mjames — Sun, 12 May 2002 14:28:31 +0000

I would also suggest running some tests at http://www.grc.com to see if your firewall and antivirus are working properly.

archon — Sat, 11 May 2002 16:21:50 +0000

You may have simply browsed the wrong webpage. You can disable Javascript for better security. Also, make sure your antivirus def files are up to date. There is a virus (I forget the exact name) by the name of js.(something).exploit.

I cleaned that off of one of my customer's pcs and it kept installing a dialer and porn links to his pc. It also changed his homepage to be a porn page. His def files where from back in Nov 2001, so make sure you have yours up to date.

Thanks

JuanBoy — Fri, 10 May 2002 21:01:49 +0000

Yes, I run Grisoft AVG Virus and preview is off in Outlook. I delete all email with attachments before opening. Just about to install Ad-Aware.

Many thanks.

doublehelix — Fri, 10 May 2002 20:16:11 +0000

You are running anti-virus software, right? And you keep your patches current?

There are a number of ways that software can be put onto your computer. Most of them involve exploits in IE, Outlook Express, and Real Player. The IE security settings are easily bi-passed.

Frequently malicious programs are introduced by reading HTML email, so the first thing you should do is disable preview in Outlook Express. Do NOT open up any email from a source you don't know (and even that is no guarantee since a friend of your's machine may have got nailed by a worm).

"Web Dialer" doesn't sound like a Trojan however, to me it sounds like something bundled with some sort of a program you've installed. You might run Ad-Aware to see if there is any spyware on your machine.