Solved "...clean your computer to prevent system crash"

[nottaclue9]

So, of these sites (besides AV Test), which are to be totally ignored for reviews?

CNET
PC Magazine
Top Ten Reviews
PC Advisor
Matousec

I've already deleted PC Antivirus Reviews from my paltry arsenal...

 

[Britton30]

You're welcome.
As far as I know AV-Test buy the same software we can buy to test so there's no monkey business.

 

[nottaclue9]

OK, then. More room on my computer as I can delete all the others. I'll study the AV Test site. There are a lot of programs there I've never even heard of, but there's an entire universe of computer stuff I've never heard of.

Thanks, again.

 

[Britton30]

Yeah, it's not cut and dried with security suites, it's big business since there are so many malwares and crap out in the wild.

 

[UsernameIssues]

So, of these sites (besides AV Test), which are to be totally ignored for reviews?

CNET
PC Magazine
Top Ten Reviews
PC Advisor
Matousec

I've already deleted PC Antivirus Reviews from my paltry arsenal...

I don't visit any of those websites much, so I cannot speak to how well written their stuff is... but I can glance at who owns them and see if they are "fly by night" websites.

CNET is an arm of (Columbia Broadcasting System)
PC Magazine is a reputable company.
Top Ten Reviews is a part of a huge network of websites owned by tucows.
PC Advisor is a UK arm of (Columbia Broadcasting System)

Matousec - Their main page has "news" articles that are 6 months apart. April 2014, Oct. 2013, March 2013... That would not be where I would go for current info. I don't know anything about the company (located in the Czech Republic) that owns this website.

 

[nottaclue9]

That's very interesting to know. Pretty soon we'll be down to maybe 6 - 8 global companies owning practically everything? But that's for another day. I've learned that at least one of the places I checked is worth considering. In a world where things aren't what they seem, it's good to know of a trusted place to get information. Thanks to all you guys.

 

[akjudge]

Thank you, akjudge. That's a clear explanation. I'm assuming that the octet is some type of adware, then, right? Whatever it is, Adware didn't seem to be bothered by it.

octet is the size of the Adware Cleaner text files (ie. AdwCleaner [R0].txt), not some type of adware. The program shows the size of the Adware Cleaner text files in octets instead of bytes. It also shows the date of the file.

Sorry, it took me a couple of days to answer -- been away

 

[MrWhoopee]

Another love note from a fake Microsoft window: "Message from webpage

This right here tells you where the infection is. The message you saw was generated from the (infected)webpage you were visiting. There are variations on this that pop-up an anti-virus scanner which shows all sorts of infections. Close the browser and the problem is gone. That's why you didn't find anything on your computer.

 

[nottaclue9]

I love it when something is actually easy! Thanks, Mr. Whoopee. I did a lot of stuff I actually didn't need to do, but live & learn...

No problem, akjudge. I've been gone, too. Now I know that an octet is not eight people playing stringed instruments, but a particular measurement that Adware Cleaner uses. Y'all might actually teach me some things! Not an easy thing to do, BTW...

 

[Britton30]

An infection on your computer could create a "Message from the web page" fake alert too. Just because it says such doesn't make it so, and generally is not so. You didn't do anything you didn't need to.
This can be caused by a Java exploit, activeX control, among others.

 

[nottaclue9]

I uninstalled Java last time I got a fake MSE window. There must be a door open somewhere?

 

[MrWhoopee]

I wanted to post a follow-up to clarify some points on this thread/threat.
Britton30 is correct that the OP did not do anything unnecessary and that the "message from webpage" can be, and frequently is, faked.

I have dealt with this type of threat 4 or 5 times, once on my own machine, the rest on client's. In each
case I ran a virus scan, Malwarebytes scan and, having found nothing, a root-kit scan, which also came up dry.

This is what I observed:

1. It did not trigger an alert from legitimate security software, nor did it disable or interfere with it.
2. It only appeared with a browser window open and closed when the browser was closed
3. If none of the buttons in the fake alert window were pressed, including the "X" to close it, it did not appear to have installed any malware. I suspect this would change if any buttons were clicked.
4. The alert window did not appear repeatedly, once closed it did not come back. I even tried revisiting the page where the fake alert appeared and it did not reappear.

There are numerous types and variations of rogue security ware and they are constantly evolving. Even if the alert window closes and does not reappear, I run the full battery of scans. After that, I run Ccleaner to remove all Temporary Internet Files. The next variant may not be so easily defeated.

 

[nottaclue9]

Good point, MrWhoopee. The hackers aren't satisfied with being nuisances; they want to be destroyers.

My fake window did, indeed, disappear since I didn't touch anything on it. And it has not re-appeared. But I am still leery!

 

[Britton30]

I shall leave you in Mr Whoopees hands. His 4-5 experiences sure trump my experience of a few dozen.

 

[nottaclue9]

It's OK, guys. I think whoever is allowed to push that "mark as solved" button" can proceed as the mysterious window is long gone. Thank all of y'all for your help.

 

[Britton30]

Only the OP or Admin can push the solved button.

Good to hear you got it done.

 

[nottaclue9]

OK, then. I'll let the higher-ups decide. Thanks. Britton30.

 

[Britton30]

OK, then. I'll let the higher-ups decide. Thanks. Britton30.

I mean that you, as the OP of this thread, can click the button to mark it solved. (OP=Original Poster)

 

[nottaclue9]

OOOH. Forgot what "OP" was. Duh. I shall then put this thread out of its misery.