JPEG Exploit

[Guest]

I am using Vista Home Premium/Windows Firewall/Defender/Spybot S&d/Ad-aware
2007/Avast! Free.

I have just run the Avast! scanner manually and it has found the
MS04-028JPEG Exploit. I have followed the recommended action and moved the
four files to the 'chest'.

I am almost paranoid about system security and am concerned why this
happened and what damage it may have done.

I would welcome some advice please.

 

[Guest]

That's a three-year old exploit that significantly predates Windows Vista.
Unless you have upgraded your computer from XP and the malware was on it from
then, it's pretty unlikely that this can have any negative effects at all.

Running three different anti-spyware programs sounds like a bit of overkill
though. It would also significantly slow down the computer.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Jesper,
My computer is a brand new HP laptop which came with Vista.

 

[Guest]

I'd say you probably don't have much to worry about then. You probably hit
some web page that was hosting the exploit and one of the anti-malware
programs detected it. It wouldn't have any impact on your computer anyway,
but you want to be careful where you surf. You may run into something one day
that does impact your computer.

BTW, you should really rethink having three different anti-spyware programs
on your computer.

 

[Guest]

Reply for Jesper
If you check what others say, you will find that you can have as many 'on
demand' anti-spware appn running as you want! You should have several because
what one misses the other will pick up etc

--
Martin

I'd say you probably don't have much to worry about then. You probably hit
some web page that was hosting the exploit and one of the anti-malware
programs detected it. It wouldn't have any impact on your computer anyway,
but you want to be careful where you surf. You may run into something one day
that does impact your computer.

BTW, you should really rethink having three different anti-spyware programs
on your computer.

 

[Guest]

I'm aware of what others say. I'm also aware that the anti-malware industry
is very keen to have their products represented as a necessity on every
system, regardless of the use case or what the system is being used for.
Consider the source of those claims.

It is unlikely that multiple anti-spyware solution would render your system
unstable the way multiple anti-virus or firewalls would, but it still is not
likely to make it more responsive.

 

[Guest]

When I mentioned others, I meant on these forums eg Robinb etc. (Try
inserting this name in the search area for Spyware). It is true that having
several anti-spyware appns might slow down the system a little, but I would
rather have a slower system than an infected one!

 

[Guest]

Fair enough. Yes, there are definitely those that recommend it. I don't. I
think it is more overhead than the benefit is worth unless you engage in very
risky surfing behavior. If you do, it would be better to surf in a VM and
kill the VM when you are done.

Everyone certainly is entitled to their own opinions though.

 

[Mark]

1. Find a clean stable point with your configuration and make a full backup.
2. Remove all the anti-virus, firewall, spyware, spam detection garbage.
3. Keep your data files on a second drive.
4. Get a router and turn on it's firewall.

Enjoy the speed!
IF you get infected, restore your backup.
Occassionally run Spybot (or whatever) to remove advertisement garbage.
One virus in 30 years does not warrant the cost or overhead of these
programs.
Use common sense.