Update On "trojan?"

[klikster]

Some of you may recall a topic I started a month or so ago about what I thought may have been a trojan blocking my internet access. The problem was solved by replacing my previously installed Zone Alarm firewall with Comodo. The consensus of opinion seemed to be that either something attacked and disabled Zone Alarm, or that Zone Alarm suddenly failed.

I have 2 machines and one had been set aside in preparation for the repair shop .. an apparent failure of my LAN port .. i.e. no internet access. I needed some passwords today, so I set up the machine and tried to start it >> had to go to Safe Mode (long story why) the suddenly decided to start in Safe + Networking. Guess what! Internet access.

So I uninstalled ZA and installed Comodo. Works like a charm!

So now I'm wondering if an "attack" of sorts on ZA (free version) was initiated by Zone Labs? I'll leave all the reasons why to speculation.

So just one more thing to file away in the recesses of your brain .. especially if using ZA free version.

[Guest Reimar]

Some of you may recall a topic I started a month or so ago about what I thought may have been a trojan blocking my internet access. The problem was solved by replacing my previously installed Zone Alarm firewall with Comodo. The consensus of opinion seemed to be that either something attacked and disabled Zone Alarm, or that Zone Alarm suddenly failed.

I have 2 machines and one had been set aside in preparation for the repair shop .. an apparent failure of my LAN port .. i.e. no internet access. I needed some passwords today, so I set up the machine and tried to start it >> had to go to Safe Mode (long story why) the suddenly decided to start in Safe + Networking. Guess what! Internet access.

So I uninstalled ZA and installed Comodo. Works like a charm!

So now I'm wondering if an "attack" of sorts on ZA (free version) was initiated by Zone Labs? I'll leave all the reasons why to speculation.

So just one more thing to file away in the recesses of your brain .. especially if using ZA free version.

It could be. There a lot "anti" .... software around, offered for "free" or a "free" scan pp and after you use them once they show you a lot of infections pp and you cant get rid of them anymore.

There was a few years ago a research of the FBI with the result that many of the daily appearing Viruses pp. ore ordered to made by developers of the Anti .... Software.

Interesting was why they was starting the research. There was coming reports up with questions how a anti virus software developer is able to have the "killing" tool before that virus was running the first time?! and that was happens for a bunch of developers and even McAfee was in question at that time.

To think that such attacks are initiated from the developer of such software could be very easy possible.

Cheers.

[The Vulcan]

I've never been in any doubt that the bulk of viruses are initiated by the antivirus company's.

Good business (mal)practice from their point of view.

[klikster]

It's so suspicious because:

1 - Identical problems on 2 different non-networked computers.

2 - When Comodo was updated and the scanned the system, not even 1 threat was identified.

Do I now start worrying about Comodo?

[Swanky]

I have Comodo also Spybot. Was using Norton before but it wraps around the system and impossible to get rid of this program. Can't uninstall it.

[benjamat]

Ive used ZA for years and never had a problem.

All A/V programs allow you to make choices. If you decide to reduce security to make surfing easier or to allow a specific programme you always run a risk.

I dont believe for a moment that A/V programs deliberately spread viruses. Having spent many years in pc software it is very clear that the moment a programme fails to protect you most will switch to another,

[klikster]

Ive used ZA for years and never had a problem.

All A/V programs allow you to make choices. If you decide to reduce security to make surfing easier or to allow a specific programme you always run a risk.

I dont believe for a moment that A/V programs deliberately spread viruses. Having spent many years in pc software it is very clear that the moment a programme fails to protect you most will switch to another,

First, I'm glad you have had good luck with your ZA. I don't see my 2 identical experiences on 2 separate computers within a time frame of 1 month as coincidence.

Second, if you read my comments, you will see my "attack" (note the use of quotes) was what a number of us thought had happened. Security setting had not been lowered in either instance.

Third, I made it clear that no sunsequent virus threats were detected .. which is part of the mystery.

Fourth, if a firewall can be automatically updated, it can be automatically disabled or even locked.

And I really don't understand your last comment at all, given the context of this discussion.

[katana]

When Win XP/SP3 came out, it broke Zonealarm and prevented internet access. Check you're using the most up-to-date version of Zonealarm.

[sumrit]

I have Comodo also Spybot. Was using Norton before but it wraps around the system and impossible to get rid of this program. Can't uninstall it.

If you want uninstall Norton they provide an uninstall/reinstall option on their web site here http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgen...004110113064039

It's really for uninstalling and reinstalling Norton when you have problems with it but obviously you just do the uninstall and stop there. It was the only way I could find to get

rid of it from my PC. (it was preinstalled when I purchased the PC).

[klikster]

When Win XP/SP3 came out, it broke Zonealarm and prevented internet access. Check you're using the most up-to-date version of Zonealarm.

That could have been my problem with the first computer to go belly-up, but so far, I haven't allowed the SP3 to download on 'puter 2 .. I don't think

So is SP3 good for very much .. all the problem's I've heard about it?

[katana]

I personally had no problems with it. Apparently some difficulties can occur if you have malware on your system so make sure it's clean beforehand if you decide to go ahead.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

When Win XP/SP3 came out, it broke Zonealarm and prevented internet access. Check you're using the most up-to-date version of Zonealarm.

That could have been my problem with the first computer to go belly-up, but so far, I haven't allowed the SP3 to download on 'puter 2 .. I don't think

So is SP3 good for very much .. all the problem's I've heard about it?

You didn't have to install SP3 for this problem to occur, as it began with a single Windows Update; KB 951748.

More info here.

Edited November 13, 2008 by Jiu-Jitsu

[benjamat]

Ive used ZA for years and never had a problem.

All A/V programs allow you to make choices. If you decide to reduce security to make surfing easier or to allow a specific programme you always run a risk.

I dont believe for a moment that A/V programs deliberately spread viruses. Having spent many years in pc software it is very clear that the moment a programme fails to protect you most will switch to another,

First, I'm glad you have had good luck with your ZA. I don't see my 2 identical experiences on 2 separate computers within a time frame of 1 month as coincidence.

Second, if you read my comments, you will see my "attack" (note the use of quotes) was what a number of us thought had happened. Security setting had not been lowered in either instance.

Third, I made it clear that no sunsequent virus threats were detected .. which is part of the mystery.

Fourth, if a firewall can be automatically updated, it can be automatically disabled or even locked.

And I really don't understand your last comment at all, given the context of this discussion.

Why oh why do so many people take general comments personnally on TV, very sad.

[klikster]

Another Update

Apparently the "trojan" really was a trojan that yielded my gmail password which allowed a hacker into my adwords account.

So either:

1 - The trojan got past Zonealarm

2 - Zonealarm was rendered ineffective by an XP update and the trojan got through.

On visiting the ZA website, I did see the caveat that a newer version is available for certain versions of XP. I certainly don't remember getting that notice .. maybe never sent?

Users of ZA be warned .. no matter what some other user's experience and history may be!

[klikster]

Ive used ZA for years and never had a problem.

All A/V programs allow you to make choices. If you decide to reduce security to make surfing easier or to allow a specific programme you always run a risk.

I dont believe for a moment that A/V programs deliberately spread viruses. Having spent many years in pc software it is very clear that the moment a programme fails to protect you most will switch to another,

First, I'm glad you have had good luck with your ZA. I don't see my 2 identical experiences on 2 separate computers within a time frame of 1 month as coincidence.

Second, if you read my comments, you will see my "attack" (note the use of quotes) was what a number of us thought had happened. Security setting had not been lowered in either instance.

Third, I made it clear that no sunsequent virus threats were detected .. which is part of the mystery.

Fourth, if a firewall can be automatically updated, it can be automatically disabled or even locked.

And I really don't understand your last comment at all, given the context of this discussion.

Why oh why do so many people take general comments personnally on TV, very sad.

My post was a series of statement to clarify an issue that happened to MY computer.

Second, I still don't understand the last comment (the highlighted statement) of your original post.

Third, if you find simple statements of fact (as I understand them) to be "sad", then I guess I will often be "sad" on this forum.