Fake Microsoft security alert

[Kristal53]

Last year I let my Norton subscription lapse and did not install anything else.(stupid I agree). I clicked a link for a website and got a 'Microsoft' security message up saying my computer was under attack and to click yes so Microsoft security could deal with it - as soon as I did I got a virus which changed all my home pages and wanted money sent to solve the problem. Apparently its a well known virus and I managed to get rid of it quickly using advice available -then got scared into re subscribing to Norton. Funny thing is - my Norton has again relapsed a few days ago, but this time I've installed MSE for free -and last night I was following a link (using IE9 ) and the same fake message came up - I knew from experience not to click anything on the page and came straight off. My question is - has this got anything to do with Norton? -or can this malware sense when you click on a link that your PC does not have Norton security installed - and the biggest question of all - why did MSE not pick up on it?

[MartinBev58]

Hi Kristal

I was at an elderly lady's bungalow changing 2 light bulbs and installing a new handsfree phone system in her house last week.
There was not much work in doing this but she is 88.
The phone suddenly went and the person said her computer was being attacked by a virus.
I found that very strange as she has not got a computer.


Martin

[rojash]

It has nothing to do with Norton.
"why did MSE not pick up on it?"

Think of your AV as a burglar alarm. If a burglar tries to break into you house, the burglar alarm warns you. If, on the other hand, he knocks on your door and claims to be the meter reader, and you let him in without checking his credentials, you can hardly blame your burglar alarm.

[Kristal53]

rojash -you've got this t*ts up I think ;-) - this problem with me clicking the malware link happened last year while I had no security system on at all . Its just funny that I've ditched Norton again this year and two days later the same fake link comes up on my PC -despite having installed MSE -obviously I did not click the link this time, but when I checked my MSE history they had not detected this at all. its a well-known nasty virus that completely takes over your computer so i would have thought MSE would of blocked it.

[craft1948]

Shows how good Norton is.......

[Kristal53]

ah but -good at what?

[VHG]

Not every nasty that gets on your PC is a virus.

Many are malware and spyware which some anti virus products dont find.

And the point Rojash was making about letting someone in through the front door is that if you visit a web apge and it downloads some malware or spyware then you have in effect "let it in the frotn door" by visiting the web site.

And no, it is nothing to with you removing Norton.

It COULD be the nasty software has been on your Pc all the time and has just "woken up".

Suggest you download and run the free version of Malwarebytes. This will tell you if you have any spyware or malware on your PC.

http://www.malwarebyt...cts/malwarebytes_free

[craft1948]

Well if you never had this problem when you had Norton it shows it offered good protection...................surely you're not accusing Norton of targeting your PC when you stopped paying them, that would be too funny.

[VHG]

>>>And no, it is nothing to with you removing Norton.

Sorry should have made it clear that the actual act of removing Norton has not caused the problem.

But you should note that many of these full security suites, like Norton Internet Security, do have more features and function in them than Microsoft Security Essentials and other "free" anti virus products.

The free anti virus products are often a small subset of the things offered in the paid for full security suites, that is why they give the anti virus away, as a loss leader, to encourage you to then buy the full function product.

If you are concerned then buy the full Norton Internet Security.

p.s. Ignore those that say Norton is rubbish and a resource hog. It was 4 or 5 years ago but is now a top notch security product.

[Kristal53]

thankyou VHG I downloaded the link you suggested and it found a couple of things which have now bee deleted