I clicked on a link, and a software started scanning my hard disk! A
gray box appears, and asked me to press OK to scan or Cancel to abort.
I clicked Cancel, but the program started scanning my hard disk. I
stopped the program using Task Manager. This problem happened to me
with various websites. Did it happen to you? Thanks.

On Dec 28, 9:30*am, "mikesmith9...@hotmail.com"
<mikesmith9...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I clicked on a link, and a software started scanning my hard disk! A
> gray box appears, and asked me to press OK to scan or Cancel to abort.
> I clicked Cancel, but the program started scanning my hard disk. I
> stopped the program using Task Manager. This problem happened to me
> with various websites. Did it happen to you? Thanks.

The grey box told me something like "Your computer may be at risk to
harmful virus, it's important to scan your computer once in a while".
So it presents itself as a legitimate anti-virus software.

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:455698f3-efb9-48c9-890d-(E-Mail Removed)...
On Dec 28, 9:30 am, "mikesmith9...@hotmail.com"
<mikesmith9...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I clicked on a link, and a software started scanning my hard disk! A
> gray box appears, and asked me to press OK to scan or Cancel to abort.
> I clicked Cancel, but the program started scanning my hard disk. I
> stopped the program using Task Manager. This problem happened to me
> with various websites. Did it happen to you? Thanks.

The grey box told me something like "Your computer may be at risk to
harmful virus, it's important to scan your computer once in a while".
So it presents itself as a legitimate anti-virus software.


Total scam and malware

don't go to that site again!

From: <(E-Mail Removed)>

| On Dec 28, 9:30 am, "mikesmith9...@hotmail.com"
| <mikesmith9...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> I clicked on a link, and a software started scanning my hard disk! A
>> gray box appears, and asked me to press OK to scan or Cancel to abort.
>> I clicked Cancel, but the program started scanning my hard disk. I
>> stopped the program using Task Manager. This problem happened to me
>> with various websites. Did it happen to you? Thanks.

| The grey box told me something like "Your computer may be at risk to
| harmful virus, it's important to scan your computer once in a while".
| So it presents itself as a legitimate anti-virus software.

This is a malicious website creating a web page that appears as a as an anti virus program
in an effort for you to download malware.

Avoid this and other types of sites!

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

On Dec 28, 10:02*am, "David H. Lipman" <DLipman~nosp...@Verizon.Net>
wrote:
> From: <mikesmith9...@hotmail.com>
>
> | On Dec 28, 9:30 am, "mikesmith9...@hotmail.com"
>
> | <mikesmith9...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >> I clicked on a link, and a software started scanning my hard disk! A
> >> gray box appears, and asked me to press OK to scan or Cancel to abort.
> >> I clicked Cancel, but the program started scanning my hard disk. I
> >> stopped the program using Task Manager. This problem happened to me
> >> with various websites. Did it happen to you? Thanks.
>
> | The grey box told me something like "Your computer may be at risk to
> | harmful virus, it's important to scan your computer once in a while".
> | So it presents itself as a legitimate anti-virus software.
>
> This is a malicious website creating a web page that appears as a as an anti virus program
> in an effort for you to download malware.
>
> Avoid this and other types of sites!
>
> --
> Davehttp://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
> Multi-AV -http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

In this case it's not even a website advertising as a virus software
company. It was about food!! The time before, a website about dogs.

Chances are that you're seeing the affects of a hijackware infection.

1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/ma...e/default.mspx

2. Run this online scan (in safe mode w/networking, if need be):
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm

3. Run additional checks for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis
log to an appropriate forum.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware

When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use (in
conjuction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix anything on
its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachi...php?board=10.0,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or another appropriate forum for review
by an expert in such matters, not here.**

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> I clicked on a link, and a software started scanning my hard disk! A
> gray box appears, and asked me to press OK to scan or Cancel to abort.
> I clicked Cancel, but the program started scanning my hard disk. I
> stopped the program using Task Manager. This problem happened to me
> with various websites. Did it happen to you? Thanks.

From: <(E-Mail Removed)>


| In this case it's not even a website advertising as a virus software
| company. It was about food!! The time before, a website about dogs.

This can be caused by a malicious Flash (SWF) in what's called malvertisements that
redirect you to the malicious website.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

On Dec 28, 10:30*am, "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABear...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Chances are that you're seeing the affects of a hijackware infection.
>
> 1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:http://www.microsoft.com/security/ma...e/default.mspx
>
> 2. Run this online scan (in safe mode w/networking, if need be):http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm
>
> 3. Run additional checks for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis
> log to an appropriate forum.
>
> Checking for/Help with Hijackwarehttp://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
> * *http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
> * *http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=587...prevention.htm
> * *http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot....moving_Malware
>
> When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
> (http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use (in
> conjuction with some other utilities). *HijackThis will NOT fix anything on
> its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any
> hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. ***Post your log tohttp://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,http://forums.spybot.info/forumdispl...forum.php?f=30, or another appropriate forum for review
> by an expert in such matters, not here.**
>
> If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
> isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
> independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> AumHa VSOP & Adminhttp://aumha.net
> DTS-Lhttp://dts-l.net/
>
>
>
> mikesmith9...@hotmail.com wrote:
> > I clicked on a link, and a software started scanning my hard disk! A
> > gray box appears, and asked me to press OK to scan or Cancel to abort.
> > I clicked Cancel, but the program started scanning my hard disk. I
> > stopped the program using Task Manager. This problem happened to me
> > with various websites. Did it happen to you? Thanks.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks for your help PA Bear. After thinking I could be infested, I
decided to reformat the hard disk and reinstall XP. That turned out
bad because even though I
could format the disk, I can no longer install XP. At the "39 minutes
remaining to XP installation" mark, the hard disk red light is steady
on, and the computer no longer
does anything. I guess I need to bring my computer to an expert. I may
buy a new hard disk, but it won't help if it is something else.

On Dec 28, 10:42*am, "David H. Lipman" <DLipman~nosp...@Verizon.Net>
wrote:
> From: <mikesmith9...@hotmail.com>
>
> | In this case it's not even a website advertising as a virus software
> | company. It was about food!! The time before, a website about dogs.
>
> This can be caused by a malicious Flash (SWF) in what's called malvertisements that
> redirect you to the malicious website.
>
> --
> Davehttp://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
> Multi-AV -http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

I remember going to a website that has a collection of photos. The
hard disk light was extremely active. I thought at that time that it
was because there were a lot of pictures to download. Now I'm thinking
that someone was scanning my stuff remotely or installing programs on
my computer. Is it possible? Once I got of this photo archive website,
the light stop flashing.

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:3626fd1b-aaf9-4957-a5ae-(E-Mail Removed)...

Thanks for your help PA Bear. After thinking I could be infested, I
decided to reformat the hard disk and reinstall XP. That turned out
bad because even though I
could format the disk, I can no longer install XP. At the "39 minutes
remaining to XP installation" mark, the hard disk red light is steady
on, and the computer no longer
does anything. I guess I need to bring my computer to an expert. I may
buy a new hard disk, but it won't help if it is something else.
===============
To install Windows XP, do this:
1. Reboot the machine and get into your BIOS. To do so you need to press the
Delete key on many machines. If this does not work, read the manual that
came with your PC.
2. Go to the Boot menu.
3. Make the CD drive the primary boot device.
4. Exit/Save.
5. Boot the machine with your WinXP CD.
6. Follow the prompts.
The above assumes that you have saved your important data files (including
your EMail files) to an independent medium.

You previously wrote this: [The grey box told me something like "Your
computer may be at risk to harmful virus, it's important to scan your
computer once in a while". So it presents itself as a legitimate anti-virus
software.] Think of little children: They are explicitly warned about
accepting sweets from strangers, for exactly the same reason as you should
not click a link just because it says "Click here - it's good for your PC".
Pause for a moment and think: "Do I really want to trust a completely
unknown site?"