Is a virus causing this?

basilmarket.com forums : Tech Talk | 8 posts archived

thread starter HateSpirit Sep 05 2010 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

On another computer of mine (windows 2000), since two days ago it's been having this problem where after a while, firefox and MSN don't work, and everything gets all weird, like every message I type or the person I'm talking to does, it shows as a blank space, but it still says :' "____" says:'. For firefox, the top left description where for basil market it'd say: "MapleStory Guides, Quests, Skills, Items, Monsters, Classes Forum, Resistance," instead it's covered in multiple layers of text, and a lot of words start to fade. I remember one time the drop down menus were blank, so it was just a long black line. Another that started happening a while ago, is that my anti-viruses disabled (for avira, the umbrella was closed, and for my other anti virus, symantec, there was a red "X") whenever I turned on my computer. I just simply put them back on, though. Though, only yesterday, this time there was an exclamation mark for symantec (If I recall, it meant something like a detection), but once I checked it, nothing was there. For the virus history though, it has a button to remove it. My anti-viruses disabled at random times while my computer was running too. I'm not sure if it might be the problem, but for a 2-3 weeks now, my mom's been playing this game on my computer. She always starts the computer when she wants to play, but she doesn't enable the anti-virus, and they're disabled when I turn on my computer as described above. Could this be a problem? Yesterday night, I tried to scan it (twice with avira), but both times the computer rebooted (usually never happens, just freezes sometimes while on a browser). I tried going on safe mode, and then running a full scan (already scanned that game, and it said there was nothing). I had to turn it off at about 25%, since it was getting late. However, during the run, I saw a lot of things I deleted/uninstalled being scanned. Some ijji games I downloaded but then removed were being scanned (I still had the ijji folder though, since I had two games still). I also saw this thing called "BingoLiner," but I think it something my brother wanted to try out, but was too afraid to do it on his computer. I saw it in my add/remove programs when I was trying to make some space a while ago (removed it), but I saw it again during the scan. I've also had a virus on this computer before, but I'm not sure if it's related. It was easily detected by syamatec (right when it happened), but it said it'd be put into qurantine. I don't remember anything being installed in the past few weeks (other than that game described earlier), and all I remember doing was going on basilmarket (and maplesim/hiddenstreet, etc.) and playing a few mini games on kongregate, notdoppler, and ferryhalim with a friend. Also, while going onto firefox again, it said that there was a "javascript error" on keyscramler, which is a safe add on/program (for protection from keyloggers). So, should I install some virus/protection things? I've heard malwarebyt

My Characters: HateSpirit - 28 Broa Magician

Readers + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

Make sure you keep your anti-virus updated and KeyScrambler updated. Chances are that you could be using the Firefox add-on version of KeyScrambler, which was last updated more than 2 years ago so it may have some compatibility issues with Firefox. http://www.malwarebytes.org/ Always download Malwarebytes from here just to make sure you are not downloading something that could be different in another website. Whatever website Malwarebytes redirects you to should be safe as long as it is MajorGeeks, CNET, etc. However, certain viruses can redirect you to different websites that could be potentially malicious. If you are not sure about a website, you can try and check it here . Also, always have Malwarebytes updated. Edit: Either use Symantec or Avira, not both. Having two anti-viruses running at once can cause conflicts and can be problematic, I don't care if people say one anti-virus can detect something else another can't. Also, what is this "game" that she is playing?

My Characters: Readers - 80 Scania Beginner

BobR 09/05/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

About seeing things you've deleted before- are you remembering to "Empty the Recycle Bin" after you delete things..? Windows doesn't actually remove things from the hard drive when you "delete" them, it just moves them to a special folder on the hard drive, in case you change your mind later and decide you actually want it back. Nice feature, but it's all still there (at least until the recycle bin overflows and newer stuff is deleted, so some old deleted stuff finally does get removed from the drive to make room), and is still taking up disk space. If you haven't been doing this already, RIGHT-click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and select "Empty Recycle Bin" if you're sure you don't want any of that "deleted" stuff back ever. THEN it'll all be gone, and shouldn't show up in any kind of scans. (Plus you should see some extra free disk space magically appear.)

My Characters: FantomeFlame - 65 Windia F/P Wizard

HateSpirit 09/05/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

[quote] Readers : Make sure you keep your anti-virus updated and KeyScrambler updated. Chances are that you could be using the Firefox add-on version of KeyScrambler, which was last updated more than 2 years ago so it may have some compatibility issues with Firefox. http://www.malwarebytes.org/ Always download Malwarebytes from here just to make sure you are not downloading something that could be different in another website. Whatever website Malwarebytes redirects you to should be safe as long as it is MajorGeeks, CNET, etc. However, certain viruses can redirect you to different websites that could be potentially malicious. If you are not sure about a website, you can try and check it here . Also, always have Malwarebytes updated. Edit: Either use Symantec or Avira, not both. Having two anti-viruses running at once can cause conflicts and can be problematic, I don't care if people say one anti-virus can detect something else another can't. Also, what is this "game" that she is playing? [/quote] Thanks, I just updated the Key Scrambler now. I also downloaded Malwarebytes. I'm thinking I should stick with Avira, but the Symantec was from a CD (probably paid anti virus). Though, I checked the website, and it says it's the same company as Norton, and I've heard that it's terrible. So I should remove it? She's playing this online Mahjong game, so I think it's possible to be the cause of it. I just remembered, while on the mini game websites, I was also on newgrounds, and accidentally clicked something (I think it was a game/video there), but while it was loading, it gave me this pop-up related to the game. I closed it immediately, but I'm not sure if it's the cause. I've heard before that you can get a "phising virus" from just going on a site, so it could be that. [quote] BoBR : About seeing things you've deleted before- are you remembering to "Empty the Recycle Bin" after you delete things..? Windows doesn't actually remove things from the hard drive when you "delete" them, it just moves them to a special folder on the hard drive, in case you change your mind later and decide you actually want it back. Nice feature, but it's all still there (at least until the recycle bin overflows and newer stuff is deleted, so some old deleted stuff finally does get removed from the drive to make room), and is still taking up disk space. If you haven't been doing this already, RIGHT-click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and select "Empty Recycle Bin" if you're sure you don't want any of that "deleted" stuff back ever. THEN it'll all be gone, and shouldn't show up in any kind of scans. (Plus you should see some extra free disk space magically appear.) [/quote] Yes, I have emptied the recycle bin everytime I deleted some things. When you say the "special folder," if it's the recycle bin, then I know that. But I've heard something like after being emptied from there, it's still on the computer, but I don't know where it is. Also, today I just removed all of

My Characters: HateSpirit - 28 Broa Magician

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[quote] HateSpirit : Thanks, I just updated the Key Scrambler now. I also downloaded Malwarebytes. I'm thinking I should stick with Avira, but the Symantec was from a CD (probably paid anti virus). Though, I checked the website, and it says it's the same company as Norton, and I've heard that it's terrible. So I should remove it? She's playing this online Mahjong game, so I think it's possible to be the cause of it. I just remembered, while on the mini game websites, I was also on newgrounds, and accidentally clicked something (I think it was a game/video there), but while it was loading, it gave me this pop-up related to the game. I closed it immediately, but I'm not sure if it's the cause. I've heard before that you can get a "phising virus" from just going on a site, so it could be that. Yes, I have emptied the recycle bin everytime I deleted some things. When you say the "special folder," if it's the recycle bin, then I know that. But I've heard something like after being emptied from there, it's still on the computer, but I don't know where it is. Also, today I just removed all of these cookies that weren't needed, and also I've run a full virus scan with avira, and nothing has shown up. I've fully removed "ijji" today, and I think it was probably what held some things from their games even after uninstallation. Thanks again for all your help everyone! I'm currently on the what I believe to be infected computer, and so far there's been no problems. I'll see if anything happens, and post again later. I hope I can get like a screenshot the next time it happens, so I'll have paint open. [/quote] Newsgrounds is a legitimate and trustworthy site, so it sounds unlikely it came directly from there but it's best to consider every possibility. Also could be something else interfering, not Newsgrounds. As for Avira or Symantec, it's up to you which you prefer. I've used Avira in the past and found it better for my preference than Norton (a.k.a. Symantec). By the way, Norton/Symantec products are generally not free, that includes the anti-virus and the other security suites that Symantec offers.

My Characters: Readers - 80 Scania Beginner

HateSpirit + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

Yeah, I think it was something else interfering. There was a whole new site that popped up. I think I'll remove Symantec, since I feel my safer with Avira.

My Characters: HateSpirit - 28 Broa Magician

Jacob107878 09/06/10 + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

[quote] Readers : Newsgrounds is a legitimate and trustworthy site, so it sounds unlikely it came directly from there but it's best to consider every possibility. Also could be something else interfering, not Newsgrounds. As for Avira or Symantec, it's up to you which you prefer. I've used Avira in the past and found it better for my preference than Norton (a.k.a. Symantec). By the way, Norton/Symantec products are generally not free, that includes the anti-virus and the other security suites that Symantec offers. [/quote] This guy knows what he's talking about. But afterwords can you show us your results it might help me help you.

My Characters: DefiniteHit - 101 Broa Ranger

BobR + PM | QUOTE | PERMALINK | REPORT

[quote] HateSpirit : Yes, I have emptied the recycle bin everytime I deleted some things. When you say the "special folder," if it's the recycle bin, then I know that. But I've heard something like after being emptied from there, it's still on the computer, but I don't know where it is. [/quote] Sounds like you've got it under control... the "special folder" I mentioned IS the "Recycle Bin". Hopefully removing that game folder completely will remove any remaining traces of what you were seeing during the scan. What you've heard about files not really being gone is true, but it's not really a problem. Instead of truly "erasing" the parts of the hard drive that hold deleted files, Windows just "marks" the files to indicate their deleted status. Sort of like drawing a big black "X" over them, but still leaving them on the paper. That way Windows knows that when it needs to write a new file to the disk it can use the space those "X"ed out files are taking up. But normally neither Windows, nor most normal Windows programs will ever see those deleted files again once you've emptied the Recycle Bin. (There ARE special "file recovery" and "disk recovery" programs that MAY be able to find and restore deleted files, but only if Windows hasn't reused their disk space already. If any part of a file has been written over by new files, generally the entire file is lost and can't be recovered. So normally you'll never see those emptied files ever again.)

My Characters: FantomeFlame - 65 Windia F/P Wizard