Don't accidentally screw up your computer

topstuf · May 10, 2003 1:57AM

I am so damned mad I can hardly see straight. I got an email from a friend. A ...good...friend who would NEVER send anything remotely bad to anyone.

He was warning me that his computer had contracted a virus that was new and able to bypass Norton and McAfee and included complete instructions on how to check for and eliminate the problem.

THE WARNING ADVISES ....IMMEDIATE....ACTION! And instructs you on how to advise everyone you have sent emails to about how you have unwittingly infected them.........and WHEN THEY CHECK, they will find the little TEDDY BEAR and take it out as I did !

It is a HOAX !

It's too late for me as I already deleted the "infected" file. Well, the file is an integral part of the system.

Fortunately...... VERY .......fortunately, the file is only used by web developers working in Java or something, but it still pisses me off that I have now removed a file that will make it impossible to USE for that remote purpose.......unless........I..........reinstall.........Windows.

It is not a necessary file for almost all computer users.

BUT SOONER OR LATER, THE IDIOTS WILL SEND ONE THAT WILL REMOVE A VITAL PART OF YOUR SYSTEM !

DAMN....I am mad.

It is a very probable looking thing. Microsoft in its infinite wisdom even includes a stupid......TEDDY BEAR....icon with this file so it really does LOOK malicious.

After following the instructions in the email, I looked in my computer (via the very complete instructions on how to remove it) and sure enough, there it was.

I removed it and was about to send the warning to everyone in my address book as instructed in the email. This computer stuff is maddening.

I don't know what made me think to do it but I called my ISP (who maintains an alert system with their clients) and told them what I had done so they could issue a blanket warning. THEN they told me about the HOAX.

BUT.....they also told me how to check out these hoaxes.

Go to: www.norton.com

There is a button named: SECURITY RESPONSE

Click it.

You will see a link called: Expanded Threat List and Virus Encyclopedia
Click THAT and check the EXACT name of the virus you are being warned about. IF it's a HOAX, it tells you. Then you will not do as I did and destroy part of your computer.

If you have not yet got an email from a friend warning you about a virus, you WILL at some time.

THAT's when you are going to want to refer to .....THIS ...post.....

If I can keep ONE of you from screwing up like I did, it will be worth it.

I advise copying and saving this little message for WHEN you get the same thing.

Off topic but in my opinion something I would hate to see happen to any of you.

docday2003 · May 10, 2003 1:59AM

Thanks for the "heads up"!

ohbaby · May 10, 2003 2:02AM

If you think that is bad....there was an article in the NY Times a few days ago about how the Motion Picture and Recording Industries are intentially spreading a virus designed to delete your MP3 and video files. They are trying to stem the level of file sharing/copying and by spreading a virus they hope to stop people.

Well it seems their little virus has deleted some important legitimate files of many users and now are facing lawsuits. Hmm, what were they thinking?!!

MadMarty · May 10, 2003 2:03AM

That one has been floating around for about a year! Just have someone E-Mail the file from there compter!

jeffnpcb · May 10, 2003 2:04AM

I run McAfee online and it's always running. It will immediately remove an unsafe file or attachment and let me know. For the yearly service and the firewall, privacy features I have yet to run into a problem. You can also ping back and trace people trying to hack your computer!

topstuf · May 10, 2003 2:07AM

Yeah, I haven't had Norton miss anything either. In fact, I just did a full system scan the day BEFORE I got sucked in.

grrrrr

Dog97 · May 10, 2003 2:16AM

Topstuff if I told you you to stick your head in a fire I know what you would do...........

Just go to your recycle bin, highlight the file and click restore and put it back.
Or click start/run/msconfig and do a system restore to the day before you deleted the file.
No need to reinstall windows.

Barry · May 10, 2003 2:39AM

I had my only virus experience a few weeks ago, at the office.
This is a Win98 system that was NEVER on the Internet, in its 3-4 years of existence. It came preloaded with McAfee. We had to update IE to V6 for an application we were installing. So, the computer made it's first foray into cyberspace. As it was downloading megabytes of service patches, etc. from Microsoft, the virus struck. Got infected with Opavirus worm - benign as far as destructiveness, but it kept coming back after removal. Every time we connected to the Internet, the virus reappeared about every 5 minutes, though now it was instantly deleted as the virus definitions were up to date. After about 10 days of lots of reading about the worm, cleaning/scanning the system umpteen times, unbinding file/print sharing from TCP/IP (and running the network on Netbeui), sharing individual directories, rather than the C: drive, on the network, we finally got rid of it for good. I'm now a firm believer in the death penalty for virus authors

VonZipper · May 10, 2003 4:26AM

You can also go to Mcafee and get a free scan of your system if you don't have an AV program, I think it's just not updated as fast as the programs.But it's free.

Edited to note, you do have to create a free account.

McAfee Freescan

Free one from Norton. Norton Virus Check

VonZipper · May 10, 2003 4:43AM

Here is a third free virus scan from Trend Micro.

PC-Cillin

topstuf · May 10, 2003 5:01AM

Dog 97......Okay, I have my head in the oven and my ears are now gone. It hurts. Can I turn it down a little or would that screw it up?

Actually I think it must be hereditary. I...................had..............a 2nd cousin who had nerve damage to his foot and it was always cold. One day he put it in the oven and COOKED it.

Until today, I thought it was funny. Real story.

No wonder I am into coins.

Dog97 · May 10, 2003 5:06AM

Just don't put your coins in the oven, ok?

lclugza · May 10, 2003 5:14AM

The "Teddy Bear" file is JDBGMGR.EXE. Another file that is often claimed to be a virus by hoaxers-but really isn't- is SULFNBK.EXE.

wayneme · May 10, 2003 5:25AM

http://pacosdrivers.com/dll.asp
you can up load dll at this site

ms70 · May 10, 2003 5:37AM

You should be able to get someone else with the same Windows system to copy thier "teddy bear" file & e-mail it
to you. Just copy & paste it back the same spot you removed the old one from.

lordmarcovan · May 10, 2003 5:37AM

Here's a list of virus warnings and the lowdown on what's real and what's a hoax. The Klez worm is the only one that ever got my computer.

http://snopes.com/computer/virus/virus.htm

The Snopes site is fun to surf around on.

pontiacinf · May 10, 2003 5:42AM

maybe thats why you clowns need to listen to us seasoned IT professionals...goto symantec website and punch in name of any virus before trying to do something about it.

Kinda like trying to drive a car at night with no arms n legs and also blind.

abuell · May 10, 2003 5:46AM

I am forever stumped (and I'm perfectly serious here) as to why anyone would own a pc. OK, they're dirt cheap, but beyond that most everyone that I know who uses a pc is constantly fighting one virus (real or hoax) after another. In all the years that I've used a Mac I have never encountered a virus. I have a friend who is (literally!) a rocket scientist and who has used a Mac far longer than I have and knows a whole lot more about computers than I do and he has never encountered a virus. So, aside from being real cheap, what prompts people to buy pc's and put themselves through such misery?

VonZipper · May 10, 2003 5:56AM

<<<<what prompts people to buy pc's and put themselves through such misery? >>>

Software availability.

RotatedRainbows · May 10, 2003 6:02AM

I have used a PC online for six years and have never once had a virus of any kind, I also have worked with literally tens of thousands of photos (some as large as 75mb) and never had any of the problems that you always hear people say happens when you use a PC.

Duncan · May 10, 2003 6:45AM

Just "copy & paste" the file from your disc. I do not want to rubbish virus scanners but Trend Micro (pc-cillin) does not miss a thing, OTHERS DOOOOOOOOOOOO...

I work removing these things 24/7 and have pasted virus's directly into certain "Popular" scanners - NNNNNNNNNNNNN FAILED not only to detect it's presence on the pc, not seeing it when it is pegged to the scanner program is a little weak... NNNNNNNNNNNNN has missed the most Mc = nearly safe.

abuell · May 10, 2003 6:56AM

<< <i> Software availability.

>>

Aside from many video games and customized business software, what's all this software that is available for pc's but not for Macs?

clw54 · May 10, 2003 8:14AM

Switch to Linux.

66Tbird · May 10, 2003 12:44PM

I do a lot of p2p and get a worm or virus a couple of times a day. It's on a second system just for the dl thing, and with XP, AVG, trogen killer, zonealarm(not really needed) and a router, things go smooth. Once I know the stuff is clean, it's off to the surfing, gaming rig

, anyone up for some UT2K3

edit 4 spelling

Don't accidentally screw up your computer

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