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Just Plain Ignorant
I spent 8 hours over the weekend completely rebuilding the software in my computer at home. We got infected with 14 different viruses and worms in a 48 hour period, and completely disabled the computer. Our internet provider had to shut us off to protect everyone else.
What in the world is going on. Can it be that people have nothing better to do with their spare time? If that knowledge and talent was put to use doing something constructive, we could start solving some pressing issues, instead of waisting other peoples time cleaning up the messes thay make. What satisfaction do these people get out of annoying people thay never know? The whole mess is a mystery to me.
It will probably be the end of the week before we get the home system up and running. I have a high schol senior that needs the machine for school. The only good I see out of this whole mess is the time my son I spend together trying to get the thing working again.
Frustrated and confused. The Beagles
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Just Plain Ignorant
I'm having some of the same problems. I have a couple of websites and 4 e-mail addresses that direct in through my PC. We get about 750-1000 spam messages a day mixed in with actual business customers. It takes an hour or so every day to weed through the mess. Often I delete a prospective customer's message. If I'm gone for a long weekend like this past one, I have so many messages that the server overloads. This one PC's only use is on the internet, since I can't afford to be down with my business software. I had a free trial spamblocker for one month that blocked 26328 messages however it had some spyware mixed in withit and gave lots of popups. Later they wanted to sell me the spyware eliminator and popup eliminator for $29.95 each/year in addition to the spamblocker.
Wish there was some sort of hunting season allowed!
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Just Plain Ignorant
I recently switched from Outlook Express email to Mozilla Thunderbird. Mozilla Thunderbird has some "learning" capability that allows you to indicate which messages are spam and then marks them that way and you get to trash them in bulk. I have found this to be a lot better than Outlook Express's filter option. I highly recommend you try it.
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Both my laptop and desktop were infected with the BeagleAG virus (No, not OUR beagle) when Norton AntiVirus failed miserably to protect them. I'm still recovering and will go back to my non-Windows OS for email and internet. For spam our ISP implemented a home-rolled anti-spam system that works very well. Usually only 3-4 spam messages a day make it through while the blocker traps hundreds. I still have to go through and screen those messages that are quarantined but that's a lot better than downloading all of 'em.
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Just Plain Ignorant
It is very nasty out there right now.
Your best bet is a non Microsoft operating system; everyone is out to get Gates. I have found Suse 9 Linux very easy to install and use.
If you wish to use Microsoft, try out Spy sweeper from www.webroot.com, they are the most complete scanner out there right now.
Keep your Norton up to date - definition files.
Turn your computer off when not using
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Norton AV failed me even though the definition files were kept up to date with their automatic live update service. To make it worse they wouldn't provide support because I had an older version, but they were sure happy to charge me for a subscription update. Screw them.
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MOZILLA THUNDERBIRD is so much better than IE that once you use it, you will never go back to IE.....It is user friendly and easier and faster....
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Establishing a self maintance routine is no longer optional but mandatory. If you incorporate the Microsoft patches, latest versions of antivirus, spyware removal, software firewall you basically eliminate your vunerability and do not have to use another OS...if its not a 2004 version its outdated, would be a good rule of thumb to use. Plenty of freeware to subsitute paid subscriptions, and they work better than the 2003 versions with subscriptions. No longer an excuse not to, otherwise its your own fault for not being proactive and protect your system....not trying to be harsh, just realistic...
Duc
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The history of hacking is long and interesting. What it boils down to, is that hackers believe they are "testing security" by finding flaws in networks (including the internet); even doing society a favor by pointing out these flaws, that could be used in harmful ways.
We've all been there. I think the non-MS browsers and e-mail clients are the best solution.
Bill
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Hi,
Just eavesdropping on the board a bit. Perhaps you might try the free version of AVG Antivirus at Grisoft.com, and the free SpyBot available at download.com. While my computer misbehaves every few years, both products block a ton of issues, and they're both free. For the spam thing, most major internet providers have a filter in the main mailbox for the headers that you can set. Set that filter to block messages with the spamcop warning in the header, and it will kill about 90% of spam. If you don't know how that works, tech support should have a help file or be able to help by phone. I hope this helps you out a little bit.
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