error: RPC service terminated unexpectedly?

[edm]

Hi all,

I know this is probably a little vague, and hopefully this is the correct forum, but does anyone know what this error (in this screen shot) means?, or what causes it???

It's occurred a few times over the last 2 days, but I have no idea why. Each time I was doing nothing more than reading replies on a message board.

I'm running XP Pro, with I.E 6.0 btw

 

[clicknext]

pomg I've been getting that with my old computer! I'd like to know this too!

 

[singh]

Patch your system.

 

[rainypickles]

sounds like my problem)

ms patch: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-026.asp

apparently, this virus/trojan has just started and been on the rise. i saw an article in the paper today about berkeley having to turn of computers to ward off the attacks or something.

even after you patch your system, make sure you dont have viruses in your system. i guess trying getting your latest AV definitions.

 

[clicknext]

Holy sh-t.. since rainypickles said this is a trojan, I did the patch then I installed anti-virus on the comp that was doing this. The anti-virus installed without incident, but after the restart, it detected a virus called backdoor.optix. It said that the virus was deleted. Then when I attempted to run the anti-virus program, it said the program could not be found. Then I went into the program directory and all the executables I clicked on said they could not be found. Then I try going into the control panel and it just opens up explorer. When I browse to control panel using explorer, illegal operation. Then I try to back up my files and I find out that my CD burner doesn't work anymore. It won't burn or play, but it's detected in windows. So now I've backed up my files via network to my other computer, hoping that the other one (it has anti-virus) won't get screwed over as well.

Man... just what I needed... I guess I'll reformat...

 

[edm]

Yeah, thanks for the info. The first thing I did after this happened last night was opened windows update, and installed all the security updates. I also downloaded and installed Zone alarm and have been running that since. So far today, all seems ok.

I'm going to install Norton now to see if that finds anything. Luckily all my files are already backed up since I just did a format/reinstalled of XP a few days ago (for a separate issue). thanks again

 

[singh]

I want to add that this is a VERY serious exploit and will give the attacker COMPLETE control over your machine. Patch your machines now and even better, put'em behind a firewall.

I just found out that one of my machines has been compromized. I was testing something a couple of days ago and took it off the firewall. Big mistake.

SCAN your system for any of the following files:
rpc.exe
rpctest.exe
tftpd.exe
dcomx.exe
lolx.exe
worm.exe

 

[clicknext]

Does anyone have any more information about this virus/trojan?