FSX Gone

[IslandBoy77]

QUOTE (ZK-MAT @ Jul 24 2010, 10:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sigh... another drift O/T, I have to respond though. Not wanting to enter a heated discussion IslandBoy, but here goes.

I am a long time Avast user, built this PC in 2006 and run P2Ps and iTunes. I've been into computers since the early 80's. The PC is old in the tooth now but runs FS9 sweet and FSX runs okayish on lower settings. Also play several games (mainly FPS and Il2) regularly on it. It's clean, well I'm happy that it is anyway and think I know a little bit about PCs.

It is one of 6 PC's, a mac, a laptop and 4 iPods, and an Xbox that we have at home that are all networked (mine, wife's and three teenage kids with two PCs used as servers here - one of those servers used to host for NZFF and Teamspeak over 3 years ago). You are welcome to call in and take a look at them but that's not the point of my question about legit mp3 files actually carring viruses.

Matt

Hey Matt

Well, let's not get into a heated discussion then - that profits no one! The point I was making is that most people who use P2P and deal in stolen music are infected. If you are one of the rare ones who aren't, that's great. But in fairness, the others need to be appraised of the situation - most people are completely unaware of the risks - I think you'd be prepared to go with that, yes? The fact stands that of the 30+ PCs I've seen through my doors in the last 2-3 years that had a P2P prog and / or regular iPod synching with pirate music (which for 99% of people seems to be a given), all but 1 were infected to the gills. And to emphasize the point, I have 2 clients who refuse to stop using Limewire et al (as they prefer to steal their music, video, games - but not petrol - how weird is that...), and I see them every 6-9 months with EXACTLY the same problem - viruses out the wazoo. The funny thing is, they are "ok" with me spending 4 hours plus ($200) every 6-9 months getting their PCs up and running again, as they still think they are ahead of the game given all the stuff they steal in between. Just goes to show, some people's morals most certainly have a ready cash price...

In direct answer to your original question - there is no file type that I am aware of that is specifically "immune" to virus penetration / corruption. It could be that the MP3 or other music-type files, regardless of file extension, are actually bogus files, or they could be half real music and half virus. I have not tried using the infected music - my client just wants it gone! Next time I get one, I'll try opening the file and see what happens - I'm picking that it will play mostly normally, perhaps with a glitch here and there or an early finish to the song. Viruses must be able to "tag along" somehow, as a few of the cases I've come across involve people getting music ONLY from an iPod that was used as a carrier from a Limewire-based Mac. So the most likely way that the infection got on the PC - given the overall risk profile / usage patterns of those clients - was via iPod. And it makes sense: most viruses are written for the biggest target market: Windows. Therefore, the language of the viruses is not compatible with OSX or Linux, and therefore those OSes simply act as a carrier. And even in the unlikely event that a Mac or Linux user DID have an AV installed, I would be surprised if it could detect a virus written in "another language".

My question to you is "why are you P2P"? Is there a specific reason you don't want or feel you have to pay for that which you are downloading? I'm curious about the mindset...

[Adamski]

QUOTE (IslandBoy77 @ Jul 25 2010, 01:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would say definitely "yes".

Thanks for all the info - all good stuff. Much appreciated .

As an aside, I've been a long-time user of Spybot SD - mainly because it [also] allows me to see what startup options are in place.

[IslandBoy77]

QUOTE (dbcunnz @ Jul 24 2010, 10:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have been using Microsoft Security Essentials and have had no problems with it
http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Another good free one that I sometimes use is AntiVir Free Version
http://www.free-av.de/en/trialpay_download..._antivirus.html

I did use AVG but had problems with it but for a good free anti-virus either of the two above they are both light on the resource the Microsoft Security Essentials possibly being the best

Doug

Hey Doug

Yes, I've read that the MS product is currently doing very well. That's good for MS, as many people think that Windows SHOULD come with an AV already - clearly there would be a large diff in opinion with that one! My concern with the MS one is that it is largely cloud-based, and I can't see the benefit in always having to have a reliable internet connection for your AV to work properly. I've not read up on it much, so don't know the mechanics of what happens when you have no internet (i.e. what does / doesn't work), and at this stage I'm happy to stay with Avast since they have a proven track record etc. Still, I may give the MS product a burl later in the year on my other PC to see what it's all about. Given MS's poor track record with security overall, I'm apprehensive about using an AV solution from them...

I tried the AntiVir one on a couple of client PCs, but I found it sluggish and that it was worse than AVG at letting thru viruses. They appear in the top 15 thru av comparatives, but last time I looked they were near the bottom of the pile. It might be that they will improve over time, but to date I've not seen anything from them that would tempt me at all.

The funny thing about AVs & such, is you will ALWAYS find someone who swears by "X" product - whether it be Avast, AVG, McAfee, TrendMicro, Norton (which curiously have improved their rating in the last quarter to 3rd!) - if you speak to enough people, you will find an apologist for each and every one. As with all things, people should do a bit of research, be aware of the pluses and minuses, figure if they want pay-ware or free-ware, and then go for it. It doesn't hurt to talk to those of us on the coal-face: even if we have a negative bias against all the AVs except the one we use, you can pick up interesting tidbits of info about other AVs that can help in the decision-making process. As I've said earlier, Avast is not perfect, but it has sufficient things going for it (not the least of which is very consistent high detection rates, both on paper and in the real world), that I stay with them for now. To me, none of the other AVs have shown sufficient compelling reasons to change.

QUOTE (Adamski @ Jul 25 2010, 01:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for all the info - all good stuff. Much appreciated .

As an aside, I've been a long-time user of Spybot SD - mainly because it [also] allows me to see what startup options are in place.

Yep, SB is a great little prog - I've made a donation to the bloke who writes it. I believe in paying for the content I consume if there is an avenue to do so - helps keep people like Mike et al cranking out the goods...

[Splitpin]

Thanks very much Paul......Im sorry again....i just read back and it was me who knocked this thing off topic
But good info....cheers

Marty

[creator2003]

In all my years working with computers have i ever had my whole FSX or FS9 disappear anywhere ,this would be the first time ive even heard of it actually ,most virus scanners will find a file not a whole fsx 11gig-100 gig directory ,that's just plan weird ..

[IslandBoy77]

QUOTE (creator2003 @ Jul 25 2010, 04:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In all my years working with computers have i ever had my whole FSX or FS9 disappear anywhere ,this would be the first time ive even heard of it actually ,most virus scanners will find a file not a whole fsx 11gig-100 gig directory ,that's just plan weird ..

Agreed - v weird. It's still poss that AVG could have tagged the whole folder, or it culd be hardware fault...

[ZK-MAT]

QUOTE (IslandBoy77 @ Jul 25 2010, 01:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey Matt
...

My question to you is "why are you P2P"? Is there a specific reason you don't want or feel you have to pay for that which you are downloading? I'm curious about the mindset...

Nothing malicious in that at all. Some gaming patches and other things like Linux distros are released nowdays as bit torrents. IL2 mods are an example, I also recently obtained Linux Mint and Ubuntu via torrent.

If you want to question a person's integrity regarding obtaining flight sim products via p2p you're looking in the wrong direction.

Personally, I agree with your sentiments that anti virus systems are often personal preference, and one will not benefit from chopping and changing. I was an AVG fan boy, then it became (in my view) very Norton-esque in bloating a system, switched to Avast many years back and have stayed with it. I have put MSSE on the kids' main PC though, and it seems to run ok and update itself as it should (but I must confess that I don't really care if they mess up their system, I can reformat and put it back using a slipstreamed disk if they lose their music and files it's their problem).

I've never personally liked Nortons, YMMV. Ultimately the best (or worse) firewall / virus catcher is the person sitting at the keyboard, which, as you have gathered, provides ample opportunity for someone to continue to make a living helping them out regularly. After all, we pay people to do stuff we cannot do and consider it money well spent, whether it's building a house or removing nasties from a computer.

There's no right or wrong however as a community of like minded people with a simliar interest (that involes computing in one form or other) it is good to help out those by sharing experiences and experience.

[IslandBoy77]

QUOTE (ZK-MAT @ Jul 25 2010, 05:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nothing malicious in that at all. Some gaming patches and other things like Linux distros are released nowdays as bit torrents. IL2 mods are an example, I also recently obtained Linux Mint and Ubuntu via torrent.

If you want to question a person's integrity regarding obtaining flight sim products via p2p you're looking in the wrong direction.

Personally, I agree with your sentiments that anti virus systems are often personal preference, and one will not benefit from chopping and changing. I was an AVG fan boy, then it became (in my view) very Norton-esque in bloating a system, switched to Avast many years back and have stayed with it. I have put MSSE on the kids' main PC though, and it seems to run ok and update itself as it should (but I must confess that I don't really care if they mess up their system, I can reformat and put it back using a slipstreamed disk if they lose their music and files it's their problem).

I've never personally liked Nortons, YMMV. Ultimately the best (or worse) firewall / virus catcher is the person sitting at the keyboard, which, as you have gathered, provides ample opportunity for someone to continue to make a living helping them out regularly. After all, we pay people to do stuff we cannot do and consider it money well spent, whether it's building a house or removing nasties from a computer.

There's no right or wrong however as a community of like minded people with a simliar interest (that involes computing in one form or other) it is good to help out those by sharing experiences and experience.

I'm really pleased to hear that you use P2P for it's intended purpose - besides myself, you are the only other person I recall coming across who does use P2P legally! That's sad, really. Of course, it might be that everyone on this forum acts the same as us, and it's just that no one has ever brought the topic up. But in day to day dealings with clients and acquaintances, I usually find that the usage is theft-related...

I think largely we're on the same page, and I agree with all of what you've just said. Happy computing!

[Splitpin]

And theft it is!! as i mentioned in an earlier post somewhere else....my computer was shared (while i was sick...which really peed me off) and all sorts of things were downloaded. It destoyed my system. I dont have money to throw at it ,if it has a fit. Turns out the "thing" that got into it arrived via a stupid 2mb song from e-mule...despite my av. It got in, shut avg down and blocked any attempt to restore....or anything that might look like a re-install.

I was more than angry....these people were people i knew. In the end , a friend from internal affairs had a look and "holy cow" they had been everywhere....however because my IP address had be abused,(without me knowing) very little other than a warning could be dealt out.I really didnt mind a few files here and there (thats up to them) but use your own equipment and dont hide behind my bloody IP address.
Some of them sadly, are simmers....but no longer in touch with me.

Anyway......its a funny old thing life...and again! Ive taken this off topic (sorry Mat) and Robin, move it if you want.

Marty

[dbcunnz]

Anyone who uses those P2P programs to get illegal downloaded software, music and movies deserve all they get in the way of viruses malware and all the nasties I have no sympathy for them whatsoever

[Splitpin]

QUOTE (dbcunnz @ Jul 25 2010, 06:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Anyone who uses those P2P programs to get illegal downloaded software, music and movies deserve all they get in the way of viruses malware and all the nasties I have no sympathy for them whatsoever

As long as they use their own computer!

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (Splitpin @ Jul 25 2010, 07:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As long as they use their own computer!

Fortunate for me 'Marsbar' is a computer dummie

[cooldad]

Thanks for the advice guys. I have used AVG forever and never seemed to have a problem before. I will convert to Avast though as it seems a lot more accurate.

Just beware though. My kids have downloaded MP3 songs which appear to not play. After a spyware check there are always heaps of malware all phoning home! Somehow they have some sort of executable within the MP3.

Thanks for all help . . .

Paul

[ZK-MAT]

Maybe I should start a new thread (and here was me sighing earlier about O/T comments), but nevertheless it's helping us all deal with our PCs.

Just a question about these virus mp3 files, this intrigues me and it will bug me now!

Maybe IslandBoy could comment and I ask this in all seriousness, not 'having a go' - Would what we are seeing have more of an effect if one has their system set to hide known file type extensions (like .exe / .mp3 / .doc), so a file will look like this "song" rather than "song.mp3". I suspect that the virused mp3's are actually other file types in disguise, like "song.mp3.exe".

As far as I know Windows hides known file types by default, which I personally do not like and change that setting so I know what I am looking at. My original comment on this mentioned 'actual mp3 files', and this is what I meant, a file that was intended (and actually can be) played not only on a PC. If it was virussed it wouldn't play at all, as mentioned by Cooldad, but I suspect that the extension was not only "mp3".

I just Googled virus in mp3 file, and it seems so, perhaps. Maybe.

[IslandBoy77]

QUOTE (ZK-MAT @ Jul 25 2010, 09:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maybe I should start a new thread (and here was me sighing earlier about O/T comments), but nevertheless it's helping us all deal with our PCs.

Just a question about these virus mp3 files, this intrigues me and it will bug me now!

Maybe IslandBoy could comment and I ask this in all seriousness, not 'having a go' - Would what we are seeing have more of an effect if one has their system set to hide known file type extensions (like .exe / .mp3 / .doc), so a file will look like this "song" rather than "song.mp3". I suspect that the virused mp3's are actually other file types in disguise, like "song.mp3.exe".

As far as I know Windows hides known file types by default, which I personally do not like and change that setting so I know what I am looking at. My original comment on this mentioned 'actual mp3 files', and this is what I meant, a file that was intended (and actually can be) played not only on a PC. If it was virussed it wouldn't play at all, as mentioned by Cooldad, but I suspect that the extension was not only "mp3".

I just Googled virus in mp3 file, and it seems so, perhaps. Maybe.

In the cases I've seen, using my Avast Serviceman's CD (called Avast BART), the true filenames incl extensions are shown. And of all the music / video files I've seen to date that are infected using the BART CD, all appeared to be "proper" whatever files, in that they had no fake extensions. I would say that there are both types about - I've only seen "normal" files that are compromised, not viruses hiding their extensions, but as you point out, there most certainly are those that use extension masking.

[Adamski]

QUOTE (cooldad @ Jul 25 2010, 09:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the advice guys. I have used AVG forever and never seemed to have a problem before. I will convert to Avast though as it seems a lot more accurate.

After having followed this thread avidly, I've just nuked AVG on my main (work) PC and installed the free version of Avast. I'm keeping AVG on the other machine. That way I can scan my external USB storage drive with both a/v programs and not have both fighting on the same machine.

Incidentally, I use only one/the same target directory for *all* my downloads - well away from all my usual places. This directory gets scanned regularly - and only when files pass the test do they end up on my backup/storage drive (which gets scanned as well, but less frequently).

[Splitpin]

God, i feel very exposed at the moment.....Ive been backing up like crazy....just poached an egg on my dvd r/rw .....but what mass of info thats been passed on and shared.
Thanks all you gurus....

[Ian Warren]

Any payware ,' back up' is a big yes even double up and good plan print any recorded docs !