computer question

[grasswire]

The backup computer in my household is locked up tighter than a drum -- it appears that the browser has been seized. On checking the programs list in settings, I find multiple listings for something called windows xp hotfix.

Anyone know what that is? I'm in the process of deleting all those. I suspect it's some kind of nasty stuff that came from a niece browsing entertainment sites for Clay Aiken trivia.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

1. You're taking a giant step BACKWARD

Those hotfixes are the online security patches and other automatic upgrades direct from MS. Removing them just puts all the flaws and issues back into place. Now you have to do a live update to put it all back into place.

But first, do a complete virus scan. You're probably infected.

[grasswire]

4. thanks for the news

Now we have a different problem. My Norton CD is packed in a moving box somewhere.

But thanks for letting me know what these are.

[B Calm]

5. Forget the Norton, its worthless anyway! Download the free AVG

anti virus.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

10. I concur

Every virus-maker out there knows exactly how to break Norton, and so far they don't seem too inclined to fix it. I've stopped putting it onto client computers- I've switched to McAfee. It's MUCH better at spotting malware. (Remember when McAfee used to be a joke? Now it's NORTON they're all laughing at.)

[SheepyMcSheepster]

2. those hotfixes are legitmate

if you are looking in "Add/Remove" programs.

do you have any add ware/spy ware removal programs?

if no download "spy bot search and destroy" from here: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

install it and let it check your computer.

[grasswire]

8. can't download anything.......

....if ya can't access the internet! The browser is not working.

[Misunderestimator]

11. download it to the computer you're on and copy it to a disk... if possible

do you have a cd burner in case the file is too large, which it probably is?

[grasswire]

12. well, we're out of luck there, too...

...the backup computer had its diskette drive removed when it was overhauled in November. And no, no CD burner available.

I've run the Norton, which found one trojan that I quarantined. Now I'm defragging.

[B Calm]

3. When is the last time you used your defragmenter?

[grasswire]

7. the whole computer...

..was wiped clean and reformatted and extra memory installed at Thanksgiving. Should have been perfectly clean then, and that's only two months. But I'll try defrag.

[B Calm]

9. If your browser is sticking, defrag is a good place to start.

I still wouldn't waste your time installing Norton, it might cause you more problems. Seriously I would install the free version of AVG Anti Virus. I think you'll find the free download version here:
http://www.grisoft.com/

[grasswire]

6. thanks for the news about the hotfix stuff

I stopped deleting those.

Now, the next problem is that my Norton CD is packed in a moving box somewhere. But at least I know what those hotfix things are.