Help! Some Russian goon has ALL my personal info

[malka 0]

Argghh... I just checked around on our computer and found all these new, weird photos of some unsavory-looking guy and his malnourished family (probably Russian since the files all had Russian titles). And all his music and movies and stuff. On OUR computer. And then, in the "My Networks," I found a zillion computers somehow networked to ours.

We've been using AVAST! as our anti virus ware, which I'm realizing is next to useless because it just works on the days you think to run it. Here I was, thinking it ran automatically like the last antivirus we used. I just ran it again and found a couple viruses and a couple of "Trojan Horses."

The reason I am feeling horribly panicked right now is that I've been cheerily filling out forms in preparation for all our visa petition stuff, and everything like my SS number, address, name, DOB,... EVERYTHING is in these forms on our computer! So I called one of the the credit bureaus and had them put a 90 day fraud alert on my file, and I've asked for a credit report, and if anyone knows of anything else I should do, please advise. None of my banking stuff or credit cards are on the computer, but I have been accessing my bank account from this computer.

[broma25 2]

Wow, I don't have any advice for you except can you try to delete the stuff they put on your computer. That is pretty scary!!

[Marilyn. 340]

I would reinstall your Windows..... and get AVG virus program and the Zone Alarm Firewall... both of these are free programs and are easy to use and work great....

i never liked Avast.. ate up too much memory

[DeadPoolX 9]

I would reinstall your Windows..... and get AVG virus program and the Zone Alarm Firewall... both of these are free programs and are easy to use and work great....

i never liked Avast.. ate up too much memory

I second AVG and ZoneAlarm. I have both and they're great.

As for reinstalling Windows, that's always an option. The other option might be to root around your Windows registry and see if anything is amiss. Of course, that requires some knowledge of the registry, and if you did anything wrong, you could severely crash your system. I mean a big time inoperable crash. So doing something like that really requires some know-how.

I would definitely back up all sensitive material to flash drives and/or CD before reinstalling Windows though. The last thing you want to do is have to search for all of those files again. Also, see if you can find and download the necessary drivers for your hardware before reinstalling. This way you'll have them after a fresh install and you won't have to deal with a half-assed version of Windows for any amount of time.

I'm sure there's something else I'm forgetting, but when it comes back to me, I'll post it.

[Cali Gal CPA 0]

Secure your network/WI-Fi connection if you have it. Reinstalling windows can help too. I have McAfee Personal Firewall/Virus Scan and Windows Defender. Also check if you have the latest Windows updates.

[ace13 0]

also, unplug your computer from the internet so that they cannot get access. Sorry about that Don't people have anything better to do with their time and energy?

[malka 0]

Thanks so much everyone! I did take some pleasure in deleting this guy's files, but then it occured to me that he might be a victim of this internet-spyware stuff, too. I am totally inept with computers, since my sister and brother always handled this stuff for me back in the States! But my fiance's brother-in-law here is a computer whizz and I think we'll invite him over for pizza one night soon! I just put all our computer's settings on the highest possible security and deleted all the temporary internet files. I want a firewall a mile and half high. I'll get the AVG and ZoneAlarm -- I think Avast uses up too much memory, too.

I just took all the files and forms with personal info and deleted them. Is that enough, or can someone with spyware get into the deleted files somehow? I know the harddrive needs to be wiped before anyone can safely throw away the actaul, physical computer, but can crooks still get to my stuff over the internet if it's been deleted and the trash bin emptied?

I really have exactly the same feeling as if my wallet had been stolen!

I called the credit card company that I've been using, since it occured to me that the fraud alert might make it hard for me to use that card while I'm abroad - everything seems to be fine with that account and they say that the fraud alert just stops people who are trying to establish new credit, so that should be ok. She asked me awesome and tricky questions about my identity, none of which were ever on my computer, so I feel a little bit better.

But all possible forms are getting filled out by hand from now on!

Edited March 8, 2007 by malka

[Boiler 43,434]

http://www.kaspersky.com/

Not free, but the best one I know.

It removed some nasty malware that nothing else would.

[Ban Hammer 12,837]

a trojan is the first thing i thought of when i read your op. it also sounds like he's been using your computer as a bot.

you need a firewall (zonealarm is good), along with a good antivirus and at least one, preferably two, anti-spyware programs. i currently use norton for antivirus and spysweeper and pestpatrol. pestpatrol did, btw, find and remove a few that spysweeper didn't find, hence why i recommend having two anti-spyware programs.

if you are not using your computer, turn it off. that reduces hack attempts.

[fozzie 41]

Throw it away......buy a mac!

[Robor007 0]

http://www.kaspersky.com/

Not free, but the best one I know.

It removed some nasty malware that nothing else would.

That is the best anti-virus solution available today. You can get the 'lite' version (same engine and detection rate) by installing AOL's 'Active Virus Shield'. Yeah, I know... 'AOL Sucks'. Whatever. I don't like AOL as an ISP because their software takes over a system. However, AVS is *not* AOL. It's just a free anti-virus solution that blows AVG out of the water.

There's another thread in Off Topic about a virus/trojan. In it I put a link to getting Kaspersky Anti-Virus for free (after rebate(s)) if you're upgrading a current anti-virus program (brand doesn't matter) or $25 if you're not upgrading. If you can't find it search my posts as I updated it today or yesterday.

BTW - I would recommend a complete reinstall of Windows. Once your system has been owned you will spend more time trying to clean it than reinstalling and knowing you're clean. Backup your files and reload.

[Robor007 0]

Throw it away......buy a mac!

You mean buy an expensive system that's got limited hardware and software available for it?

Want an example? Next time you're at the store ask them where their 'OS X' compatible webcam section is. Now compare that to Windows. Then go over to the computer gaming section and do the same thing. There's a reason the new 'Wintel' Macs dual boot OS X and Windows.

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

http://www.kaspersky.com/

Not free, but the best one I know.

It removed some nasty malware that nothing else would.

That is the best anti-virus solution available today. You can get the 'lite' version (same engine and detection rate) by installing AOL's 'Active Virus Shield'. Yeah, I know... 'AOL Sucks'. Whatever. I don't like AOL as an ISP because their software takes over a system. However, AVS is *not* AOL. It's just a free anti-virus solution that blows AVG out of the water.

There's another thread in Off Topic about a virus/trojan. In it I put a link to getting Kaspersky Anti-Virus for free (after rebate(s)) if you're upgrading a current anti-virus program (brand doesn't matter) or $25 if you're not upgrading. If you can't find it search my posts as I updated it today or yesterday.

BTW - I would recommend a complete reinstall of Windows. Once your system has been owned you will spend more time trying to clean it than reinstalling and knowing you're clean. Backup your files and reload.

This post: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...st&p=763674

A quick head's up on what many consider to be the best anti-virus solution available. You can get Kaspersky Anti-Virus 6 for Free or $25 (after rebates). Original cost is $50. There's a $25 rebate available to everyone. However, if you're upgrading from a previous version (brand doesn't matter) you'll get another $25 off. Great price for the best AV out there...

LINK HERE

Enjoy!

[Boiler 43,434]

Throw it away......buy a mac!

You mean buy an expensive system that's got limited hardware and software available for it?

Want an example? Next time you're at the store ask them where their 'OS X' compatible webcam section is. Now compare that to Windows. Then go over to the computer gaming section and do the same thing. There's a reason the new 'Wintel' Macs dual boot OS X and Windows.

If it was a straight price issue, I would get a Mac, for my needs.

Not a gamer and I just need a laptop.

Odd that you can buy the published version of Kaspersky from Amazon for less than a download.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Chopfukc Russians.