[NTLUG:Discuss] OT help request

[Russ]

On Mon, Nov 17, 2008 at 8:35 AM, Fred <fredstevens at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> I know this isn't the right place to get the answer but maybe
> it is a good place to start. Maybe one of y'all can direct me
> to the proper forum for this.

Sorry, I don't know of one forum that would address all of these problems.

>
> I have been working with a friend, trying to help him find what
> I think is a weird problem in his XP system.

Well, Windows or not, I think your attempt to help a friend is good.

>
> If that works ok, like I think it will, the question is: what could cause
> the problem and, if the answer to that one is a worm or trojan, why
> don't the popular anti- programs (Spybot, Adaware, etc) pick it up?

Unfortunately, in the Windows world being the large target Microsoft
is, there is a lot of hacking and not every package catches
everything.  I would suggest that you do a free remote scan from Trend
Micro called Housecall (http://housecall.trendmicro.com/).  Trend
Micro  uses this free service as a marketing opportunity so I advise
being careful about what is accepted during the process.  TM Housecall
does find and remove malware.  The downside of doing this is that if
he is using the Internet Explorer browser he will have to accept and
install an ActiveX driver.  That's not a big deal for some but is for
others.

Periodically doing this on all his Windows boxes is a good idea.

Consumer Reports recommends Antivir as the best free antivirus,
Windows Defender from Microsoft for the control of other malware, and
SpamFighter for the control of spam in Outlook Express.  All of these
are free.

>
> Thanks for any help on this.
>
> Fred
>
--Russ