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URLs sent from Contacts who are offline via Windows Live Messenger 8.1

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URLs sent from Contacts who are offline via Windows Live Messenger 8.1 Matt U.K. 02-11-2008
Posted by Matt U.K. on February 11, 2008, 8:02 am
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Hi,

I'm receiving urls from some of my Contacts (3 so far) who were offline,
could this be due to virus activity (somewhere)? My computer is Virus
/Malware free and I have a firewall installed.

I'm using AVG, Comodo and Ad-Aware 2007 software.

This started a few of days ago.

Many thanks in advance

Matt U.K.

--
"Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope".



Posted by Malke on February 11, 2008, 8:56 am
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Matt U.K. wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm receiving urls from some of my Contacts (3 so far) who were offline,
> could this be due to virus activity (somewhere)? My computer is Virus
> /Malware free and I have a firewall installed.
>
> I'm using AVG, Comodo and Ad-Aware 2007 software.
>
> This started a few of days ago.

Hi, Matt - Instant Messenger infection is quite common these days and the
current crop of malware that you get from clicking on IM links is extremely
virulent, usually ending in a clean install for the victim. So you're quite
wise to never click on those links.

Since you're sure that your machine is clean (and you haven't clicked on any
links recently), someone you know is probably infected. The contacts you
mention should do some scanning.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!

Posted by Matt U.K. on February 11, 2008, 2:15 pm
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Hi Malke,

Thanks for the reply, I've found the culprit. On my way to check/clean her
computer (a Mac running leopard) now. She confessed to clicking on a link a
couple of days ago.

Matt U.K.

> Matt U.K. wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I'm receiving urls from some of my Contacts (3 so far) who were offline,
>> could this be due to virus activity (somewhere)? My computer is Virus
>> /Malware free and I have a firewall installed.
>>
>> I'm using AVG, Comodo and Ad-Aware 2007 software.
>>
>> This started a few of days ago.
>
> Hi, Matt - Instant Messenger infection is quite common these days and the
> current crop of malware that you get from clicking on IM links is
> extremely
> virulent, usually ending in a clean install for the victim. So you're
> quite
> wise to never click on those links.
>
> Since you're sure that your machine is clean (and you haven't clicked on
> any
> links recently), someone you know is probably infected. The contacts you
> mention should do some scanning.
>
> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> Don't Panic!



Posted by Malke on February 11, 2008, 4:10 pm
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Matt U.K. wrote:

> Hi Malke,
>
> Thanks for the reply, I've found the culprit. On my way to check/clean
> her
> computer (a Mac running leopard) now. She confessed to clicking on a link
> a couple of days ago.

Interesting. I'd really appreciate it if you'd post back to this thread to
let me know what you did to clean it up. I've got a lot more clients
running Macs now (as I do myself) and I haven't had to clean up infections
on a Mac before. So do let me know if you can. Thanks!

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!

Posted by Matt U.K. on February 12, 2008, 4:58 pm
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Hi Malke,

The Mac was clean, I downloaded a 60 day trial version of 'Avast' anti-virus
software from here:-
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-antivirus-mac-edition.html

I also downloaded 'MacScan' (v2.5.1) 30 day trial from here:-
http://www.download.com/MacScan/3000-2271_4-10478064.html

I cleared the history & caches from BOTH browsers 'Safari', 'Firefox'
(latest versions) AND changed the passwords of her and her son's 'Hotmail'
accounts.

This seems to have cured the problem.

Hope this helps :-)

Matt U.K.

p.s.

I have updated my version of 'Windows Live Messenger' to Version 2008 (Build
8.5.1302.1018) AND deselected the 'Allow links in the conversion window
option. I can't remember if this option is available in the Mac version
6.0.3. (latest version).


> Matt U.K. wrote:
>
>> Hi Malke,
>>
>> Thanks for the reply, I've found the culprit. On my way to check/clean
>> her
>> computer (a Mac running leopard) now. She confessed to clicking on a
>> link
>> a couple of days ago.
>
> Interesting. I'd really appreciate it if you'd post back to this thread to
> let me know what you did to clean it up. I've got a lot more clients
> running Macs now (as I do myself) and I haven't had to clean up infections
> on a Mac before. So do let me know if you can. Thanks!
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> Don't Panic!



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