Worm.Win32.Netsky fake anti-spyware program, Protection from viral attacks, Antivirus was expecting some nice gifts and I was not threatened with worm.win32.netsky on Christmas morning.
When I turned on my computer on windows, security alert boxes kept popping up to say that my computer had been hacked and was infected with a virus and another warned that it had been infected with a worm virus.win32.netsky.
Protection from viral attacks
My Internet Explorer program was constantly opening and trying to take me to spyware removal download sites. There were 3 new icons on the desktop "Privacy Protector", "error cleaner" and "protection against spyware and malware". I definitely didn't download them, so I thought it could only be part of the problem I was having.
They started scanning on their own, and someone told me that I had 161 spyware problems and 243. It was a Worm.win32.netsky is at the top of both lists, and at the bottom, there were references to hacking credit cards.
The desktop turned dark red and a warning bar appeared asking me to click on it to protect my computer. At first, I was worried and then logic took over.
Updating virus and spyware programs
My virus and spyware software, which comes with my broadband service, was updated the day before and when I ran a scan, nothing came out. I have vaguely heard about the worm.win32.netsky and I didn't think it was so new that a virus scan wouldn't pick it up. I figured the whole attack would have scared me into buying one of the products. I am stubborn and if I buy protection from spyware it will not be done through those methods. I did a Google search for worm.win32.netsky and I found a long list of sites.
Most sites have labeled it as part of the Netsky family of email worms that come to your computer as an email attachment. When you click on the attachment, the worm activates and then installs itself on your computer and spreads. It harvests the email addresses stored on your computer and spreads further by sending the same to them.
One or more spyware downloads were recommended, but I still don't think the computer was infected with anything more than methods of sale full of bullying. I finally found a forum where one of the members described exactly the same thing that happened to him. It seems that Worm.Win32.Netsky is a fake deceptive malware called Smithfraud, which is an anti-spyware program, designed by internet hackers.
Spyware removal software
A fraudulent way that makes you buy a spyware removal program. He was directed in the direction of Smithfraudfix v2.274 and the repair worked with him. I downloaded it, used it, and thought it worked.
The next day the warnings and desktop icons reappeared. I quickly turned on Smithfraudfix again and then restored my computer to 14 days before the problem appeared. So far so good, repair and restoration seem to have succeeded.
Smithfraudfix v2.274 which seems to only work with Windows XP or 2000 was a free download, so the whole thing cost me nothing but time and worry. I just to make sure that I got a free download of Spyware Doctor from Google and turned it on to make sure that my computer was clear and deleted its cookies.
Fake antispyware application
One of the sites that IE insisted on going to was the sale of XP Antivirus. If you search for XP Antivirus, you will find claims that it is a corrupt anti-spyware application that will try to trick you into buying it by falsifying bug reports. Don't even think about buying it.
The XP Antivirus program will not remove spyware and will not do anything useful, just scam you out of money. Where did the problem come from I'm not sure? I haven't opened any email attachments in months and I won't open attachments unless I'm expecting them. I had downloaded some ebooks and software the day before but hadn't opened them at that point. I always check the downloaded files with a virus scan before I unzip them anyway.
The other possibility is that I visited a fraudulent site and a rogue antispyware program leaked to my computer. In fact when I thought about surfing the night before that was the most likely explanation.
No, I'm not used to visiting dodgy sites! I was checking the statistics of my article directory, and the domain I didn't recognize was at the top of a long list of incoming links. Out of curiosity, I clicked on the link and was taken to a porn site. I haven't stayed long enough to find out if there is a link to my directory or why it exists, but I will have to do a search to find out if any of the articles have links to this site and delete them if they have. I recall that several years ago when I was running a magazine, I checked a link from an advertisement that a subscriber wanted me to post.
This was a porn site and a virus attacked my computer right after that. I got rid of the virus needless to say that I did not accept the advertisement. When I check the links with the articles sent to my Directory, I can't be as careful as I would like.
They say that curiosity killed the cat; well, it's just annoying and this bothered me. Everything is fraudulent and deceitful. I'm really glad I didn't get caught but no doubt many will.
Checking fake links and fraudulent spyware
- Fortunately, I always do research if I'm not sure about anything or if I want to find out something. The best and most truthful answers or information usually come from forums, and not from sites with comments and links to products.
- Of course, it may be a worm.win32.Netsky really is a worm from the Netsky family, then I would have had a bigger problem to deal with it. I thought that my broadband spyware and viruses would take care of my computer, but now I'm going to look for something better. I really can't understand the mentality of malicious people who make worms and viruses, or scammers who try to cheat you out of your money.
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