Cable And Wireless

[TheTruth]

So, I used to be using the Wanadoo ISP until it got took over by orange. In the time we were with wanadoo our connection got cut off without any warning or notification. They sent us a letter explaining that we had a virus or something that was affecting their servers on our computer. So they asked us to remove it, so we bought AVG, found some viruses, took them off. Wanadoo let us back on after about 2-3 months of no connection. Then just now I've recieved a letter from cable and wireless explaining that we've breached their terms and conditions by 'letting' another virus on our computer. They're going to cut us off the internet again in 7 days unless we can appeal to let us keep it. If they don't then we won't be able to have the internet again on any ISP since cable and wireless britain are in control of everyone. The thing that gets me is, it must be a pretty bad virus we keep getting for them to do this twice. I run virus checks everyday and it never finds any, if it does they go into the virus vault thing that AVG has. Does anyone know why this has happened, had any similar experience?

[Ynot]

If your computer is compromised, and acting as a zombie machine (ie. scripts can connect to your machine, and use it to send out spam email) then the ISP is well within their rights to cut you off, as you will be maxing out their bandwidth, and clogging their outgoing mail servers I hate to say it, but ignorance is no excuse google "zombie pc" and you'll see how serious it is *edit* wikipedia info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_computer

[Ynot]

you need to protect yourself in 3 ways 1. anti-virus software 2. firewall 3. spyware software I recommend 1. Avast! Antivirus 2. ZoneAlarm 3. Spybot Search & Destroy

[Kaniaz]

I reccomend exorcism of said computer, and perhaps (just maybe) installation of some decent antivirus software. I gave Windows Live OneCare a whirl when I had trouble with nasty virri and it did the job*. Except, it isn't free, and that sucks. I don't know why the word "Live" is in the title. There is a 90 day trial though. I guess you could slap it on really fast and see if it cleans anything up. It's supposed to be a sort of "suite" that does Virus/Firewall crap all at once. * "WTF is Windows OneCare", you say? Well, some new Microsoft offering. And who knows Windows best? (Hint: The people that made it). So I'd say it was worth a try.

[Ynot]

Windows OneCare[/b] now....why do I instantly distrust this...... Ooh, I remember outlook express --- full of security holes MS outlook virus protection --- "AAH, an attachment, BLOCK IT" msn messenger --- full of security holes messenger virus protection --- "AAH, an attachment, BLOCK IT"

[Kaniaz]

Er, what? EDIT: Oh. No. It doesn't block attachments, as far as I know. Messenger's blocking attachment crap is seperate, anyway. In fact Messenger's blocking is never a problem for me, being as I just .rar things or whatever. Why you'd want to send .supersilliciousexes's over MSN I don't know. It's just Microsoft's take on the whole Firewall/Antivirus combo. For paranoid old women. EDIT EDIT: That and instant distrust of anything was never really smart. Well, unless you were a Troy or something. EDIT EDIT EDIT: Hey guess what? EDIT EDIT EDIT EDIT: I can edit.

[Ynot]

which is why I'm dubious of any anti-virus software by MS it'll overprotect to the point of being annoying and unusable so 90% of people will disable it (their intention, I'm sure ) and do you *really* think it'll flag up everything, seeing as Windows itself will constantly trigger it when calling back to MS to verify your using an authorised version of windows

[Kaniaz]

I don't suppose WGA would trigger the firewall, no, just like Automatic Updates doesn't either. And, well, okay. You have fun being dubious.

[King and God]

aww... that sucks. i was at a computer store nearby where i live, and there was a guy who had the same problem: lots of spam mails taking bandwidht, so he got shut off from using internet. as said, just get a firewall, antivirus and antispyware. this is a good site for downloading stuff, btw: http://www.download.com/

[SpaceFlower]

ok, as a tech support agent myself I have had to be the one to tell customers the very same thing from the companyI work for. The problem is, if the worm/virus has already taken over you system, running your EXISTING software will not be effective becuase it has already been compromised. You might have to actually wipe your pc and reinstall the OS. Then start again with new antivirus/firewall software. If you are strapped for cash, check with your Internet service provider. Most of them offer a software security suite as part of your member benefits. As far as Avast, I have also heard this to be a good program. The downfall of your top security programs like Norton and McAffee is that certain viruses and worms are actually programed to LOOK like them. For instance a very similar looking window will say enabled when actually your program has been disabled. Whatever you do, STAY AWAY from AOL !!!