Should i be worried

[buggi]

Well, reading the Dream Girl thread i got a bit curious and decided to look up Cherokee. Then my computer crashed!!!! and when i logged back on there was some antispy software thing come up (winreanimator), which I ran and it told me i had 39 viruses, 34 of which are critical and i should "register now" (only £49.95!!!) to get rid of them as my computer could be subject to system crashes (amongst a list of other things)

... since which time my computer had shut down of its own accord another two times.

so...

(a) has my computer really got a virus???

( is this just a con to get me to pay 50 quid.

 

[Smokin Joe]

It's a con, I've had loads of these.

Assuming you have anti-virus software run it just to make sure. if you haven't, there is plenty of free stuff such as AVG or Avast which will do a good job.

 

[HLaB]

Sounds like a con to me.

You could down load a free piece of software to check if you are ok. I'm using AVAST.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Try Googling "winreanimator". Your answer will be there.

e.g. http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2008-021813-3353-99&tabid=3

 

[bonj2]

a) Probably

Definitely

Reinstall windows, making sure you completely format the hard drive in the process, then install AVG, switch the windows firewall on and do windows update as soon as possible.

 

[tdr1nka]

Reinstall windows, making sure you completely format the hard drive in the process, then install AVG, switch the windows firewall on and do windows update as soon as possible.

Don't forget you will need to back up of all your personal files before formatting the drive or you will lose everything.

 

[Keith Oates]

I know it costs money but I find Norton worth the costs and it helps to keep away most of the troubles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Night Train]

What are you running?
Vista works with Norton and AVG.
AOL works with McAfee only.
McAfee does not work with Vista.

I use an old desktop to install my AOL with McAfee and WinXP to get my broadband running. I then run AVG on my Vista laptop and access my internet on Internet Explorer and get my AOL emails online.

I think you do need to virus check your pc but AVG will do and it is free.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

What are you running?
Vista works with Norton and AVG.
AOL works with McAfee only.
McAfee does not work with Vista.

I use an old desktop to install my AOL with McAfee and WinXP to get my broadband running. I then run AVG on my Vista laptop and access my internet on Internet Explorer and get my AOL emails online.

I think you do need to virus check your pc but AVG will do and it is free.

I have been running AOL with Norton for two years with no problems. I think there may have been compatibility problems a good while back, but that seems to have been sorted.

 

[Rab]

Sorry to hijack this thread

My mcafee subscription has just expired, I was thinking of installing AVG, do I need to do anything other than uninstall Mcafee (i.e I don't need to reformat hardrive and reinstall windows etc)

Is AVG as good as mcafee? or...is it better?

 

[Hilldodger]

Buggi, you should be very, very worried. I'll pop aroud and hold your hand until it's all sorted

 

[Desert Orchid]

Rab, no need to format or reinstall.
is Avg better? well it's free and does a good job for most peoples needs.
of equal importance is a firewall, zone alarm is also free and recommended,
of the anti spyware progs adaware and spybot search and destroy are good and free.
as most malicious stuff is written to attack / exploit Windoze it might be useful to use Firefox as a browser, thunderbird for mail and videolan to play all your videos and music.

 

[zimzum42]

Sorry dude!

 

[Rab]

Rab, no need to format or reinstall.
is Avg better? well it's free and does a good job for most peoples needs.
of equal importance is a firewall, zone alarm is also free and recommended,
of the anti spyware progs adaware and spybot search and destroy are good.
as most malicious stuff is written to attack / exploit Windoze it might be useful to use Firefox as a browser, thunderbird for mail and videolan to play all you videos and music.

Thanks D O

I use firefox already, so might look at the other suggestions too.

Thanks for the tip about a firewall, mcafee had one, I would probably have forgotten to install one with AVG

 

[buggi]

Buggi, you should be very, very worried. I'll pop aroud and hold your hand until it's all sorted

hurry, i'm scared!!!

Sorry dude!

Yes, its all your fault ZimZum, thats the last time i'm logging on to a porn site on your say so! You said she was different, curiosity got the better of me... thought she had 3 tits or something


Anyway, PHEW. i've already got some anitivirus software on here and my pc hasn't been crashing today so it's probably alright.