computer / software question

[Junkman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I use WeatherBug all the time. It isn't spyware. I really like WeatherBug. )</font>

The free version of WeatherBug does have spyware in the program. If you have the paid version of WeatherBug, it might not have the spyware installed. The reason that I know of this is because of Adaware. Spybot, and PestPatrol. One of them found the spyware and disabled it. This also disabled the WeatherBug program. I reinstalled the WeatherBug program, and the spyware removal program found it again. After that, I never reinstalled the program. Another one that has spyware involved with its use is Gator... No not Gatorman, but the program that remembers passwords for you. I suggest that you and any one else that is concerned with spyware install the free Adaware and Spybot programs. You will be surprised at how much you will find.... and after you clean it up, you will be more amazed at how much comes back to you the next time you surf the INTERNET. I haven't confirmed this yet, but I was told that the Google toolbar has some form of Spyware involved with its use. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[JayC]

I use SpyBot, Ad-Aware, and Spy Bouncer(which I always update before using them). None of them pick up WeatherBug. The only thing that they complained about once was the MiniBug installer, but that was it.

 

[Soundguy]

I think I found it.

I'm chalking it up to malicious code.

I found a disk in the a drive of the computer. At bootup, the disk was hit.. then it booted from c, and windoes.. then after bootup, the dialer would start. You could kill the dialer.. then everything was normal... ctrl-alt-dlt didn't identify anything other than the usual stuff.. systray.. etc.
MSconfig also didn't identify anything other than the notrmal tray icons I've had for years. I was about out of ideas, and shut down again, and noticed that when I told it to shut down, it again hit the floppy drive.. and that is magically when the dialer popped up again interrupting the shuttdown process.

I pulled the disc, and it has midi files on it that she got from a friend.. so I know the disk has been in his computer.. and I doubt he has a virus scanner.

I rebooted.. and let the system load.. and ...no dialer after bootup.. and .... no dialer at shutdown.. I tried it again just to be sure.. and again.. no dialer at bootup or shutdown.

For the heck of it I manually dialed in to make sure my connection software still worked.. and it did.

I tried to go ahead and install the AT&T updated software that I had tried before.. and it locked up 3 times never installing.. this is the one that the dialer kept interupting. I have a feeling the file is now damaged.. and it had to do with whatever is on the boot sector? of that floppy disc. I'll grab abnother copy of the AT&T files next time I go online...

weird huh...

Norton never did report anything.. I'm guessing it may have been spyware?

comments / observations?

Soundguy

 

[jwstewar]

Some of the early version of Weatherbug did have spyware in them, but the newer or at least newest versions do not. I happened to be at the Weatherbug website a few weeks ago and read that. I used to keep it installed at work, but haven't installed it after I rebuilt my PCs the last time. I don't use it at home because over dial-up it isn't much good.

 

[MossRoad]

I think there is an option when you install Weather Bug that allows you to turn off it's ability to report back to their systems. Otherwise, it periodically sends them information. So, in my book, anything that comes with a device that reports back to home enabled from the factory is spyware. Why, those dirty rotten.... he he he. Marketing and demographics; gotta love 'em! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue">get my hands on that %E#@@ computer...
</font>

You misspelled WONDERFUL. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[JayC]

Did you ever have Norton scan the floppy? It may not do that if you don't tell it to. Pop in the disk and just have Norton scan the A drive.

 

[Soundguy]

No.. as a matter of fact I hadn't. The settings were for the hard drive only.. I doubt the floppy or the zip drives are getting scanned.

Now that I have it semi-fixed.. I'm a tad afraid to pop that disk in their to scan it...

Soundguy

 

[JayC]

When you pop the disk in the drive, does it automatically bring up the dialer? I didn't think disks did that unless you told them too (besides booting). After you start up the computer without the disk in, pop the disk in. Nothing should come up. What version of Norton AntiVirus are you using? Before scanning the disk, since it has been a while since this thread has started, try to update Norton again if there are any updates. When you pop the disk in, open My Computer and right click on the A drive. When the drop down menu pops up you should be able to choose Scan with Norton AntiVirus.

 

[Soundguy]

It's the 2004 edition of NAV.. As far as I can tell most updates hit on wednesday.. though I will check to see if the downloadable viri def's are any newer than the ones i got last week.

It only seems to pop up the dialer when somehting 'hits' the a drive. Like bootup.. or when checking the disks for shutdown.

I'll try the 'scan drive' right click idea and see what it finds.

Soundguy