Weird internet problem?

AreaCode707

Lifer
Sep 21, 2001
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133
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My roommate was typing away on a forum one night and her computer just started typing back to her. My thought was, "trojan" but it doesn't seem that anything we can do can track down the problem (not that I know everything we should try). ffmcobalt thought this was the prob too, so we disconnected her comp from the internet and ran antivirus software, etc.
Well, nothing we can do can identify the problem (is it a trojan?) and nothing we've done has fixed it. Whenever she's in IE, the computer sits and types stuff, words, in something resembling sentence structure but the sentences make no sense.
I am very much the wannabe geek, don't actually know about this stuff, just wish I did. Suggestions? Anyone know what this is?
 
Jan 31, 2002
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Does this behaviour also happen while the computer isn't connected to the internet?

I smell trojan. Have her crack open IE (nothing else), browse to Google, and do "netstat -a" and post the results.

- M4H
 

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
20,577
432
126
HotChic. :) Okay, two programs to try.

1. IRClean - Gets rid of popular IRC trojan horses.

2. The Cleaner - Nails some other trojan horses while you're at it. :)
 

AreaCode707

Lifer
Sep 21, 2001
18,447
133
106
Thanks guys! I gave her the link to this thread. A short piece of sample text: "of the day I-a-half , I can't see any are there, his eye he meant, , too, in the"

It'll write in any open field in IE, search fields, replies, etc.
 

AreaCode707

Lifer
Sep 21, 2001
18,447
133
106
No, she doesn't. The software you suggested, sully, has found seven so far... lol "The Cleaner" apparently is what's working.
 

rgwalt

Diamond Member
Apr 22, 2000
7,393
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What OS is she running?

A buddy of mine who runs XP had a similar problem. It was due to the voice recognition software in XP Professional in combination with the built-in mic on his laptop. I instantly thought *trojan* and *virus*, but the problem continued even after scanning his machine.

Ryan
 
Jan 31, 2002
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Originally posted by: HotChic
No, she doesn't. The software you suggested, sully, has found seven so far... lol "The Cleaner" apparently is what's working.

If she has a webcam, I'd suggest she disconnect it now. :p

- M4H
 

Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
3
81
Originally posted by: HotChic
No, she doesn't. The software you suggested, sully, has found seven so far... lol "The Cleaner" apparently is what's working.

Tell her to quit looking at porn.
 

Xionide

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2002
8,679
2
81
Alright when i do netstat -a it pops up then closes. same with ipconfig how the hell do i make the window say?

Xionide
 
Jan 31, 2002
40,819
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Originally posted by: Xionide
Alright when i do netstat -a it pops up then closes. same with ipconfig how the hell do i make the window say?

Xionide

Do it from a command prompt (start-run-cmd) and type it in. :)

(Beat you! :D)

- M4H
 

rgwalt

Diamond Member
Apr 22, 2000
7,393
0
0
Originally posted by: Xionide
Alright when i do netstat -a it pops up then closes. same with ipconfig how the hell do i make the window say?

Xionide

Open up a DOS command prompt to run those programs.

Ryan

 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
Originally posted by: Xionide
Alright when i do netstat -a it pops up then closes. same with ipconfig how the hell do i make the window say?

Xionide

Run cmd first. Then use netstat -a
 

Xionide

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2002
8,679
2
81
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: Xionide
Alright when i do netstat -a it pops up then closes. same with ipconfig how the hell do i make the window say?

Xionide

Do it from a command prompt (start-run-cmd) and type it in. :)

(Beat you! :D)

- M4H

Thanks

Xionide
 

rgwalt

Diamond Member
Apr 22, 2000
7,393
0
0
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: Xionide
Alright when i do netstat -a it pops up then closes. same with ipconfig how the hell do i make the window say?

Xionide

Do it from a command prompt (start-run-cmd) and type it in. :)

(Beat you! :D)

- M4H

Thwarted again!!! Damn you M4H!!!

Ryan

 
Jan 31, 2002
40,819
2
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Originally posted by: rgwalt
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: Xionide
Alright when i do netstat -a it pops up then closes. same with ipconfig how the hell do i make the window say?

Xionide

Do it from a command prompt (start-run-cmd) and type it in. :)

(Beat you! :D)

- M4H

Thwarted again!!! Damn you M4H!!!

Ryan

Ah, young grasshopper, you still have much anger. You must learn the Tao and Zen of the Post.

Inhale. Nef. Exhale.

:D

- M4H
 

Marauder-

Platinum Member
Nov 29, 1999
2,248
0
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Or if it's an angry spirit that has embodied her computer, you might want to splash holy water over your comp. :D
 

AreaCode707

Lifer
Sep 21, 2001
18,447
133
106
Originally posted by: Marauder-
Or if it's an angry spirit that has embodied her computer, you might want to splash holy water over your comp. :D

One of my friends quite seriously suggeted an exorcism. I don't think her computer has a demon though.
 

guyver01

Lifer
Sep 25, 2000
22,135
5
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Originally posted by: rgwalt
A buddy of mine who runs XP had a similar problem. It was due to the voice recognition software in XP Professional in combination with the built-in mic on his laptop.

i work in a tech support environment and you'd be surprised how OFTEN we see this.



Goto START --> CONTROL PANEL --> SOUND SPEECH AUDIO --> SPEECH --> check the microphone level bar. if it's pulsating.. you've got voice recognition

 

element

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,635
0
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ah there it is, thanks. I'm an XP noob, and the icon looked different than 98's icon so I must have glanced over it but missed it cause I know I looked in there before.