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Safe to do online banking on computer with spyware?

B

BrownTown

Diamond Member
So, my computer has all kinds of spyware on it and try as I might it will not go away. This really isn't that big a deal all it does is make popups appear constantly when i use the internet, but I was wondering if I try to do online banking is that safe since the spyware clearly has comprimised my browsers security?

Wouldn't really by all that hard to remove if I just went ahead and reformatted, but I'm gonna get a new computer soon anyways so I was just gonna wait till then, but I was wondering if it is still safe to have personal information on a computer with spyware?

Moved from Off Topic
moderator allisolm
 
No. The very definition of spyware is something that SPYS on your crap. It MIGHT be safe, but do you really want to risk having your entire bank account compromised on a maybe?
 
100% safe. Don't worry, I won't buy anything with your Mastercard. I just like to read off 16-digit numbers in my spare time.
 
Step 1. Download Spybot - Restart and run before startup so nothing is sitting in memory.
Step 2. Download Adaware
Step 3. Install 1 and 2
Step 4. Use 1 and 2

With the above program you too can safely access your banking account online.
 
Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
Step 1. Download Spybot - Restart and run before startup so nothing is sitting in memory.
Step 2. Download Adaware
Step 3. Install 1 and 2
Step 4. Use 1 and 2

With the above program you too can safely access your banking account online.
Click to expand...

I've used both of them and niether has worked, spybot runs EVERY time my computer starts up and both of them are running their watch programs in the background and so is Mcaffe (sp?) anti spyware program and yet still no go, I think its something to do with the browsers getting hijacked, both FireFox and Opera spawn up new windows with ads like every 30 seconds when I am running either of them (so does Internet Explorer FWIW, but I don't run that very often).

EDIT: I guess mabybe if I delete both Opera and Firefox, then run both Spybot and Adaware on startup with the internet disconnected then reinstall FireFox and Opera then maybe that would work, but right now i just hit "Alf+F4" and it gets rid of the popup with minimal inconvenience.
 
Originally posted by: BrownTown
Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
Step 1. Download Spybot - Restart and run before startup so nothing is sitting in memory.
Step 2. Download Adaware
Step 3. Install 1 and 2
Step 4. Use 1 and 2

With the above program you too can safely access your banking account online.
Click to expand...

I've used both of them and niether has worked, spybot runs EVERY time my computer starts up and both of them are running their watch programs in the background and so is Mcaffe (sp?) anti spyware program and yet still no go, I think its something to do with the browsers getting hijacked, both FireFox and Opera spawn up new windows with ads like every 30 seconds when I am running either of them (so does Internet Explorer FWIW, but I don't run that very often).

EDIT: I guess mabybe if I delete both Opera and Firefox, then run both Spybot and Adaware on startup with the internet disconnected then reinstall FireFox and Opera then maybe that would work, but right now i just hit "Alf+F4" and it gets rid of the popup with minimal inconvenience.
Click to expand...



Also install this, update signatures & run full scan:


SuperAnti-Spyware free edition


Then run a full online scan using this free utility:


Trend-Micro Housecall free online scanner



Also if you don't have quality AV/anti-spyware on your PC you should bite the bullet & buy a paid-version of Kaspersky Internet security v7.0 which will go a long way towards keeping you safe online. (offers a fully functional 30-day trial period)
 
I'm pretty sure I DO have "quality" software though, isn't that Mcafee stuff paid for? This is the computer that I got freshmen year in college so I assume the stupid University put lots of anti-spyware stuff on it.
 
On the off-chance your question is sincere, I will say you'd have to be nuts to do online ANYTHING which needed a login if your computer has spyware.
 
Originally posted by: kranky
On the off-chance your question is sincere, I will say you'd have to be nuts to do online ANYTHING which needed a login if your computer has spyware.
Click to expand...

oh crap, shouldn't be on ATOT then 🙁
 
Depends on what Spyware is installed. That said, there was a recent bit of Spyware specifically designed to catch and transmit Online Banking info. So, I wouldn't risk it. Format re-install.
 
I wouldn't take the chance.

I've had my run in's with really really malicious spyware that I could never get off my computer. And I consider myself pretty knowledgable concerning these matters. The spyware (which soon turned into "virus" partitioned part of my hard drive and locked it so I couldn't wipe it.

- This is what I would do, either A) Format your hard drive and back up only essential files (and when you do that I suggest using a jump drive and then scanning its contents on another computer)

-Try Pandascan or my favorite antivirus Kaspersky which has worked miracles for me in the past. Its a small investment and if it doesn't cure this problem at least you'll have a quality antivirus program for awhile.
 
To Brown Town,

My guess is that you don't just have spy ware, you have an infestation of it. The long term consequences of running a computer with a inadequate security set up.

Is it safe to do on line banking with your computer? And thats a maybe and maybe not because only certain types of spyware or should I say malware is designed to be a danger to to online banking type activities. Since you don't know what you have, I would say its not worth the risk. But you should not judge by pop ups, they are somewhat normal, just go into your web browser and stop them there.

But you very much remind me of my experience of buying a used computer at a very attractive price on ebay. It came with all the wondrous hardware advertised. And as an extra measure they threw in about 4000+ pieces of malware at no extra charge. I would not even let that computer onto the internet until I had run adaware, spybot, and avast with old definitions. Thats when I discovered how infested it was and just that act got rid of about 85%. New definitions got rid of another 5%. Then I ran them in safe mode and got rid of a bunch more. And was still infested.

The point being, there is nothing wrong with adaware and spybot S&D. But they are not all inclusive and the real nasty malware knows how to hide. Its far easier to prevent malware from installing than it is to remove once installed.

My next step was to install, update, and run superantispyware, A2, AVG anti malware, windows defender, and other similar programs that got some more. Then I tried various online scans and that got some more. And some root kit scanners. And long after every online scanner on the planet pronounced me malware free I still had a dozen left. A hijack this logfile got those on spywarewarrior.com. Stubborn me, I was bound and determined to get rid of the malware without a clean install, but 20 20 hindsight, I really should have done the clean install..

But in terms of protecting my PC once clean, thats easy. Its all in the security resource thread and a layered defense. Although it did not exist at the time. But in terms of just adaware and spybot alone, they are just a tiny start. And the biggest single thing you can do is use a limited user account---with a full software restriction policy if you have XP pro. If it can't install it can't infect.
 
Originally posted by: BrownTown
I'm pretty sure I DO have "quality" software though, isn't that Mcafee stuff paid for? This is the computer that I got freshmen year in college so I assume the stupid University put lots of anti-spyware stuff on it.
Click to expand...



First of all Mcafee isn't very effective AV and second if you havn't kept it up to date & done regular full-scans of your system its completely worthless.

Also the only thing I'd assume about the University is that the IT department is at best borderline-incompetent ... I think the best bet might be to do as others here have suggested & wipe your HD then re-install Windows fresh with a brand-new version of either Kaspersky Internet security or alternatively Zonealarm internet security which uses Kaspersky AV.
 
Originally posted by: BrownTown
I'm pretty sure I DO have "quality" software though, isn't that Mcafee stuff paid for? This is the computer that I got freshmen year in college so I assume the stupid University put lots of anti-spyware stuff on it.

Even if the University put lots of anti spyware stuff on it, that stuff is damn near worthless if you have not kept that stuff updated.
 
A big no; also never allow the browser to 'remember' your credentials if you do online banking etc. Even if you do not have personal info. in the laptop with spyware, they can meddle with cookies and browser fields; its better to delete cookies after each time you visit sensitive websites.
 
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