Computer virus...
 

Within the past few weeks, I received notice from two different entities warning of a serious plague now circulating. They offered that if I buy their current virus protection, I could be saved from terrible things such as "back door entry" credit card, bank, other highly vulnerable info, from these worms that are out to screw you!

While I did become alarmed at a possible new round of threats, I wondered if my current "Stop Sign" virus, spy ware, remover was current and able to fend off the threats!

Since this first warning, I have done nothing, but almost immediately my PC began to slow. I have run my virus scanner, my disk clean-up, defragmeneted, ran another registry check for clean-up, bought an on-line PC booster. My Microsoft update is current w/ service pack 2, and all updates current to August 27.

Sunday, I discovered that my PC is slower than ever before! I get this message now that tells me ...file "MKBDATA,DAT" not available when I try to run Microsoft up-dates, it tells me that my Windows XP Professional, is not genuine, and suggests that it is counterfit!

My PC is slower than XXXX, so I decided after several attempts to fix it to do a "System Restore" I don't like doing this because you loose stuff! Anyway I did it and now everything is OK, but it still will not receive Microsoft updates and so I question now that It will just be a matter of time before those needed up-dates are really of need!

I wonder now, are the computer giants the one's producing these viruses just so they can sell software?

Just a question:

Do you regularly run anti-spyware software from Microsoft, AdAware, and Spybot?

You problem may have nothing to do with a virus.

Don't forget the free on-line scans at pandasoftware.com and at symantec (Norton).

If you're a little gutsy, or know enough to be dangerous, you can also find hijackthis useful.

Good luck... these things can sometimes be a bear.

Brian, not unlike my 300D,(I guess this makes me a perfection freak) my PC, all 127 MB, ran as fast, or better than DSL, my PC had been clean! Now after warnings, it's running like $hit!

The stuff I run is store bought, and my spy-bot was not up-dateable for unknown reasons, it was available by the last ISP I had, NETSCAPE but not now for some reason by my current isp, which by the way is: ISP, that is the name of my current internet service provider. They claim to be the first, and I have been with a few of them including AOL, NETSCAPE, WALMART-CONNECT, PEOPLE-PC, to mention a few.

As I write, my PC is as it has been, but not before a SYTSTEM RESTORE and wonder now if thios virus will not find it's way here as was suggested it would by an on-line sales pro-mo!

Busy Benz - "I received notice from two different entities"
What told you that you had viruses or problems with your system?

It sounds like your system may be hijacked. Run that spyware. It probably downloaded something malicious when that message popped up. You can download the anti spyware software directly from the microsoft site and or Ad-Aware which are both free through download.com.

Also, I would reccomend that you put more than 128MB of memory in your machine once it's cleared up. XP is a memory hog. :)

I agree with diametrical's post about increasing memory...it's cheap, and you will definitely get some bang for your buck.

Follow carefully what db is saying. He's a pro with this stuff.

I'm doing exactly that and no one program finds all the spyware. Each of the three finds different things at different times. Microsoft is the best, simply because it runs every night, automatically, and downloads its own updates, automatically.

And, he's right on the money on the memory. I don't think you can do much with 128MB. This one has 512MBK and it's barely adequate when a bunch of things are open at once.

Thank you, I stand corrected, 128 MB, but I have prided in the fact that I can, or could, run a low memory PC and save money!

The 512 MB, or better PC is just not in my budget. I hear IBM, and their way of PC world is just that, a world better, but I'm stuck with XP and 128 MB, and I don't mind that, GOOGLE EARTH is too slow, but I'll live with 128..........

Also, My girlfriends 256mb, I have yes found better, google earth is faster, but aside from that, i have found little difference!

It's like leaning against her Volvo S70, it gives, and if it didn't pop back out (really thin sheet metal) piece of ****! So I wonder?

I'm sure you could upgrade that machine to 512MB with little effort and at relatively low cost.

A memory upgrade is a cheap upgrade ~$60 or so for a 512MB stick and should last quite some time unless your computer is struck by lightning. It increases productivity so if it saves an hour of frustration it's paid itself off in my book. :D It is literally as simple as changing an air filter. And Best Buy charges $20 labor ;)

Which machine brand and model do you have or is it a custom build?

One of my 256MB DDR266 sticks went on the fritz a couple of weeks ago... I bought a new 256MB DDR333 for around $33. (cheap)

BusyBenz, this is a warning, you have too much money. You need to send some to me immediately to cure this problem.


These guys send out e-mails with pop ups or ?? and tell you they have detected spyware ... They have no more knowledge about what IS or IS Not on your machine than I do.


That said, yes use one of the free "reliable" scanners, panda, Trend .... Preferablably buy one, what 20 to 40 bucks a year, cheap insurance. They may even help if you do get infected. Trend went overboard when my network got hit, and it was my fault. The auto updater failed, I did know it, just didn't put it high on my list to fix.

Same for AntiSpyware, the MS is as good as any, and free.

A conspiracy, you say?
 

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Hi Busy,

I have often wondered how the virus-scanner companies can come out with a fix for a new virus in only a couple of days.. Do you think that the person they "fired" is busy writing viruses freelance in order to keep his old boss happy and selling the latest version of the fix?
It would not surprise me if Bill is doing something similar to stimulate "longhorn".
We got Gore-d when Clinton was in office, don't let it happen again.

So far, I am still happy using win98 SE and no updates of any kind.
All I need to keep the hatches buttoned down is FREE. Spybot Search and Destroy, Adaware, Zone Alarm and AVG free virus scan. I also run a router on my DSL so, that is another firewall.

Haven't had a virus, worm or data miner in over six months.

If you still have your old win 98 disk, you might be surprised how free of problems it can be. :?)

Ron

MKBDATA.DAT What it is!
 

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Hi Busy,

I did a little search for that filename and here is what came up...
(Did you install a new mouse/keyboard combination driver lately?
Check out the posts on this link If you go to msconfig, you may see what is causing
the message.
http://help.lockergnome.com/lofiversion/index.php/t31383.html

Good luck...
Ron

what everyone said about the virus scans, and anti spyware and memory are all great advice.

Memory is cheap, better to have tons of it than not enough. you'd be surprised att he difference it will make in the computer.

On a side note, I have been messing around with other operating systems.

Ubuntu linux is now on my computer dual booting with xp, but I also have MAC OSX running on my PC Natively and it too is bootable fromt he windows startup menu.

I can choose xp, ubuntu, or Mac os.

The Mac osx is not 100% as it does not support all my hardware, but it runs pretty good and I did it just because I can. It is Mac OSX86, and it was designed to run on pc based hardware. it is still in development, because soon apple will be switching to intel processors.

All I can say is, I havent had a virus, I keep my antivirus updated and always running properly, and I use Ms antispyware, spybot and adaware all the time. Never had even a hint of a problem with anything.