Computer Guru---Your HELP is needed

It's a keylogger.. it records what you do online. Most likely someone installed this (or it was installed without your consent).

Are you running PC Pandora or "Family Keylogger"? You should be able to un-install them from the add/remove programs box.

 

Good call Mike!

http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=11387&pid=50660&mode=threaded&start=

 

Least likely, but applications such as this can easily be installed if you visit a website. If you accidentally clicked 'agree' or even 'cancel, no I don't want that crap', some things can install themselves.

It is best to just use Firefox (www.mozilla.com) as your browser or even google chrome, and only use Internet Explorer when needed for a particular website.

 

Here's what I would do

Step 1: See if you see a listing for PC Pandora or Family Keylogger in your programs list (Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Programs & Features). If it's there, remove it

Step 2: Download a program called ComboFix (http://www.combofix.org/). I would start in Safe Mode to run this (Press F8 when the computer is starting to get the menu, then choose "Safe Mode")

Step 3: Download a program called Malware Bytes Anti Malware (http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php) and run it, again in safemode is best


If you didn't install this program, then there is something else on your computer that *did* install it. Nothing can really self-install without some sort of confirmation from you, but many of these sites disguise the button, so you are clicking Cancel (or so you think) but you are really clicking the OK button. Once you have given the OK for one program, that program can then install others.

When in Safe Mode, I would also go to the Run menu (Start -> Run) and type "msconfig". Go to the tab titled "Startup" and see what is running... those are the programs that are starting up when your computer starts. There are likely at least a few you don't want running.



I'd start with the above and see if it fixes it. I'm guessing Anti Malware may find a lot of spyware or even trojans on your system, but it will also clean them.

NOTE: Both of these programs may take some time to run (like a couple of hours), so maybe do it when you can let the laptop be doing it's own thing for a while.

If none of that works, download a program called Hijack This (http://www.download.com/Trend-Micro-HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10227353.html) which you can run and it will generate a log... post the log here (the log will contain all programs hooked into your browser, as well as what is running at the time, as well as all startup programs). Don't run Hijack this in safe mode - you want to get a log of when your computer is running 'normally'.

 

I think your concerns are legitimate, to be honest... there are many "hijack" programs that allow others to get into your computer. Sometimes these programs are used to make your computer a zombie and send out spam mail, other times, who knows. I worry about that too... if someone got access to my business computers, they could get my most important files, my bank account login, etc, etc.

I think that right now, something *is* monitoring your keystrokes. Whatever that program is probably has your account login, your passwords, and more. It's likely just stored on your computer for the time being, but the sooner you get rid of it the better.

On a tangential note, my father had someone gain access to his e-trade account, sell ALL of his stocks (I mean *everything*) and transfer the $$$ to a foreign bank account. He caught it within a day, and e-trade managed to unwind everything (funny how quick that process goes when it's their $$ at stake), but it was nerve wracking. I often roll my eyes at how gullible he must have been to open up a fake email or have been enticed to enter his account info... but he's not an idiot, and if it can happen to him, it can happen to others.

Let us know how you make out - I'm sure this can be resolved.

 

Get a mac.

 

Good idea... then he can just have it crash slower, and have way less apps to run on it, and pay more too

 

I did see the "smiley", but still can't let that pass without comment - Sorry!

1 - Mac's very, very seldom "crash". It's simply a "better" computing experience IMHO [Especially if you're not a computer geek.]
2 - They're fast and DO NOT get viruses / spy-ware / blah-blah - I've been running Mac's for years and have *never* run any anti-anything S/W on 'em.
3 - Yep, you pay more, very much in the same way as you pay more for an F-car than a Corvette - Similar "performance" but very different beasts. Incidentally, Mac's also have a longer useful lifespan than (most) PC's further reducing the overall cost.

It seems to me we see a "Help, I've got a virus/whatever" post almost every day - How many hours (days?) are wasted running all this stuff? - And that's just posts, I suspect many read the "recommendations" posted and follow the instructions without posting their own tales of woe.....

Yes, there are a very few (real, useful) apps that are Windows only - I have two (my datalogger app and another that merges data over video). They both run *great* under Parallels. Alternatively, and primarily if you want to run games, Apple gives you "Bootcamp" which will allow the installation of Windows (any version) and the Mac can then be booted into Windows and is a "real" PC - You've obviously got to install all the anti-stuff in this case however.

As always, my 02c,
Cheers,
Ian

 

^^Agreed.......Macs are a superior product^^

 

You know I like ya Ian but I have to rebut It's my nature

1) Macs do crash, and I would say it is not significantly less than PC's running things like XP do. I've done lots of stuff on Macs, and when you start really taxing them, they certainly can crash.

2) Macs are slower than PC's for the same task, this is just a fact. They do most certainly get viruses and spyware, although certainly to a fractional degree compared to PC's. This is the nature of Apple maintaining strict control over the hardware and software. When you own both, it's a lot easier to keep everything in check, but the cost of that is speed and functionality.

3) You pay more, not because it is better or offers more functionality but again because it's all controlled by Apple, and there is not that element of competition that drives prices down. The plus side is that since Apple controls it all, there is also not that element of potential unreliability by using crappy hardware, but it is what it is.

It is not true that there are "very few, real useful" apps that are PC only... The vast vast majority of "real" work gets done on PC's, not Mac's. Almost all software development is done on PC's (good luck running Visual Studio on a Mac). Product design is almost exclusively done on PC's (good luck running CATIA, SolidWorks, Pro Engineer, Rhino on a Mac). Production and machining is almost exclusively done on PC's (good luck running MasterCAM on a Mac). Virtually all electronics design is done on PC's (some on Unix)... (good luck running Orcad or Alibre on a Mac). Furthermore, anyone who is into gaming is running PC's because Mac's simply don't have the performance to run top notch games.

Macs do have their place. They still rule the roost in audio/video, although I would argue that PC's are equally capable and generally rule when you get to the high-end - I have a friend who does animation for big name movies and it's exclusively PC. When you get into high-end 3D stuff, most folks running Maya, Lightwave, POV-Raytracer, 3DS and such are almost all using PC's.

For print/design work, and the average non-power user who just wants email and web browsing, Macs are probably a better option. If you do anything high-end and need real power, Mac's are toys.

Just the facts

(I await the flurry of angry responses)

 

And here follows my rebuttal to your rebuttal

I'm pretty sure we're simply going to have to "beg to differ" on this.

We'll just have to differ here - In my (and many friends I've converted) experience they don't [Very, very rarely anyway.]

This used to be true, especially in the days of the G4 and even G5 processors, but since the switch to Intel I reckon equivalently spec'd machines are going to be very, very close. I simply disagree that you sacrifice any "speed and functionality" on the Mac. I certainly agree that Apple has a much easier time of it by "controlling" the whole environment - I'm even willing to pay more for that.

As to "viruses etc", yes, there have been a few "proofs of concept" done that show it's *possible* but AFAIK, none of these have ever been released into the wild to wreak the kind of havoc it seems PC users deal with almost every day - More on this below....

I'll concede that one And am again willing to pay more for it.

Gaming (not something I've ever been into personally) certainly seem to demand a "high end" (not a $1,000 Frys special) PC. Although, my gaming zealot friends & kids say if you *really* want to game get a console (I'm disappointed to admit that the Xbox is their platform of choice at present. ]

This "domination" of the gaming market - You've got to have the latest and greatest version of DirectX to run 'em is another example (IMHO) of the empire's monopoly - IF (and I'll concede it's not gonna happen anytime soon) the developers were to go with OpenDraw / OpenGL they could achieve the same "wow" stuff without being beholden to M$.

Some of the other apps you mention are PC only, but I wouldn't want to use Visual Studio at all - I accept it's got big market share and is yet another example of the empires monopoly status. [Damn, the upcoming IE8, which is more closely following W3C standards can't even load Microsoft.com. I pity web developers - They're got to break stuff in order for it to work on IE and then do it right for everyone else (Firefox, Opera, Chrome, etc)

Again, we're going to have to "respectfully disagree" on this - There are plenty of CAD/CAM/3D suites (many free) available - I'm sure the latest high-end Mac Pro machines can at least hold their own versus a PC.

Furthermore, and this somewhat returns us to the OP (sorry for the hijack BTW!), the PC's running "high end" stuff are generally in a (hopefully) well administered/controlled environment with a base OS/application "image" built by the company. They live on an intranet that is "monitored" and users are authenticated etc etc. This is not the case for most "end users", who are *constantly* battling virus's and the like..... Two very different environments - And the corporate world simply accept that they've got to have *teams* of people keeping their intranets "safe" - Not a luxury available to the home/small business user....

That last comment was uncalled for! There's plenty of power in the entire line these days (OK, I'll concede the MacBook Air is a little "light" - In more ways than one).

BUT, at least you did say:

Which was kind of my point

As I said above (?), we seem to get the "Help, how do I remove XYZ" posts regularly - And this is F-Chat! - There are probably hundreds (000's?) of similar pleas for help for posted every day in different forums. Doesn't happen in Apple land - They just work, and they're NOT toys.

Hopefully not - It's an interesting debate and I guess the conclusion to my rebuttal is:

"In a corporate computing environment with skilled administrators and knowledgeable (ie, trained) staff with specific roles the PC can be an OK platform. For the lone wolf / small office / independent users the Mac will not cause the constant grief we see reported herein".

As always, my 02c,
Cheers,
Ian