How embarrassing!
Mar. 30th, 2011 10:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
windlionSo! I apparently somehow stumbled into the Google Redirect Virus in the past few days. I was briefly terrified and wondering why the hell google image searches of osprey and whooping cranes were sending me to "YOU MIGHT BE INFECTED! VIRUS SCAN!" pages that were apparently attempting to scan my computer (even if it might just have been an animated gif fake out). I had a bit of a panicky "Augh, close window, damn you!" while being careful about reading the pop-ups that they produced. Nothing dubious was clicked on, I think! That was . . . interesting.
I promptly ran Avast, hit up internet forums, deleted my temp files, updated Spybot, and downloaded about three different anti-virus programs. (Hitman Pro, Ccleaner, TDSSKiller, to be precise.) As best I can tell, I am currently clean, though word is that you can wipe your temp files and then see it reinstall itself from some hidden nook or cranny. Hence, TDSSKiller is apparently a stone cold bastard about locating hidden files. Also, CCleaner is what you run when you really, really want to hide that Illicit Dubious Download/Sextape/Atomic Bomb Plans that you had. Super-heavy-duty "Cleans until its GONE" deleting program. I like overkill. If it comes back, there's a chance it might be in my router; there's at least 3 Ipads, an Itouch, 2 Iphones, two laptops and another PC that swing through here on the same router and god only knows which one of us hit that landmine. (I am tempted to blame myself for opening IE so I could have gmail open in two browsers. I know, I know. That's practically asking for it. If it's any consolation prize, I now have Chrome as a third browser option, so that'll do.)
On the upside, I deleted at least 2 gigs of temp files, a baker's dozen of more-or-less benign tracking cookies, and my browser now runs significantly faster. I pretty much never get viruses/malware that I'm aware of, so that was . . . rare. It's somewhat mortifying, like a venereal disease. (What /is/ that and how did it get there?! Obviously I wasn't safe enough! Kill it with fire!)
Practice safe-interneting, children.
I promptly ran Avast, hit up internet forums, deleted my temp files, updated Spybot, and downloaded about three different anti-virus programs. (Hitman Pro, Ccleaner, TDSSKiller, to be precise.) As best I can tell, I am currently clean, though word is that you can wipe your temp files and then see it reinstall itself from some hidden nook or cranny. Hence, TDSSKiller is apparently a stone cold bastard about locating hidden files. Also, CCleaner is what you run when you really, really want to hide that Illicit Dubious Download/Sextape/Atomic Bomb Plans that you had. Super-heavy-duty "Cleans until its GONE" deleting program. I like overkill. If it comes back, there's a chance it might be in my router; there's at least 3 Ipads, an Itouch, 2 Iphones, two laptops and another PC that swing through here on the same router and god only knows which one of us hit that landmine. (I am tempted to blame myself for opening IE so I could have gmail open in two browsers. I know, I know. That's practically asking for it. If it's any consolation prize, I now have Chrome as a third browser option, so that'll do.)
On the upside, I deleted at least 2 gigs of temp files, a baker's dozen of more-or-less benign tracking cookies, and my browser now runs significantly faster. I pretty much never get viruses/malware that I'm aware of, so that was . . . rare. It's somewhat mortifying, like a venereal disease. (What /is/ that and how did it get there?! Obviously I wasn't safe enough! Kill it with fire!)
Practice safe-interneting, children.
