PC Security: Malicious SpyAxe Software

[Kev]

I just spent 2 hours removing this malicious software from my computer.

What is SpyAxe you ask?

"Spyaxe is one of the latest in rogue anti-software applications that dupes unsuspecting users into paying a nominal fee to reverse the problems that it causes. The entire scheme is built off of a flaw in the MS Windows Operating System that allows the rogue software to install itself without any input from the user. Once it infects your computer it sends a popup ballon informing you that your computer is infected and you should download SpyAxe software to have it removed."

How the hell a company can behave in this manner is fucked. Your creat software that contaminates computers then expect these ones to pay you money to have it removed. Thats @#*$% This should be illegal if its not so already. To remove this software wasn't a simple fix it was a pain.

If you haven't updated your computer resently i encourage you to do so. MS as of December 13th released an update to correct this problem. One of many holes Microsofts Operating System has with more holes to be found and exploited by unscrupulous assholes.

 

[stang]

I had the same freakin problem two weeks ago.
Had to run spybot, norton, adware and MS anti-spy before I think I was usable again.
But it's not totally gone, and has buggered some stuff - I can't change my wallpaper and some apps like calculator are gone.
Fuckers.

What was your final fix?

 

[AnotherGuy02]

I find it incredibly annoying that people waste their time creating such destructive software when they could be using their talents to create something far more constructive.

 

[Kev]

I find it incredibly annoying that people waste their time creating such destructive software when they could be using their talents to create something far more constructive.

What these guys are doing is different from the norm. There are those wack jobs that sit in darkened rooms creating viruses because they have nothing better to do. But whats happen here is SpyAxe is an actual company with a website and everything thats created a virus that infects your computer and then they say "if you want your computer virus free buy our software."

Thats wacked, and has to be illegal.

 

[Cobster]

Did you get service pack 2 updates?
Also, one of the loopholes in XP is that the messenger program is running in the background when you start up everytime.
CTRL ALT DEL (hold those keys, then look for a msgr.exe) in the second tab from the left.
Anyways, what you should do is disable messenger from running.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/stopspam.mspx

 

[Keebler Elf]

I think there's an option in MSN to not have it run when Windows starts up. I could be wrong, but I believe you can set your preferences/options.

 

[Cobster]

There are 2 different messengers Mr. K, Messenger (default that comes with the OS) and MSN Messenger that you have to download.
But you're right you can disable its startup option. But sometimes it somehow puts itself back on startup, by some program that you run that could trigger it, etc, etc. It's better to disable through services. Or remove it, permanently.
If you use remote desktop control, you NEED the former (Messenger, the one that comes with the OS).