Beware of "System Smart Security"!

vonboy · **Reply #20 on:** July 05, 2011, 08:24:14 AM

if you don't have a installation disk, call the manufacturer of your pc, and ask if they can send you one. I had to do that once when my computer messed up. I called them up, and ordered another installation disk for like 10 or 20 dollars.

landbeforetimelover · **Reply #21 on:** July 05, 2011, 08:29:47 AM

^I wouldn't do that if I were you. It'll install a bunch of garbage. I'll let you download a disk for free and I'll even ship one to you free of charge (well, other than shipping that is) if you just can't download one. Just shoot me a PM and we can get started. We'll get your computer back up and running in no time.

DarkHououmon · **Reply #22 on:** July 05, 2011, 08:48:00 AM

One thing that could have helped Malte out, and I wish I had told him before this incident happened, was if he installed a new partition on his computer with another operating system, most likely Linux due to its diversity. If he had Linux, or some other OS, on the machine, he could still boot into that and be able to receive help remotely. I'm pretty sure that you can access Windows files through a Linux OS on the same machine.

Petrie85 · **Reply #23 on:** July 05, 2011, 08:57:57 AM

Yeah he could have done that. How would Linux help remove the virus program?is it a removal tool>?

DarkHououmon · **Reply #24 on:** July 05, 2011, 09:11:58 AM

No, it's an operating system. But you can, last I heard, access Windows files through Linux, so if you know how to manually remove viruses, you could do that. And there are antiviruses made for Linux. If they can detect Windows viruses, that's another option as well.

But in Malte's case, having Linux would have enabled someone with computer knowledge to connect to his computer remotely and sift through the Windows files and remove the offending file. The good news with having something like Linux on is, in the event that Windows no longer works, he could either move his files onto Linux and switch entirely to Linux or he could use Linux to back up his files and do a fresh install of Windows.

Something like that anyway.

Malte279 · **Reply #25 on:** July 05, 2011, 02:57:21 PM

I'm sort of online again. Sort of because it is from a borrowed computer from the computer repair shop where I handed in my own one (this borrowed computer has some crashing issues but it still is quite a relieve compared to having not access at all).
Booting attempts with a recovery CD had not brought forth the desired results and quite frankly I'm too illiterate in higher computer technology to risk messing up worse than messed up it already was. The repairs however won't cost me a cent because I got an insurance when I purchased that PC that does cover all the costs. So the worst case scenario is that Data optained since the purchase of the PC (February of this year) may be lost which is painful but not quite as painful as a worst case scenario could be. Chances are that not much data will be lost because of the partitioning of my hard drive in which most of my data is not stored on the same drive as the system data. So here is to hope.

DarkHououmon · **Reply #26 on:** July 05, 2011, 08:09:22 PM

Here is a removal guide for future reference for anyone.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-remo...-smart-security

pokeplayer984 · **Reply #27 on:** July 06, 2011, 02:24:09 AM

Wow! I'm sorry you got something so deadly, Malte. Hopefully your computer will get fixed and you won't have to worry about that ugly thing again.

It's sad us Windows Users have to deal with such things that can literally kill our computers and Mac is just barely getting their share of Rouges. Right now, switching to Linux is looking like a REALLY good idea.

We need a new OS. One that is more secure than ANYTHING we've made before. Still, who could program something like that? It would take a real genius with computer coding to pull that off.

At this point, we can only pray for something like that.

Malte279 · **Reply #28 on:** July 06, 2011, 03:48:42 AM

What I'm most irritated about is that I have no clue as to how it got onto my computer. Whenever I download anything I made it a habbit (even in case of files which I know to be clean) to run antivir over it before I open any files. I'm therefore wondering how this thing found its way onto my computer in the first place.

Most importantly I want to thank all of you for your support and your offers of help. Thank you Austin for your very generous offer, thank you jansenov for the boot files you sent me, thank you vonboy, Katie and Petrie85 for your advise

Petrie85 · **Reply #29 on:** July 06, 2011, 08:16:56 AM

You're Welcome Malre279. I hope you're back here soon.

DarkHououmon · **Reply #30 on:** July 06, 2011, 08:24:05 AM

Quote from: pokeplayer984,Jul 6 2011 on 01:24 AM

We need a new OS. One that is more secure than ANYTHING we've made before. Still, who could program something like that? It would take a real genius with computer coding to pull that off.

So far, the most secure operating system I know of is Linux. The reason it's so secure is due to permissions. You see, no program on Linux that wants to change something at the system level can run without your explicit permission through the use of a password. Anything involving changing the system requires this password.

This isn't so in Windows. In Windows, it is deliberately designed to allow third party programmers to run stuff on Windows without the users' permission. The purpose wasn't really to increase the users' vulnerability to viruses, but to allow the user to have a more refreshing experience by having cool stuff happen. Something like that. But such an act is why Windows is so vulnerable to viruses.

With Linux, due to the need of a password, software (such as installing programs, or launching programs that may change the OS at the system level) can't run unless you tell it to. For instance, in order to install a new game, you need a password. And to uninstall it, a password. If I wanted to open up the built-in firewall, I need a password. If I want to install updates, a password. Yes this does sound annoying and redundant, however this password system is why Linux is safer than Windows. Windows viruses will not work on Linux (obviously) so it's safe to download any file no matter how infected it is. While you can install an emulation of the Windows kernal (Wine), the system itself will not be damaged.

Linux viruses are almost unheard of due to how hard it would be to program one. A Linux virus would need to be run from root (equivalent of Windows' admin) to do any real damage). And of the Linux viruses that are made, they are easily made useless through updates. Unlike Windows, Linux updates far more often, quickly sealing up any new security loopholes. And unlike Windows, Linux is open source, meaning any one with enough computer knowledge and programming skills can look through the code and help spot security bugs and other issues and help fix them. Oh and with Linux, while you can get an antivirus, because of how hard it is for Linux to get viruses, you don't need an antivirus software installed.

Windows is run by a corporation who want money, and charge a huge sum of money to buy their operating system and programs. Linux is free and is run by a community who want a safer operating system with more efficient programs, nearly all of which are completely free of charge to download. Right now I'm only running Windows out of necessity, but if I could find a way to run what I want to on Linux and be sure that all my hardware stuff works, you'd bet I'd switch to Linux.

Petrie85 · **Reply #31 on:** July 06, 2011, 08:37:18 AM

Ah I've used Window's my whole life and nothing has happened at all. Si won't be switching any time soon.

DarkHououmon · **Reply #32 on:** July 06, 2011, 11:06:00 AM

Windows is much more vulnerable to viruses than other OSes due to its popularity. But it should be fine as long as you take good care of it and be vigilant on what gets installed on your system. Oh and run regular scans with up-to-date antivirus and antispyware programs.

landbeforetimelover · **Reply #33 on:** July 06, 2011, 02:54:02 PM

We don't need a new OS at all. Windows will run great so long as you've got modern hardware (quad core and DDR3 preferably, but dual core with DDR2 is fine too). What we need is for companies like Dell, HP, Gateway, etc. to stop putting all that garbage into the OS. If you've ever run Windows just as it's supposed to be directly from Microsoft without OEM's like Dell cramming it full of shit, you know what I mean. They do it right from the factory. Even if you remove all the crap programs and tune it up, it's still not anywhere near the same as the original OS. That's why I use my universal OEM disks to install just the OS and nothing else. It will make even an old P4 fly.

As for security, just have a decent antivirus and security precautions and you'll be fine 99% of the time unless you're doing lots of porn or visiting a ton of spam sites from Russia or something. Very rarely do I have a real problem - but I do what's required to keep a system running properly.

DarkHououmon · **Reply #34 on:** July 06, 2011, 03:59:49 PM

True. Windows can run great with the proper equipment. The viruses are still a pain though. I did hear that future operating systems (I think including Windows) will come with a sort of virtual immune system, where the system actively protects itself much like the human body against natural viruses and bacteria. That would be pretty neat I think.

landbeforetimelover · **Reply #35 on:** July 06, 2011, 05:35:00 PM

65% of the cause of viruses is people being dumbasses and clicking on ads that say "Ooh, you're infected with 2,344 viruses! Click here now to remove them!" and crap like that. Another 25% is from people being dumbasses again and going to non reputable porn sites and downloading suspicious torrents. When a song which should be 3-12mb is only 25kb, don't download it. Only 10% of infections are from driveby downloads and other things that the end user can't really control. And 99% of those infections should be stopped by a good antivirus program. Realistically, getting infected more than once a year is not very likely if you use your brain.

Petrie85 · **Reply #36 on:** July 07, 2011, 08:27:19 AM

Exactly. I agree with that post you made. A lot of people who use computers are morons with no brains. So they shouldn't even use a computer at all. People should heed those warnings so nothing can happen. I'm very careful with the stuff I use on my computer. Hence why I still have one. I don't download anymore. Due to the virus's and other stuff. I learn from experience. And it's gotta be the right virus protection also. A ton of them suck and and worthless. Like Macafee is awful. It just sucks so much. I used it and it only found some of the virus. And than I used Ad-AwareSP Personal and it found the twelve Trojan Virus's that Macafee couldn't find. Norton sucks. I had that it sucked. I have Microsoft Care One and that was was decent, It worked very well. So people need to be more smarter if they want a computer. Or take some classes to learn how to use one and to learn not to download stupid things.

Malte279 · **Reply #37 on:** July 14, 2011, 04:48:57 AM

I won't get my computer back before next week and as of now they seem to be unable to say anything about it at all

Till I get it back my possibilities to work online (the borrowed computer is somewhat varrying in its performance) are a bit inhibited (but to be fair the need to focus on impending exams also plays a role).

Petrie85 · **Reply #38 on:** July 14, 2011, 05:40:30 AM

Ah that's good. I hope it will be okay when you get it back. And I hope you will have better virus protection.

Kor · **Reply #39 on:** July 14, 2011, 09:41:39 AM

I hope it all works out for you and soon.