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Thread ID: 132093	2013-05-06 04:37:00	Protecting a laptop when using wireless internet	Billy T (70)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1339849	2013-05-06 04:37:00	Hi Team Daughter in Oz recently graduated with her Masters, and the PF1 Toshiba laptop was on its last legs, so we bought her a new Asus as a graduation present ($450 with all the fruit). She accesses the web via a wireless hub in her flat, and in the couple of months or so she has had it, the computer has three times been buggered up by viruses etc. She only uses it for work so she is not straying into dangerous territory, and the old machine did not have, and still hasn't got, any problems at all working off the same source, and never had a virus or any other malware. OS is W7, I can't remember what the AV is right now, might be Comodo and might not too, but I know it is not one of the rated programs. Infections have occured, Word disappeared and various other issues have arisen, like it slows to a crawl etc. Firstly, is it possible that she is being hacked into by somebody else in the block (or close by) who is piggybacking off their hub? Secondly, is there anything she can do/install to protect from this. Clearly there is a difference between the two laptops in terms of software etc, but I have no idea what it could be, as this problem lies well outside my expertise and experience. Comments and advice welcome please. I have no information whatsoever about the wireless hub or whatever it is. Cheers Billy 8-{) Just had a bright idea, I'll ask her if she needs/needed a password to log on to the net! That might be revealing.	Billy T (70)
1339850	2013-05-06 04:51:00	Could be drive by downloads. Or its possible another pc is infected and its going along the network. If they're networked. If any folders etc are shared. Is it up to date with updates?? What browser is she using? Could be programs she's installed (free ones) which if you dont do custom installs, they'll install crap like toolbars, and all sorts of things Is it secure the wireless?? If it isnt, well any tom dick or harry will be on their wireless	Speedy Gonzales (78)
1339851	2013-05-06 05:33:00	Turn off write access on any network shares, always a good Idea on a shared network. Alternatively password protect them or just turn off file sharing altogether. You could also create a user account without admin rights for general usage which would stop some things installing. It could just be the network settings on the new laptop are not as secure. By default windows 7 has a shared public folder on home networks.	dugimodo (138)
1339852	2013-05-07 11:36:00	Could be drive by downloads. Or its possible another pc is infected and its going along the network. If they're networked. If any folders etc are shared. Is it up to date with updates?? What browser is she using? Could be programs she's installed (free ones) which if you dont do custom installs, they'll install crap like toolbars, and all sorts of things Is it secure the wireless?? If it isnt, well any tom dick or harry will be on their wireless They are not networked, it is just two flatmates (normally three) sharing the wireless connection. There would be no formal sharing going on, they all do their own thing No software of any description has been downloaded without my knowledge, and nothing would get installed unless I know about it. Any instals would be confined to legit programs that I have recommended and for which I have provided links, like MWB, Spybot etc. I don't know if the wireless is secure, but I suspect that it is not, as there is nobody there with that sort of knowledge, and I don't think there are any techo boyfriends passing through. Thing is, the old XP computer has no problems. Turn off write access on any network shares, always a good Idea on a shared network. Good idea I'm sure, but I don't know how to do that, in fact I've never heard of it before, so I'm pretty sure she won't either. It would be helpful to know where to look and what to do. What do we do about the shared folder? That is new to me as well. Might have to be a Teamviewer job, I am set up and she has it installed as well, just in cas so I'll need to know what I am looking for. It doesn't help that I don't have W7 either, only XP pro, though I presume that the basics are the same I am waiting to hear back about the flatmates and the access password or lack thereof. I have warned her about Tom, Dick and Harry, population density is very high in the local area and she is on the 5th (top) floor of the building so in a good position to be nailed. Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
1339853	2013-05-07 11:52:00	Grab NOD32 Anti-Virus Don't use any browser except Chrome Keep the OS and all software as up to date as possible Webmail-based email such as Gmail / Outlook also include scanning for a lot of things Don't click on silly things on Facebook Those are probably some of the best places to begin with ;)	Chilling_Silence (9)
1339854	2013-05-07 20:30:00	start, control panel, network and sharing center, advanced sharing options, disable file and printer sharing and turn off public folder. If file sharing isn't used it will make no difference to he use of the machine and is easily reversed on a trusted network. It may not be the cause but infected computers connected to the same network can spread the infection to other machines when these are enabled and there is no need for there to be any deliberate file sharing or networking going on. I attend a LAN group once a month and a couple of times we have had virus scanners go nuts shortly after someone connects to the network, one particular virus creates a .exe file with the same name as every folder it can access which is a nasty trick. If you for example find a windows.exe file inside a windows folder you think nothing of it and might even run it. At the Lan there will be dozens of different network workgroups and sharing options on peoples machines but it doesn't matter to the virus it'll spread to any write enabled folder without password protection on a windows machine.	dugimodo (138)
1339855	2013-05-07 23:15:00	Ive been removing viruses from PC's for 15+ years now, in my experience.... Most of the time, a virus infection is self inflicted. Most of the time. Some infections required the user to click on the popup 3times to get the PC infected, yep 3x thats why some here never get infected , they are carefull . going to dodgy sites, downloading music & movies , clinking on links in facebook & email, opening dodgy emails, opening joke emails from people you know going to websites that have been hacked, not installing all the Windows updates + Adobe & java patches. It is possible her wifi router/access point has been hacked (giving dirty DNS ) but again highly unlikely. Infection via public wifi access point is possible , but unlikely. I doubt that it will be a virus from the wifi network. Its also unlikely she has shared folders that should never be shared (windows, program files etc) Is someone else using her laptop(without her knowing?) , thats a very common way for machines to be infected . Get her to put a Windows password on it (or change it) & not tell anyone what it is. Its also possible that the 1st virus infection was never completely removed , or she's using a infected USB stick(any good AV program should detect that though) Seriously consider completely wiping & reloading(given ongoing issues) , then install a good AV program.	1101 (13337)
1339856	2013-05-08 00:57:00	. * Grab NOD32 Anti-Virus * Don't use any browser except Chrome These are outside her capabilities, and might affect her warranty . * Keep the OS and all software as up to date as possible . It is fully up to date, the laptop is new, and the supplier is a laptop specialist . * Webmail-based email such as Gmail / Outlook also include scanning for a lot of things Gmail is her only email system . * Don't click on silly things on Facebook She is preparing for a PhD, silly things are not in her universe . That said, we all know that accidents happen, viz my own recent scanner software problem! That's OK now, and I've put a condom on my mouse so that casual clicking can't do it again . :D I have yet to hear back about the status of the wireless access device, and at this stage I do not even know what it is, so I'm focusing on precautions at new laptop level, because her old laptop has not been affected at all . I've provided links to programs like Malwarebytes and Spybot, plus the Eset online scanner, which are safe and easy to run . Though not necessarily effective in any given situation, they are better than nothing . The first two picked up problems on Billy Junior's computer last week and he is in France, so Mrs T was responsible, and she definitely does not stray off the paths of righteousness . Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
1339857	2013-05-08 01:42:00	. * Grab NOD32 Anti-Virus * Don't use any browser except Chrome These are outside her capabilities, and might affect her warranty . * Don't click on silly things on Facebook She is preparing for a PhD, silly things are not in her universe . Cheers Billy 8-{) How can installing an antivirus and sticking to one web browser affect warranty? :confused::confused::confused: One might also say she is preparing for a PhD, so can probably install, or be told how to install, two programs onto a computer ;)	Nick G (16709)
1339858	2013-05-08 06:12:00	Comodo (especially the D+ engine) is great if you know how to use it properly. However if you don't, you can still get infected or alternatively, end up blocking things that aren't supposed to be blocked which can result in some really strange system problems that have nothing to do with malware at all. As for actual viruses and other nefarious things, if the WiFi is unsecured, all bets are off.	Agent_24 (57)
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