WinXP- How did my Firewall get turned off?

[JEDI]

I have Avira anti-virus.

i was clicking on google pages that i searched for, and one of them Avira didnt like and it gave a warning.

i selected DELETE file, then WinXP said my Firewall was off.

How did my firewall get turned off?

 

[VinylxScratches]

check your logs.

 

[RebateMonger]

Especially since you are running XP, it's possible that something got by. Run the latest updates of MalwareBytes and SuperAntiSpyware and see if they detect anything.

 

[JEDI]

check your logs.

logs? where?

 

[JEDI]

Especially since you are running XP, it's possible that something got by. Run the latest updates of MalwareBytes and SuperAntiSpyware and see if they detect anything.

uggg.. got 18 hits on malwarebytes.

backdoor.bot, spyware.zbot, hijack.shell, etc



thx for the software recommendation!

 

[RebateMonger]

thx for the software recommendation!

Sorry to hear about the attack.

Malwarebytes is pretty much the standard today for a quick scan. Unfortunately, a lot of malware tries to keep you from running it, so just running the scan can be a challenge.

If you don't plan to restore your PC from backups, you might consider a Windows System Restore back to before you got hit.

 

[Genx87]

I believe the virus AV 2009 will delete Malwarebytes upon installation. It has a process that specifically looks for Malwarebytes installs and deletes the directory when it is detected.

 

[Raduque]

The virus that installed itself because there was nothing to prevent it from running silently in the background turned off your 9-year-old OS' completely inadequate firewall.

 

[SimMike2]

The virus that installed itself because there was nothing to prevent it from running silently in the background turned off your 9-year-old OS' completely inadequate firewall.

People don't want to quit XP, but I'm telling you that Windows 7 handles this stuff much better.

 

[RebateMonger]

People don't want to quit XP, but I'm telling you that Windows 7 handles this stuff much better.

I don't doubt that, but I've seen a Win7 Home Premium machine where web-based malware had blown right past Win7's security and AV, too. The owner was a pretty computer-saavy person who said he didn't click on anything that would have allowed the installation.

 

[stlcardinals]

I don't doubt that, but I've seen a Win7 Home Premium machine where web-based malware had blown right past Win7's security and AV, too. The owner was a pretty computer-saavy person who said he didn't click on anything that would have allowed the installation.

He should know to run a limited account then, I'm guessing he did click on something and didn't realize it.

 

[SimMike2]

Another thing people can do is set their DNS server to OpenDNS. They filter out known bad sites from their DNS server. I like them. I changed my routers DNS server, but you can also do it computer by computer in the network settings. This keeps the really nasty sites from even being opened with your computer. I have never been blocked from legitimate sites with this server.

http://www.opendns.com/start/

 

[JEDI]

Another thing people can do is set their DNS server to OpenDNS. They filter out known bad sites from their DNS server. I like them. I changed my routers DNS server, but you can also do it computer by computer in the network settings. This keeps the really nasty sites from even being opened with your computer. I have never been blocked from legitimate sites with this server.

http://www.opendns.com/start/

whats the catch for the free option?

 

[SimMike2]

When I started using OpenDNS, they didn't have any pay versions, or any signup process. So I think the free version is good, just not as many options as the pay version. My guess is the catch might be giving them your email address. I highly recommend this. It will keep you from being swished to a phantom site, which is where a lot of people get in trouble with viruses and stuff.

 

[lxskllr]

I've been very happy with OpenDNS. I haven't had any malware issues, but it works well for network control. I use it for parental control software, and so far it doesn't seem to have any bad hits. I'm not too stringent on what I want filtered, and bad blocks are worse than no blocks imo. It filters out the complete garbage, but does a good job of leaving possibly questionable, but legitimate content.

 

[Genx87]

whats the catch for the free option?

Can only whitelist I believe 25 sites.