Never Download from Suggest Virus Sites

[Guest]

I've been reading this site for a while now and was of the understanding the
people with the (MVP) designation were trusted by Microsoft and gave reliable
info. Well I downloaded some anti Ad-Ware software from one of the sites that
they often give links to and not only was it a POS but it actually infected
my system with a proggy called "Power Scan"

I have anti spyware software already and I scanned before and after
downloading this software. Before the download and installation my system was
clean. After download and install I had been infected.

I'm never going to go to any sites suggested by anyone on the board. I
believe that the anti virus and spyware software I bought work just fine and
I'm going to resist the urge to have a multitude of virus removal tools.

I only hope that my current software found all of the pesky viri that this
software infected my system with.

Thanks for nothing. Mike

 

[neil]

So what site was it, we may all need to be "aware" of this program.
Neil

 

[Guest]

The name of the software is:

Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition v.1.06

It is on the site:

WWW.Downloads.com

The proggy it put on my puter is called:

"Power Scan"

Mike

 

[Guest]

I've been using Ad-Aware on two of my computers for some time now and my
system have never been infected. Must of been a mirror site that you
downloaded it from.

 

[Guest]

No it wasn't... I clicked the link an (MVP) placed on a response.

 

[Guest]

Do you any other brand of anti spyware? If you don't how do you know you are
not infected?

 

[Guest]

I have Norton Internet Security, Lavasoft Ad-Aware, Spybot Search And
Destroy, Microsoft Anti-Spyware, CCleaner, and X-Cleaner. I do scans at least
3-4 times a week and have Norton anit-virus scan schedule to run weekly
(sometimes I run it twice a week).

 

[Guest]

And I also run scans in safe mode.

 

[Fitz]

I've used Ad-Aware for years and never had a problem with it as have untold
numbers of other people. I've found it to be a valuable tool and always
keep it updated.

Google showed this:
-----------------------------------
PowerScan

Overview
PowerScan has been around for some time, advertised through in ordinary web
pop-ups, but recently it started to install with help from the the ISTBar
adware.

The following data is found inside powerscan.exe after unpacking it with
UPX: "http://www.power-scan.com/remove.html ..
http://www.slotch.com/ist/scripts/ist_shortcuts_jump.php?fav_id=209 ..
www.power-scan.com .. (c) 2003 Integrated Search Technologies"

PowerScan has been installed with little notice along with ABC Scrabble.
-----------------------------------

It is unlikely that this was installed with a genuine version of Ad-Aware.
Ad-Aware can be downloaded from the developer's website at
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/. I would always download from
the developer's website.

***

 

[Robert Moir]

I've been reading this site for a while now and was of the
understanding the people with the (MVP) designation were trusted by
Microsoft and gave reliable info. Well I downloaded some anti Ad-Ware
software from one of the sites that they often give links to and not
only was it a POS but it actually infected my system with a proggy
called "Power Scan"

Ok first of all, it may surprise you to learn that while all MVPs do try to
give good advice, we are actually all human beings much like you. We make
mistakes. We have opinions that may not always agree with yours (I for one
wouldn't describe Ad Aware as a "POS", for example). We don't always agree
with each other. However I'm sure that each person helping in these
newsgroups, MVP or not, is trying their best.

One would hope you consider all advice before proceeding on it... if you
visited your doctor one day to help with a broken finger and he suggested
amputating your arm, would you say "Ok, let me help you find a sharp saw!"
or would you wonder if they needed a vacation and ask for a second opinion?

Secondly, while you'll probably either ignore my post or pour scorn on me
for daring to contradict you, I'm willing to bet that your issue did not
stem from downloading a legitimate copy of Ad Aware.

I'm glad you're not going to have a multitude of tools on your system
because this is one of the more likely explanations for your problem as it
happens; these tools tend not to play well together and one will often cause
another to "false alarm".

Oh one more thing: the plural of Virus is "Viruses". Not Viri.
http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/v/virus.html

--

 

[neil]

I use Adaware SE 1.06 all the time along with spybot. There isn't and never
has been any problem on my PC. The link to www.download.com is the download
location used by lavasoft to distribute their free version of the software.

Neil

 

[HillBillyBuddhist]

The name of the software is:

Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition v.1.06

It is on the site:

WWW.Downloads.com

The proggy it put on my puter is called:

"Power Scan"

Mike

A.) Anybody can put an MVP behind their name. (though I think it would be a
*big* mistake to make the claim without the genuine Bona fides)

B.) Lavasofts AdAware is a reputable program used by myself and hundreds of
thousands (millions?) of people daily. I have never heard of a single case
of it causing any sort of infection. C|Nets downloads.com is a reputable
host. If what you think happened was actually happening it would be news.

3.) I know you think you're right but, it is much more likely that there is
another explanation.

--
D

I'm not an MVP a VIP nor do I have ESP.
I was just trying to help.
Please use your own best judgment before implementing any suggestions or
advice herein.
No warranty is expressed or implied.
Your mileage may vary.
See store for details.

Remove shoes to E-mail.

 

[HillBillyBuddhist]

I wanted to add (least my first comment be misconstrued) I have nothing but
the utmost respect for the MVPs that serve these groups. They provide an
invaluable level of support to end users the likes of which can hardly be
had from "for pay" levels of support. They do so out of the goodness of
their hearts and without remuneration. (save the gratitude and admiration of
their peers and those they serve)

Are they sometimes wrong? Sure. If you've never been by all means hurl a
rock.

--
D

I'm not an MVP a VIP nor do I have ESP.
I was just trying to help.
Please use your own best judgment before implementing any suggestions or
advice herein.
No warranty is expressed or implied.
Your mileage may vary.
See store for details.

Remove shoes to E-mail.

 

[Kerry Brown]

I have Norton Internet Security, Lavasoft Ad-Aware, Spybot Search And
Destroy, Microsoft Anti-Spyware, CCleaner, and X-Cleaner. I do scans at
least
3-4 times a week and have Norton anit-virus scan schedule to run weekly
(sometimes I run it twice a week).

You aren't making sense here. You say you have Ad-Aware and run weekly
scans. Earlier you said you were downloading Ad-Aware and got infected with
spyware. Something doesn't add up. I download Ad-Aware from www.download.com
several times a week for customers. I have never seen it infect a computer
with spyware. There is a problem with www.download.com if you are not
careful. If you search for Ad-Aware the top of the screen will be filled
with paid advertising. If you download some of those programs you will be
infected with spyware. Some of them use names very close to Ad-Aware like
Adware or Ad-Away etc.

Kerry

 

[Guest]

Ok first of all, it may surprise you to learn that while all MVPs do try to
give good advice, we are actually all human beings much like you. We make
mistakes. We have opinions that may not always agree with yours (I for one
wouldn't describe Ad Aware as a "POS", for example). We don't always agree
with each other. However I'm sure that each person helping in these
newsgroups, MVP or not, is trying their best.

One would hope you consider all advice before proceeding on it... if you
visited your doctor one day to help with a broken finger and he suggested
amputating your arm, would you say "Ok, let me help you find a sharp saw!"
or would you wonder if they needed a vacation and ask for a second opinion?

Secondly, while you'll probably either ignore my post or pour scorn on me
for daring to contradict you, I'm willing to bet that your issue did not
stem from downloading a legitimate copy of Ad Aware.

I'm glad you're not going to have a multitude of tools on your system
because this is one of the more likely explanations for your problem as it
happens; these tools tend not to play well together and one will often cause
another to "false alarm".

Oh one more thing: the plural of Virus is "Viruses". Not Viri.
http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/v/virus.html

--
--
Rob Moir
Website - http://www.robertmoir.co.uk
Virtual PC 2004 FAQ - http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/VirtualPC2004FAQ.html
Kazaa - Software update services for your Viruses and Spyware.

And another thing...
I am not a MVP, however I am Microsoft Certified and I have posted advice
here. One thing I try to do is make sure to caution anyone that any changes
to their system by definition means they must take precautions to prevent
data loss. (i.e., backup)

Rob hit it right on the nose. We all try to do what we can, but we are not
sitting in front of any user's computer who posts here, nor do we always get
the full picture about an issue.

Rob also makes the excellent point that anyone who is searching for a
solution to a computer problem needs to make every attempt to thouroughly
research the issue. Users who post here asking for advise are more in need
of a direction to look for the problem, more than the solution itself.

Blaming someone else for a system failure on their own computer is foolish
and reveals that user's lack of knowledge and experience.

A competant computer user will do all they can to research a problem
themselves and should *never* lash out at those giving their advise freely.

 

[mem]

You are a prime example of why I offer direct links to download those files
from my website. Those so called "trusted sites" can't be trusted. What
happened to you I see it all the time. MVP's and idiots like Leythos are too
arrogant to realize this type of problem and because they are inexperienced
in the causes cures and symptoms of spyware/malware.

 

[S. Taylor]

Michael C. had the problem not Javi.

You aren't making sense here. You say you have Ad-Aware and run weekly
scans. Earlier you said you were downloading Ad-Aware and got infected
with spyware. Something doesn't add up. I download Ad-Aware from
www.download.com several times a week for customers. I have never seen it
infect a computer with spyware. There is a problem with www.download.com
if you are not careful. If you search for Ad-Aware the top of the screen
will be filled with paid advertising. If you download some of those
programs you will be infected with spyware. Some of them use names very
close to Ad-Aware like Adware or Ad-Away etc.

Kerry

 

[Kerry Brown]

Michael C. had the problem not Javi.

You're right, sorry my mistake.

Kerry

 

[Leythos]

You are a prime example of why I offer direct links to download those files
from my website. Those so called "trusted sites" can't be trusted. What
happened to you I see it all the time. MVP's and idiots like Leythos are too
arrogant to realize this type of problem and because they are inexperienced
in the causes cures and symptoms of spyware/malware.

Direct links to the VENDORS sites are what many of us (myself including)
post here. Hosting the vendors files on your personal website, against
the permission of the vendor, and without a proper mirror, teaches
ignorant users bad practices - as it's a serious security risk.

Oh, and you've got to be an troll to think that I don't do a lot of
cleaning of malware on many systems and environments.

 

[Leythos]

You are a prime example of why I offer direct links to download those files
from my website. Those so called "trusted sites" can't be trusted. What
happened to you I see it all the time. MVP's and idiots like Leythos are too
arrogant to realize this type of problem and because they are inexperienced
in the causes cures and symptoms of spyware/malware.

Dang, I should have checked before, nice trolling PCBUTTHEAD!

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