Vista - Highjacking

For the third time I have had to restore because something got through Norton
Internet Security. twice on XP and Now on Vista
1.) Disables Internet Security
2.) Disables Internet Access to Symantec to fix. Blocks access to site via web
3.) This time took out windows on my previous Dell XP computer and now took
out Explorer Icon from desk top and access totally on the Vista HP that I
had to buy because I could not fix Dell
4.)This time System Restore will not work using any previous dates.
5.) Can not access Myspace for my kids and I'm searching still to find other
pages it has blocked.
It has come back after using self made restore disks and I'm about to
restore with disks that HP sent but I find it hard to believe I'm the first
and I have complained to Symantec and Windows in past. They must have a
solution or someone here iI hope does before I wipe everything out again
Thanks Michael Manning

"Michael" <Michael@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:76E18FFB-90F1-4552-8D3E-BDA0B3B81D80@microsoft.com...
> For the third time I have had to restore because something got through
> Norton
> Internet Security. twice on XP and Now on Vista
> 1.) Disables Internet Security
> 2.) Disables Internet Access to Symantec to fix. Blocks access to site via
> web
> 3.) This time took out windows on my previous Dell XP computer and now
> took
> out Explorer Icon from desk top and access totally on the Vista HP that I
> had to buy because I could not fix Dell
> 4.)This time System Restore will not work using any previous dates.
> 5.) Can not access Myspace for my kids and I'm searching still to find
> other
> pages it has blocked.
> It has come back after using self made restore disks and I'm about to
> restore with disks that HP sent but I find it hard to believe I'm the
> first
> and I have complained to Symantec and Windows in past. They must have a
> solution or someone here iI hope does before I wipe everything out again
> Thanks Michael Manning

Antivirus programs are always chasing a moving target. There are always
viruses they don't know about. As they update the signatures the virus
writers change their code. The solution is to figure out where the viruses
are coming from then change your behaviour to eliminate the source.

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca

Michael wrote:
> For the third time I have had to restore because something got through Norton
> Internet Security. twice on XP and Now on Vista
> 1.) Disables Internet Security
> 2.) Disables Internet Access to Symantec to fix. Blocks access to site via web
> 3.) This time took out windows on my previous Dell XP computer and now took
> out Explorer Icon from desk top and access totally on the Vista HP that I
> had to buy because I could not fix Dell
> 4.)This time System Restore will not work using any previous dates.
> 5.) Can not access Myspace for my kids and I'm searching still to find other
> pages it has blocked.
> It has come back after using self made restore disks and I'm about to
> restore with disks that HP sent but I find it hard to believe I'm the first
> and I have complained to Symantec and Windows in past. They must have a
> solution or someone here iI hope does before I wipe everything out again
> Thanks Michael Manning

The solution is for you and/or your family to stop doing whatever it is
you're doing that is installing malware. Since you didn't give any
details about what the "something" is that "got through", I can't give
you more specific help. This is definitely something that you and/or
your family members are doing because under normal circumstances,
Windows users practicing "Safe Hex" don't have the problems you are
experiencing. The fact that the behavior persists in different operating
systems supports that. My Windows users (boys 14 and 18) use their
computers every day to the fullest and their machines don't get infected.

Safe Hex:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=27971 - So How Did I Get
Infected Anyway?
http://www.getsafeonline.org/
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_R...:_Introduction
http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron.../05/82584.aspx - MVP
Harry Waldron - The Family PC - How to stay safe on the Internet
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm - Eric Howes on
Rogue Antispyware Programs
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/default.mspx - Protect Your PC
http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/ - Home Computer Security
http://tinyurl.com/n9trw - 10 Immutable Laws of Security - MS TechNet
article

I'm sorry that this is not what you wanted to hear, but if you can give
more details about what "got through" and the symptoms, I might be able
to tell you what is happening. The alternative is to have a reputable
computer professional come on-site and take a look. Sometimes hands-on
is necessary. Example - I had a client who told me that she had
clean-installed Windows three times and each time "someone hacked into
her computer". When I examined the machine and what she was installing
afterwards, it turned out that after each clean install she was
installing a "sound program" given her by "a friend". The "sound
program" was a trojan that turned her computer into a zombie.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Thanks Kerry, But I reported this three years ago when i had a Gateway and I
would think others have had this problem also. I have spent probably twenty
or more hours on Symantec and Gateway/Dell Support lines trying to fix and
the Dell lost Windows and did not come with a disk for me to load windows nor
did i have access codes . I had to buy a new computer and now the HP was hit.
Dell said I had home page highjacking and that when it progressed. I'm at the
point where I believe Symantec has gotten to large to care anymore.
Thanks again and look forward to more replies.

Michael Manning
"Kerry Brown" wrote:

> "Michael" <Michael@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:76E18FFB-90F1-4552-8D3E-BDA0B3B81D80@microsoft.com...
> > For the third time I have had to restore because something got through
> > Norton
> > Internet Security. twice on XP and Now on Vista
> > 1.) Disables Internet Security
> > 2.) Disables Internet Access to Symantec to fix. Blocks access to site via
> > web
> > 3.) This time took out windows on my previous Dell XP computer and now
> > took
> > out Explorer Icon from desk top and access totally on the Vista HP that I
> > had to buy because I could not fix Dell
> > 4.)This time System Restore will not work using any previous dates.
> > 5.) Can not access Myspace for my kids and I'm searching still to find
> > other
> > pages it has blocked.
> > It has come back after using self made restore disks and I'm about to
> > restore with disks that HP sent but I find it hard to believe I'm the
> > first
> > and I have complained to Symantec and Windows in past. They must have a
> > solution or someone here iI hope does before I wipe everything out again
> > Thanks Michael Manning
>
> Antivirus programs are always chasing a moving target. There are always
> viruses they don't know about. As they update the signatures the virus
> writers change their code. The solution is to figure out where the viruses
> are coming from then change your behaviour to eliminate the source.
>
> --
> Kerry Brown
> Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
> http://www.vistahelp.ca
>
>

Thats the problem..Symantec and Windows can not tell me whats causing this.
I'm hoping someone else has this problem and can identify what its is, where
it came from and a solution,
Thanks and nothing will be taken personal.... I have no problem eating crow
if I'm wrong.

"Malke" wrote:

> Michael wrote:
> > For the third time I have had to restore because something got through Norton
> > Internet Security. twice on XP and Now on Vista
> > 1.) Disables Internet Security
> > 2.) Disables Internet Access to Symantec to fix. Blocks access to site via web
> > 3.) This time took out windows on my previous Dell XP computer and now took
> > out Explorer Icon from desk top and access totally on the Vista HP that I
> > had to buy because I could not fix Dell
> > 4.)This time System Restore will not work using any previous dates.
> > 5.) Can not access Myspace for my kids and I'm searching still to find other
> > pages it has blocked.
> > It has come back after using self made restore disks and I'm about to
> > restore with disks that HP sent but I find it hard to believe I'm the first
> > and I have complained to Symantec and Windows in past. They must have a
> > solution or someone here iI hope does before I wipe everything out again
> > Thanks Michael Manning
>
> The solution is for you and/or your family to stop doing whatever it is
> you're doing that is installing malware. Since you didn't give any
> details about what the "something" is that "got through", I can't give
> you more specific help. This is definitely something that you and/or
> your family members are doing because under normal circumstances,
> Windows users practicing "Safe Hex" don't have the problems you are
> experiencing. The fact that the behavior persists in different operating
> systems supports that. My Windows users (boys 14 and 18) use their
> computers every day to the fullest and their machines don't get infected.
>
> Safe Hex:
> http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=27971 - So How Did I Get
> Infected Anyway?
> http://www.getsafeonline.org/
> http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_R...:_Introduction
> http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html
> http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
> http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron.../05/82584.aspx - MVP
> Harry Waldron - The Family PC - How to stay safe on the Internet
> http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm - Eric Howes on
> Rogue Antispyware Programs
> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/default.mspx - Protect Your PC
> http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/ - Home Computer Security
> http://tinyurl.com/n9trw - 10 Immutable Laws of Security - MS TechNet
> article
>
> I'm sorry that this is not what you wanted to hear, but if you can give
> more details about what "got through" and the symptoms, I might be able
> to tell you what is happening. The alternative is to have a reputable
> computer professional come on-site and take a look. Sometimes hands-on
> is necessary. Example - I had a client who told me that she had
> clean-installed Windows three times and each time "someone hacked into
> her computer". When I examined the machine and what she was installing
> afterwards, it turned out that after each clean install she was
> installing a "sound program" given her by "a friend". The "sound
> program" was a trojan that turned her computer into a zombie.
>
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>

Thanks Malke, and you are correct a professional is probably my best choice.
For others I also had Application failed to initiallize 0x80010005 with
Windows
Defender on every boot.

"Michael" wrote:

> Thats the problem..Symantec and Windows can not tell me whats causing this.
> I'm hoping someone else has this problem and can identify what its is, where
> it came from and a solution,
> Thanks and nothing will be taken personal.... I have no problem eating crow
> if I'm wrong.
>
> "Malke" wrote:
>
> > Michael wrote:
> > > For the third time I have had to restore because something got through Norton
> > > Internet Security. twice on XP and Now on Vista
> > > 1.) Disables Internet Security
> > > 2.) Disables Internet Access to Symantec to fix. Blocks access to site via web
> > > 3.) This time took out windows on my previous Dell XP computer and now took
> > > out Explorer Icon from desk top and access totally on the Vista HP that I
> > > had to buy because I could not fix Dell
> > > 4.)This time System Restore will not work using any previous dates.
> > > 5.) Can not access Myspace for my kids and I'm searching still to find other
> > > pages it has blocked.
> > > It has come back after using self made restore disks and I'm about to
> > > restore with disks that HP sent but I find it hard to believe I'm the first
> > > and I have complained to Symantec and Windows in past. They must have a
> > > solution or someone here iI hope does before I wipe everything out again
> > > Thanks Michael Manning
> >
> > The solution is for you and/or your family to stop doing whatever it is
> > you're doing that is installing malware. Since you didn't give any
> > details about what the "something" is that "got through", I can't give
> > you more specific help. This is definitely something that you and/or
> > your family members are doing because under normal circumstances,
> > Windows users practicing "Safe Hex" don't have the problems you are
> > experiencing. The fact that the behavior persists in different operating
> > systems supports that. My Windows users (boys 14 and 18) use their
> > computers every day to the fullest and their machines don't get infected.
> >
> > Safe Hex:
> > http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=27971 - So How Did I Get
> > Infected Anyway?
> > http://www.getsafeonline.org/
> > http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_R...:_Introduction
> > http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html
> > http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
> > http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron.../05/82584.aspx - MVP
> > Harry Waldron - The Family PC - How to stay safe on the Internet
> > http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm - Eric Howes on
> > Rogue Antispyware Programs
> > http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/default.mspx - Protect Your PC
> > http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/ - Home Computer Security
> > http://tinyurl.com/n9trw - 10 Immutable Laws of Security - MS TechNet
> > article
> >
> > I'm sorry that this is not what you wanted to hear, but if you can give
> > more details about what "got through" and the symptoms, I might be able
> > to tell you what is happening. The alternative is to have a reputable
> > computer professional come on-site and take a look. Sometimes hands-on
> > is necessary. Example - I had a client who told me that she had
> > clean-installed Windows three times and each time "someone hacked into
> > her computer". When I examined the machine and what she was installing
> > afterwards, it turned out that after each clean install she was
> > installing a "sound program" given her by "a friend". The "sound
> > program" was a trojan that turned her computer into a zombie.
> >
> >
> > Malke
> > --
> > Elephant Boy Computers
> > www.elephantboycomputers.com
> > "Don't Panic!"
> > MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
> >

Michael wrote:
> Thats the problem..Symantec and Windows can not tell me whats causing this.
> I'm hoping someone else has this problem and can identify what its is, where
> it came from and a solution,
> Thanks and nothing will be taken personal.... I have no problem eating crow
> if I'm wrong.

Well, I didn't say what I did to make you eat crow or to hurt your
feelings. I hope you know that. Seriously, having a professional come
on-site is probably a good idea and I'm glad you agree. If I could see
the behavior, see what is happening, I'd be able to identify the malware
and identification can give clues as to how you are getting infected.
Since I can't, consult with someone who can. Ask friends and colleagues
for the name of someone they trust. This won't be your local version of
BigComputerStore/GeekSquad.

Also, sometimes there is behavior on the computer that is weird and
perplexing to the user but not actually coming from malware. I just had
a client here yesterday who was complaining about stuff going wrong. I
won't bore you with the details, but short story is that he was doing
something peculiar without realizing it and it was no surprise that he
was getting wonky results.

In the meantime, do take a look at some of the links I gave you about
"Safe Hex". In particular, these two may answer some questions for you:

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=27971 - So How Did I Get
Infected Anyway?
http://www.getsafeonline.org/


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

"Michael" <Michael@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:BFDB42AC-F728-4137-B72E-D8490EDF323B@microsoft.com...
> Thats the problem..Symantec and Windows can not tell me whats causing
> this.
> I'm hoping someone else has this problem and can identify what its is,
> where
> it came from and a solution,
> Thanks and nothing will be taken personal.... I have no problem eating
> crow
> if I'm wrong.
>


A lot of people have this problem. That's why antivirus programs exist :-)

The malware is getting on your computer because of something you or someone
who uses the computer is doing. It could be you are going to an unsafe
website. It could be you are downloading and running files from a malicious
site or P2P network. It could be you are just extremely unlucky and have
accidently gone to a hacked web site on more than one occasion. The point is
you can't rely on Symantec or any other software to give you 100%
protection. Think of it like protecting your car. An alarm and a steering
lock device will stop most thefts. Parking your car in a deserted lot in the
wrong part of town will still get the car stolen or vandalized. Check out
the links Malke posted. Read through them carefully. If you follow the
guidelines in the links you may still get infected but the odds of this
happening are greatly reduced.

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca