Hope I helped.

If you do download these programs, check for updates frequently when you open up the program. Make sure the ZoneAlarm Pro FireWall and AVG (if you download them) are always running when you're on your computer. I run Spybot, Spyware Blaster, And Ad-Aware every couple of days to keep things safe.


Good luck. Hackers suck. [img]smileys/smilies_07.gif[/img]Edited by: mystikal star