Irritating or what!

[Carl East]

My computer keeps getting taken over by this thing, what I can only describe as an irritating program. The first I knew of it, it was taking control of everything, turning the page upside down, even talking to me by name, and claiming to be the computer.

Now I realise that I am not in touch with my computer, but how do you get rid of something like this. I can hear you all saying he's got a virus, but I ran a virus check, an up to date one, and it found nothing. I can only surmise that I have unwittingly down loaded a program, but how do you detect it and wipe it out.

Help!

Carl.

 

[Weird Harold]

Check what's set as your screen saver. I've seen at least one site that offers to change your screen saver with a click on their web page.

I don't know that it's what your problem is, but the screen saver I use has an option to flip the screen before it starts distorting it to keep it from 'burning in.'

 

[Hullo_nurse]

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE

...I have taken over your computer and will soon take over your entire life. Your cock will be the first thing to obey only MY commands.....

http://toons.artie.com/gifs/arg-alien-stroll-green-url.gif

 

[Carl East]

Resistance isn't given.

I would never resist you Nurse, parts of my anatomy would always stand to attention with you around.

Weird Harold: Thanks Harold, I'll look into that one.

Carl.

 

[Merelan]

I am passing your problem onto my computer guru... he will let you know what he thinks.

 

[Merelan]

Try this...

Run "msconfig" from the command line (START, RUN, then type "msconfig").
Click on the "Startup" TAB. There wil be a list of programs that run on
startup that should help you out.

 

[Carl East]

Thanks Merelan, I ran it, but as I didn't know what was supposed to start in the start up sequence, I couldn't delete any that were not supposed to be there. I did however learn something from your answer, that I didn't know before, so thanks again.

Carl.

 

[Merelan]

He's gone off now, but will check and see if you still need help tomorrow and have him contact you directly. Okay?

 

[Bodizefi]

Uh...excuse me, but did you sat it was talking to you by name? That's not a computer problem. That's called losing your fuckin mind and can be fixed with therapy and good prescription drugs. Let me know how it goes.

 

[Weird Harold]

Uh...excuse me, but did you sat it was talking to you by name? That's not a computer problem.

Programming a text to speech function isn't particularly easy, but once you've got one, I can think of at least three places on your computer where I can find your name to feed to it.

It's not the sort of thing a virus would be expected to do, but it is the kind of thing that screen savers do.

Carl,

another thing you have on your computer, is DRWATSON.

It will take a more extensive snapshot of what is running on your system at any given time.

If you set up a short cut to DRWATSON (in your windows directory)on your desktop, assign it a hot-key, then when your computer starts talking, hit the hot-key Drwatson will record every program and module running on youe system at that time.

It's designed to provide a picture of what's going on inside a computer when problems occur for MS technicians if you need to turn to them for help.

search your help function for drwatson for more.

 

[Carl East]

I am out of my fucking mind.

For the benefit of Bodizefi I will explain exactly what happened.

First, the computer screen turned upside down, the the screen went black, and writing appeared at the bottom left corner. It said Hi Carl, I could see a cursor flashing so the fucked up part of me typed an answer. I said who is this, to which it replied, I am your computer.

I decided to run away at this point, but common sense brought me back, and I typed is this a virus, obviously not expecting a reply, but it came back with you haven't got a virus.

Now at this point I figured it's just answering key questions with set answers, but then the screen came back on and a little Instant messenger appeared in the middle of the screen. The words 'what do like doing' appeared, so I typed 'cybering' it then answered 'that's dirty' and from that point on, I couldn't type anymore, then a couple of minutes later it all went back to normal.

And just so that you believe what I just wrote, I swear to you on my fathers grave that this happened.

You have been spooked by Carl.

 

[Weird Harold]

Online invasion?

Carl, were you online at the time?

Depending on how you have your computer security set up, it's possible for other to log onto your system anonymously, and possibly run a program on your machine as if were a node on a local network.

Usually such invasions are to gather information, like credit card numbers. I can see where it might be possible for an intelligent prude with a sense of humor to come up with a link into your system to 'spook you' into giving up cybering.

It's a pretty far fetched idea, but you've got a pretty far fetched problem.

 

[Carl East]

Yes Harold I was online, in fact the only time it happens is when I'm online, so I think the prudent thing to do is not allow just anyone access.

Thanks again harold, I hope the solution is just to tighten up my privacy modes. You see I allow who ever wants to talk to me access.

Carl.

 

[Magic Merlin]

Carl, there is a free firewall program that is free for personal use. It is called ZoneAlarm. One of the strongest personal filewalls I have found. I have an always on connection and I have watched as user after user has tried to get into my computer. Zonealarm stops this and logs the ISP of the person or persons that tries to invade your computer.

Do a web search for ZoneAlarm and you should find it. Zone Alarm also has an inbuilt virus feature for email that blocks viruses like the 'I Love You' virus from loading. Its set to block all viruses with the '.vbs' file extension.


Sounds like someone is co-opting your computer to either have a little fun with you or maybe more. Either way, a personal firewall may be all that you need.

Please let us know what's going on.

MM

 

[Svedish_Chef]

Sorry Carl but I have to say that is one of the funniest things that I have heard for quite a while.

Hope you get it fixed though... and find out where it came from.

Da chef

 

[Carl East]

Since I uninstalled some programs, and tightened up security on my IMs, I haven't had anymore trouble.

Thanks Magic, I will look for Zonealarm, it sounds like a good bit of software to have.

Your right Svedish_chef, it is funny, I mean when it first happened it was damn right entertaining. Only when you want to use your computer does it then become annoying, and not in the least bit funny.

Thanks to all of you once again, for being there.

Carl.

 

[ShyGuy68]

Zonealarm

Hey Carl.

You can fiend Zonealarm here:

http://www.zonealarm.com/


ShyGuy

 

[Carl East]

Hugs.

Thanks Guys, I've now installed it, and hope that I never need it. It's sad that you need software like this, but reasuring to have none the less.

Carl.

 

[Unclebill]

Annoyances

Carl,

Watch for an e-mail I sent with a suggestion to identify and solve your problem. Let me know if it helps. It's a bit too long and involved to try and post here.

Bill

 

[Carl East]

What a life saver.

Dear Bill,

I cannot thank you enough for that comprehensive email you sent me, I actually understood everything you told me to do. I will be trying out what you suggested, and hopefully it will solve my problems. Thanks again all you guys/gals I appreciate the help.

Carl.

 

[Fallen Angel]

Hey Carl your problem is not as uncommon as you might think. I have a cousin who is a computer whiz and he has a program that can ping other computers on his ISP and identify if they are infected with some kind of backdoor virus. If they are he can see what is on their screen and harddrive and can basicly take controll of their computer.

He did it for fun and would then popup a small window with the message that they were infected and give them a website to download a program to cure it. Some of his ISP providers had software to catch him doing it and would send him warnings that if it happened again he would lose his service. I suggest that you email you ISP provider about what happened.

Most likely the info that you have already recieved will help with the problem. I will try and contact my cousin and post his answer when I get it.

 

[Lasher]

Shit!! Wish I had checked this thread sooner!!

Hey, Carl, I was talking to Morpheus earlier and he thinks you might be "The One"...

(Yes, I know, it's not as funny now as it would've been right after Carl's explanation... But still... I had to try)

 

[MarshunMan]

Hello, New here to the BBoard but saw somethign that I thought I might be able to help with.

I can think of several things that happened and they All do not necessarily mean that you have a virus.

You got pranked/phreaked/slammed.
What happened was that someone installed a program on your computer that would run this program at a certain time, for a limited number of times then self delete. This is an Actual programa and not a Virus so the virus software would not identify it.
You don't have to be on line for this to happen. My friends -"lil" bastards they are- have done this to me on cd they burn for me or by installing the program when I am not looking. Its annoying ut not really damaging.

Also, when you are online there are several ports open on your computer when you don't have a firewall or protection from it. They could have easily gotten in through that, downloaded the program to you and executed it, or set it up to run when they wanted.

One of these things may have happened and without the exact program name it is almost impossible to find it. (I mean, who knows every program that is supposed to be there?) If it quit running than I wouldn't worry about it much. If it keeps happening, then I would suggest a reformat of your hard drives and see what happens. It is a pain but it can get rid of the problem.

Get a firewall and download things to only a few areas on your drive in case somehting likethat happens again.
Conisdering what happened , it might have been annoying and a bit hair-raising you got off lucky. I had a program the would burp or fart once every hour on my computer for a week before I got rid of it (by reformatting) and another program I got zinged with had some guy walk across the screen at random times to piss on my desktop. It would then stain it FOREVER! Thank God that one self-deleted.

You can find thses things if you look around or search under Phreaking or Crackz or other boards but if you are that worried aobut getting a virus or that scared of losing data then I don't advise it. I reformat on overage once every two months cause I pick something up or screw upt he registry. Thank god for a cable-modem. Well that's my $0.02. Hope it helps you understand what might have happened.

 

[Carl East]

My computer talks to me, should I get upset. LOL

Fallen Angel: Thanks for your input, it's a shame that people wish to disrupt others lives just for a laugh. Their punishment should be an invasion of viruses or other programs, just to show them how annoying it can be.

Lasher: It's still funny. LOL ps, If your computer ever talks to you, say hi for me.

Marshunman: I had heard of programs that could do this, and I suspect it was this type of program that I had. I have now installed zonealarm thanks to a couple of other friends on this board, but would like to thank you too. In fact thanks once again to all of you, I now know I'm not mad.

The ever lovable Carl.

PS, My computer wishes to say goodbye too.

 

[Carl East]

Ah, take that prick.

I've just had another visit from our resident prick, he tried to access my computer again, only this time the firewall stopped him.

I don't know who you are, but I do know that aol have been informed, when you get caught say hi to them for me will you.

ps: My computer says eat shit and die.

Carl.