W32/Spybot.worm.gen

[Linda]

Trojan Remover and Pc-cillin both failed to detect this shit in spite
of the fact that they are both up-to-date versions with the latest
virus patterns. As a result, my Windows XP got infected and the system
functions like msconfig and task manager were messed up.

Based on the advice of a friend, I installed Mcafee which immediately
located the shit -- a .scr file.

Wren

 

[Nick FitzGerald]

Trojan Remover and Pc-cillin both failed to detect this shit in spite
of the fact that they are both up-to-date versions with the latest
virus patterns. ...

Well, what do you expect?

a ".gen" on the end of a McAfee detection means that it was detected with
one of NAI's "generic" detection drivers. What that means is that the
driver is designed to (hopefully) detect new variants of whatever and/or
to detect other stuff that is probably "quite like some of the things
known to be in this family". Of course, this approach is inherently more
likely to false alarm...

... As a result, my Windows XP got infected and the system
functions like msconfig and task manager were messed up.

No.

Your machine got infected because you chsoe to run some dodgy shite that
your scanner did not detect. That is not the scanner's fault, but yours.

What did you run?

where did it come from?

What was it offered to you as?

Without even knowing the answers to these questions I am quite confident
I can add the question "Are you really that naive/gullible?".

Based on the advice of a friend, I installed Mcafee which immediately
located the shit -- a .scr file.

How nice for you...

Of course, anyone who took any responsibility for the shit they run on
their computers would not have run it in the first place so this
discussion would not have been "necessary"...

 

[FromTheRafters]

Trojan Remover and Pc-cillin both failed to detect this shit in spite
of the fact that they are both up-to-date versions with the latest
virus patterns.

Don't expect *any* such software to save your butt. They
can only recognize things that they already know about.

As a result, my Windows XP got infected...

Don't be fooled into believing that none of this was due to
*your* unsafe computing practices. If you run executable
programs from untrustable sources, you *will* get burned.
Anti-whatever programs can help somewhat, but you should
be aware that none of them will be 100% (not even close).

and the system
functions like msconfig and task manager were messed up.

You should consider yourself lucky that you weren't hit with
something *really* nasty.

Based on the advice of a friend, I installed Mcafee which immediately
located the shit -- a .scr file.

....and when McAfee misses something, another friend will
recommend another AV vendor and you will blame McAfee
instead of yourself? The problem isn't which anti-whatever
you use, it is how you use it and your computer that counts.

 

[Baked]

Without even knowing the answers to these questions I am quite confident
I can add the question "Are you really that naive/gullible?".


How nice for you...

Of course, anyone who took any responsibility for the shit they run on
their computers would not have run it in the first place so this
discussion would not have been "necessary"...

Jesus, whatta prick.

 

[Damn Straight]

Jesus, whatta prick.

Nick can be a prick for sure, but not near as stiff as the one people
use to bugger themselves with, through negligent unsafe hex.

 

[Nick FitzGerald]

Nick can be a prick for sure, but not near as stiff as the one people
use to bugger themselves with, through negligent unsafe hex.

Well said.

If you think antivirus software "protects" you from exercising your brain
you may as well save yourself the money and run without any as the odds
are you will be infected with a few months any way.