[SEL] O.T. Need Computer Advice

Tue Jul 6 19:56:18 PDT 2004

It CAN shut down a computer - but only certain operating systems, not all.
And, it has nothing to do with dial-up connections. 
It's a root service that it affects and the end result is a complete Windows
shutdown. 
(which you can PREVENT, by the way, with a simple command)
However, that is NOT the intent of BLASTER - that is a SIDE EFFECT only, not
by design.
So I still maintain, the virus does not attempt to disconnect from the
Internet.
And my statement still stands - NAV will catch the virus - you mention "out
of date" - that is the fault of the operator, not the product, so the
product will indeed catch it, however, it's like a gun - a gun will only hit
what the operator aims at, operator error equals missed target. Failure to
load gun, missed target.
BLASTER is quite old, so unless they have not updated this year at all, NAV
will find the "original" BLASTER. Do watch for VARIANTS, however.

Yes, I'm aware of what "blaster" does, and doesn't do - I've written
articles on computer viruses, including FAQs used by Symantec...............
I've even disassembled them - and ( just turned down a chance to be an
engineer at Symantec, working on their corporate products. Their engineers
called me and wanted to fly me out to Santa Monica but we refuse to live in
CA)
And I'm a lot cheaper than a couple hundred bucks - I can clean them up in a
couple of hours, $35/hour. I've cleaned up entire corporate
networks..............

I still stick with my original contention that about 90% of computer woes
blamed on "viruses" are NOT viruses. Yes, viruses DO infect computers and
cause problems, but in my experience (over 14 years worth of computer virus
fighting) MOST issues are not virus related at all - and everyone seems to
like to cry "VIRUS!" at the first sign of computer problems - the result is
that they learn NOTHING about the REAL cause, and simply go in and blast
things away and do a resintall!

Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com
[mailto:sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com] On Behalf Of Jeff Allen
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 8:07 PM
To: The SEL email discussion list
Subject: Re: [SEL] O.T. Need Computer Advice

Bill,

The Blaster Worm will shut down a computer. Not a true virus, but a worm. An
anti virus that is out of date won't catch it, and that is Paul's problem.
The Microsoft patch, and the virus definition have been out for almost a
year now. I just cleaned a system a couple weeks ago with the worm. I spent
about four hours cleaning and updating the computer, and that was on DSL.
There were over 25 Meg of Microsoft updates, and about the same for the anti
virus. There really is no excuse for this. So to you and all on the list:

Install all Microsoft critical updates weekly, and update your anti virus at
least once a week. Run a virus scan weekly, and most can be automated, so
there is no excuse. Install a firewall, or at least use the one that came
with XP. It's better than nothing. Also use Lavasoft Adaware for spyware.
It's free.

There is also another option. Pay someone like me or my buddy a couple
hundred bucks to clean up your mess. The system I did was for my cousin and
she was informed the next one won't be free. For more info on the worm check
out:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.mspx

Regards,

Jeff Allen
Arvada, Colorado USA

http://oldengine.org/members/allen/
http://frapa.us/
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Dickerson" <bill at antique-engines.com>
To: "'The SEL email discussion list'" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 1:32 PM
Subject: RE: [SEL] O.T. Need Computer Advice

> Paul, without a little time I can't tell you what it IS, but can tell 
> you it's pretty much NOT a virus. It's amazing how many computer woes 
> get blamed on viruses now days. It's usually easier than finding the 
> real cause. Most computer ills are due to file corruption, file 
> conflicts, ill-behaved software, spyware or hardware malfunctions. A 
> real computer virus doesn't typically "disconnect".
> If NAV says you don't have a virus, you don't have one. They aren't magic
> and don't escape detection that easily.
>
> Bill
> (former anti-virus administrator for a very large financial company, 
> and former Symantec support volunteer who just turned down a Symantec 
> position in California)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com
> [mailto:sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com] On Behalf Of Paul 
> Maples
> Sent: Monday, July 05, 2004 8:58 PM
> To: Stationary Engine List
> Subject: [SEL] O.T. Need Computer Advice
>
>
> Folks I am having a problem again that I had about a month ago and it 
> is really frustrating. I connect to my ISP and check my e-mail but the 
> minute
I
> try to use Internet Explorer it will disconnect my computer from the 
> ISP
and
> I have to dial back up to get on line again. The last time I 
> completely
done
> a Complete System Recovery, reformatted my hard drive and it has 
> worked until now and it is starting it all over. I have Norton 
> Internet Security
> (Professional) and I ran it and there are no virus's indicated. I have
> dumped every program on the PC except the absolute ones I have to have. I
> don't even want to think that I have to do another system recovery and
start
> all over again.
>
> Any ides from you computer guru's? I am on dial up, not DSL. I am
wondering
> if DSL would help solve some of these issues.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Paul
>
>
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