All device driver dates are 6/21/2006  

This may be an issue others are familiar with but I am not.

I just purchased and installed a Linksys E1000 wireless router. Using the CD was problematic, but the device did install. I was concerned that it did not prompt me for a password, so I called Linksys because they have 90-days free tech support.

The tech asked for remote access to my laptop (Asus, not quite a year old), and said that when he was scanning he saw IP addresses that looked "unstable." He asked me how old my computer was...because it was "running like an older computer." He did help me set the router with a password.

I then watched him go into device driver and all the driver dates are 6/21/2006. He said this was likely a virus..one that was degrading my laptop's performance. Of course I was concerned..he suggested a third party company they use: Supportrix. So for $119 on the spot he transferred me to that company and they basically ran some utilities..AdvancedSystemCare, CCleaner and maybe others. No virus scan that I saw. I was told that everything should be fine.

When this was complete and I was off the phone, I went in to device manager and clicked on "Update Driver" for several devices - they all say driver is current, and driver dates are still 6/21/2006.

Have I been scammed? Is there a real issue with 6/21/2006 drivers?

Thanks.

Asus Notebook K60IJ Series / 4gb hd / Pent dual core T4400 - 2.2GHz / 64-bit.

All the Microsoft driver dates are 6/21/2006 (motherboard, processors, disk drive). Other manufacturer-supplied drivers have dates of 2009-2010.

Linksys is supposed to be a reputable company. I will be pursuing this.

thanks. I'll run malwarebytes now and post log soon.

And not that everyone has you totally paranoid, might be a good time to mention that pretty much any driver that comes default with Windows will show that 6/21/2006 date.

For whatever reason Microsoft doesn't change the dates in the default INF's located in the DriverStore folder,

C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository

You can go looking at the INF's in those folders and unless it is for something that you have installed a manufacturers driver for, all the INF's will have that same date. Just to give one example, this is from the INF from the "C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\battery.inf_amd64_neutral_cb8fa151a7b7cb80" folder,

[Version]
Signature="$WINDOWS NT$"
Class=Battery
ClassGuid={72631e54-78a4-11d0-bcf7-00aa00b7b32a}
Provider=%MSFT%
DriverVer=06/21/2006,6.1.7600.16385

So no it is not caused by a virus, and yes they ripped you off big time.

Hopalong X:

I ran Malwarebytes - no infections, all clean. Results below

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.50.1.1100
www.malwarebytes.org
Database version: 5755
Windows 6.1.7600
Internet Explorer 8.0.7600.16385
2/13/2011 7:22:55 PM
mbam-log-2011-02-13 (19-22-55).txt
Scan type: Full scan (C:\|)
Objects scanned: 258845
Time elapsed: 27 minute(s), 36 second(s)
Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 0
Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Files Infected:
(No malicious items detected)


I will take your advice and contact banks and credit card co's. Better safe than sorry. I ran Avast full scan before running Malwarebytes - this was completely clean also. If the Linksys tech had installed something malicious on my system, Supportrix ran 2 utilities - it would have had to get around them - AdvancedSystemCare and CCleaner. It's not impossible.

I called Linksys and put in a complaint. The person that helped me suggested that I call Supportrix to try for a refund. I am also contacting our state attorney general. Supportrix is a partner to Cisco/Linksys and not a scam operation, but this is a dishonest for Cisco/Linksys to treat customers.

Thanks.

Hopalong X said:

My biggest problem was about the second party they connected you to that was why the security concern.

That I can agree with. I just don't believe that they actually said that that date showing for default Windows drivers was caused by a virus.

As far as a refund goes,

Refund Policy
Customers who subscribe to any SUPPORTrix package (excluding single Incident) can choose to unsubscribe within 15 days of purchase, under the condition that SUPPORTrix has not provided any Service, SUPPORTrix offers a refund of maximum of 100% of the price paid by Customers, provided that if Service has been provided, SUPPORTrix will deduct an amount which is proportionate to the Service of Incident(s) which has been provided and refund the balance to Customers within 30 days of receiving the request for unsubscribing. The price for any Incident based package (excluding single Incident Package) shall be divided by the number of Incidents included in the package. In addition, as long as any Service has been provided for any Incident(s) included in any package, no matter the Incident has been completely resolved or not, SUPPORTrix shall be entitled to retain the total amount of price which covers the Incident(s).

Complete Care Package: Customers who purchase a Complete Care Package are entitled to a full refund of the purchase price if the Customer notifies SUPPORTrix of the desire to unsubscribe within 15 days of purchase and no Incidents have been resolved. After 15 days, if no Incidents have been resolved the subscription can be terminated and a pro-rated portion of the purchase price will be refunded effective at the end of the month the termination request is received.

Personally you should get it all back, but they will probably look at it as a "successfully resolved" incident and try pro-rating it.