Messenger Plug-in broadcasting Passwords to AOL

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jeremy Drake
  • Start date Start date
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Jeremy Drake

I'm concerned with the plug-in that AOL Instant Messenger installs into IE6.
You may have heard that AOL dissolved the privacy rights to their IM
program, but the plug-ins that came with it are broadcasting my passwords to
my hotmail, yahoo mail, and other web-based accounts. Ever since they
changed their policies my hotmail account has been comprised at least 3
times in the past month, even after a password change. I've been logged out
of msn messenger at least once with the message saying I've been logged in
elsewhere, I have also found spam being read, and important email from my
dad permantly deleted before my intervention. What I would like to know is
how do I find and remove the AIM plug-ins from ie6 and oe6 so my new
passwords don't get broadcasted?
 
Jeremy said:
I'm concerned with the plug-in that AOL Instant Messenger installs
into IE6. You may have heard that AOL dissolved the privacy rights to
their IM program, but the plug-ins that came with it are broadcasting
my passwords to my hotmail, yahoo mail, and other web-based accounts.
Ever since they changed their policies my hotmail account has been
comprised at least 3 times in the past month, even after a password
change. I've been logged out of msn messenger at least once with the
message saying I've been logged in elsewhere, I have also found spam
being read, and important email from my dad permantly deleted before
my intervention. What I would like to know is how do I find and remove
the AIM plug-ins from ie6 and oe6 so my new passwords don't get
broadcasted?
Click to expand...

Much as I dislike AOL and all their products, it is extremely unlikely
that the AIM Instant Messenger has caused your problems. It is far more
likely that you 1) downloaded something "cute" which was really a
password-stealing trojan; 2) or told your password to someone you know
or in a chat room or instant messaging "buddy". You should scan your
computer with a current antivirus (not earlier than 2004 version) using
updated definitions. Do the scan in Safe Mode.

Or take your computer to a good local professional (not a BestBuy or
CompUSA type of store) who will know what to look for. I just cleaned
off something similar on a client's machine - she had accepted a file
from an instant messaging "friend" which was a trojan and the effects
were exactly what you are describing.

BTW, I have removed your excessive amount of cross-posting and your
follow-up to a non-existent newsgroup. Please go here for information
about the proper way to cross-post:

http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

Malke
 
In response to downloading a trojan I used two up-to-date anti-virus
programs on my system and there are no infectious codes running on my
system. I uninstalled AIM then changed my passwords and everything is
running smoother now.
 
I'm concerned with the plug-in that AOL Instant Messenger installs into IE6.
You may have heard that AOL dissolved the privacy rights to their IM
program, but the plug-ins that came with it are broadcasting my passwords to
my hotmail, yahoo mail, and other web-based accounts. Ever since they
changed their policies my hotmail account has been comprised at least 3
times in the past month, even after a password change. I've been logged out
of msn messenger at least once with the message saying I've been logged in
elsewhere, I have also found spam being read, and important email from my
dad permantly deleted before my intervention. What I would like to know is
how do I find and remove the AIM plug-ins from ie6 and oe6 so my new
passwords don't get broadcasted?
Click to expand...

I have not caught AIM doing anything like that. I would suspect a keylogger,
or Trojan, or something similar is hiding aboard.
 
N. Miller said:
I have not caught AIM doing anything like that. I would suspect a keylogger,
or Trojan, or something similar is hiding aboard.
Click to expand...

Although, it can be argued that the world's most malicious virus is the
entity known as 'AOL'. Remove anything with the AOL name attached.
Always a good decision.
 
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