13 replies to this topic

[Gwyrox732]

I'm curious as to how long some of you were infected before it drove you to seek help. Because I know a lot of my friends come to me after more than a month saying "I've put up with this computer for long enough, blah blah blah" and they have toolbars and popups covering their screen, they'd been using their computer for months, like that! I don't really see how anyone could do that. Stories are welcome, as well.

[ghost2003]

I had popups comming every 10 minues some time about a year ago. Since I used my computer for gaming and it kept minimizing my screen(plus it was slow so it took a long time to get back in the game) I eventualy just stoped using my computer. Then one of my friends recomended norton, I installed it and it fixed it. ofcourse, now I think norton is one of the worst piece of software ever created but I know ALOT more about computers now and I have 6 security programs running in the background right now (well, 5 since spyware blaster isint acctualy running), lets not forget all the scanners i have . I will never be botherd by malware again.

[Mad Max]

My answer would be more specific.
I'll put up with crapola on my PC about as long as I'd allow a pedophile near my grandkids. Let's just say they'd better be ducking and running before I see them.
Like I've often been told, I'm prone to OVERKILL.

[expertec]

Can't remember when I last had any on my PC!

[lion7718]

When I 1st started using my own computer..it wasn't long till I looked into wasys to stop it......if I didn't get into FileSharing...it might have took alot longer.....I think FlieSharing is pretty much the reason we all got into looking for Spyware/Adware.....meaning if it wasn't for P2P Site talking about it..I might not have paid much attention till I got smarter.

[BenJD]

I was a real dummy for 2 long years, I used to think only big companies like AT&T need firewalls and antivirus software on their computers.

Bad choice.

Man I had no firewall and no antivirus and tremendous numbers of adwares, spywares and Sasser had a Smackdown on my comp every day!! LOL!!

Well I've wised up and I have AVG Anti-Virus, X Cleaner, Crap Cleaner, MRU Blaster, SpywareGuard, SpywareBlaster, my Internet Connection Firewall is UP, I have installed ZoneAlarm which is a bi-directional firewall and I know what the hell comes in and goes out of my comp, Ad-Aware 6, Spybot Search and Destroy 1.3, Hijack This in a folder on my hard drive not on my desktop!!! , Browser Hijack Blaster and Registry Mechanic!!!

Spyware, adware and viruses have enraged me to the point that I am going to go to college and learn all about PC's and security and learn EVERYTHING about that registry!!

Next boot camp you run count me in!!!! I am determined to learn hijck this until I know it like the back of my hand!!!!

All I want now is a router or hardware firewall, and to learn everything I can find out about fighting spyware, adware and those damn viruses!!!

[Budfred]

Boot Camp is self directed learning and is open for new people all the time... If you want to learn, just go to the Boot Camp thread and sign up....

[chiefmasterjedi]

i housed malware for about a month before a found the solution to stop/remove it, before it was removed i had the nasty blocked by my firewall because it was trying to connect to the internet.

Chief.

[Shell91]

I absolutely detest downloading something and finding out there's a ton of junk bundled in it. And don't get me going on popups

Took me about a minute to start looking for help with my first spyware problem.

Shell91

[Queeg]

I have no idea how long this computer I'm using had stuff installed. When I started using it (it's the folk's PC, I used to use my university one) it had all sorts on it:

Gator
Comet Toolbar
And a greeting of pop-ups when the browser was opened

To name but a few.

Therein began my absolute hatred of crapware, I cleaned up the machine as best as I could (and did a pretty good job I reckon), massively beefed up the security and started researching the subject.

I've been called compulsive and obsessive about it!!

[Freebird]

I had been interested in net security for a while, but only in an academic way, and specifically about credit card transactions.

When I first got hijacked, I knew of a few security forums, and so, was luckier than some, and got help very quickly. Since then, the learning curve on PC vulnerability has risen steeply. I stopped using IE and installed Opera. I now use Firefox, and can't remember when I last had anything nasty on my machine. Also having a firewall, anti-virus/spy/adware progs and active monitoring of my PC, also helps a great deal.

The other thing I do now is read the EULA, which I never did. I have saved myself a lot of hassle as a result.

Edited by Freebird, 08 June 2004 - 10:23 AM.

[cnm]

You should have another poll choice: "Don't know if I have malware."

[OldGuy]

We bought a new computer last summer.

I din't use it much for the first few months (neither did my wife) but my 16 year old son and 6 year old daughter did (especially my son).

I knew my son was downloading from Kazaa but didn't do much about it because I just couldn't be bothered at the time. Then one night my daughter was using it and she turned to me and asked "Daddy, what's this ?". I looked at the screen and saw a very graphic porno pop-up.

I decided then and there to do something and soon found myself posting a log at CCSP, who were a great help. I have since downloaded all the necessary anti-spyware apps and have the computer locked up tight.

So for me it was about protecting the kids !

[Anakin Skywalker 24]

Not really much in the way of a story. Still running a dinosaur and didn't much care about what I was putting on it because of that. Then I started to get frustrated because some of my hardware would not do what I wanted (and what it should) without giving me errors. Looked into the controls of the hardware and started to find corrupted files and finally figured out that locking it down would be the greatest help in making it do what I wanted it too.