Mica Blue

It appears our PC has been infected with a dialer!

I ran ad-aware and spy bot on it, and although it found a dialler, there is still one there.

The dialler has made a new username and password on the internet connection (very very similar to proper one), and is dialling this funny number

Any suggestions?

oak

**** me how does it get on the computer to start with?

mart360

i used to get a dialer, but it could never connect..

go broadband.. it dosnt affect them ,cos you unplug your anolouge modem!!

M

Daz34

Yeah go broadband or at the very least get your phone company to ban premium rate calls from your landline.
My mate had one of these a few months ago & he didn't know until a BT bill for £500 dropped through his door
He traced the company concerned & they were based in Romania & BT weren't interested so he got nothing back.

Darren

Mica Blue

Yes, broadband would be the answer, but it is my Dad's PC and unfortunatly he can't get broadband in his area.

I have broadband though

Mica Blue

Don't really know, but he must of been on a dodgy site ( ) and it downloaded itself!

Nicks VR4

Have you any anti-virus running on your PC ?
What operating system are you using if WinME\XP? make sure you turn off your System Restore before cleaning the system

Ad-aware and Spybot Search and Destroy did you update these before running ?

If you havent got AV running and the above still wont remove I would suggest go to Symantec ,Panda , Trend and do a online scan

And maybe Stinger on the NAI site might work ???

Mica Blue

It is a Windows 98 SE.

I have tried Norton AV (although not updated) trend online, and Ad-aware + spybot, which both were updated versions.

Might have to think about formatting the hard disk if I can't work out whats up with it..

Thanks for the help so far people, appriciate it

Big Col

go to your dialup network settings and remove the dodgy dialer profile and ensure your proper one is set to default.

The best spyware/adware killer program i've used is spysweeper. Also have you got a firewall?

Mica Blue

Haven't got a firewall unfortunatly

Funny thing is, I removed the funny dialup settings, and replaced it with the wanadoo one, and after a few hours it changed itself back to the dodgy number!

I will try spysweeper, thanks

MJW

It's highly likely the rogue dialler is exploiting system restore to re-infect your system after you think you've cleaned it out.

Right click on My Computer, select properties and go to the System Restore tab. Tick the box that says 'Turn off System Restore on all drives' and click OK & reboot. Go online and make sure Ad-Aware and Spybot are fully updated then run them and nuke any nasties you find. It would also be worthwhile to run a full virus check with the latest virus pattern files as well. If you want to you can re-enable system restore the same way, but I usually leave it off.
As an additional precaution it would be a good idea to install some firewall software such as Sygate Personal Firewall or Zone Alarm (they're both free for personal use)

Dr Nick

Do you think its possible that in time someone will figure out how to do this dialer scam with ADSL broadband? Your phone is connected to your computer, albeit in a different way.

I have assumed that for now at least, broadband is safe.

Mica Blue

I didn't think Windows 98 had system restore? Can't find it anyway

JackClark

>Do you think its possible that in time someone will figure out how to do this dialer scam with ADSL broadband?

As soon as PAYG broadband becomes a reality it could well happen.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/07/02/bt_payg_trial/

Lum

Not with the same ease. With ADSL the decision as to where your "call" goes is made at the exchange, not by any kit in your house, they would have to break in there and change stuff which would at least mean BT have to take responsibility.

Mica Blue

Done every thing I can now... Any more ideas?

Nicks VR4

mmmm

Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
In the Control Panel window, double-click Add/Remove Programs.

It may show it there and it might not ????

You could do a search on your PC for it ....do a search for something like dialers

Yuck Fou Motorsport

www.free-av.com

Download the anti-virus programme, it includes an anti-dialer, best of all its free...

Mica Blue

Yuck Fou Motorsport- The link you gave me, worked- and has got rid of the dialer

The PC is now running fine *touch wood*

I would like to thank everyone that has helped me, couldn't of done it without you all!

Milamber

iTrader: (2)

For the love of god.......... get a firewall man. If you haven't got a firewall you deserve everything you get in my opinion.

Go here http://www.zonelabs.com/store/conten...ulist_download for a free copy that nearly everyone uses.

Milamber

iTrader: (2)

That may come across as a bit harsh.

the point I am trying to make is that if you use a pc to access the internet you MUST have a few basic and often free tools in place or you will find yourself in trouble and as you have found, potentially high telephone bills.

Get

1.

Milamber

iTrader: (2)

1. Antivirus software and update it everytime you use the internet.

2. Firewall

3. Spyware removal tools

4. Adware removal tools.

Keep them all up to date and run them frequently.

Try to avoid the need to visit the "adult art" sites as they are nothing but trouble, but if you have to DON'T USE INTERNET EXPLORER use mozilla instead as that will tell you when you are about to download something unwanted.

Other people will be able to give you other hints but frankly I clear my cache and history regularly and disable autocomplete.

Hope this helps.

Mica Blue

Yes, I know what you mean mate.

It is my Dad's PC, and as it was full of bugs, and all sorts of nasty things I offered to sort it all out for him.

It now has a firewall, and and aware, spybot, norton and other antivirus and spyware software.

Seems to be running fine now

Milamber

iTrader: (2)

at least you can laugh knowing your Dad (or Mum) is a dirty bugger!!!! lol

comic cuts

Hi milamber,

Is gozilla easy to install? Does it replace explorer completely?

Mica Blue

I use it on my PC, and it is very good. Doesn't replace Windows Explorer although you can make it your default browser.

Get it here:

http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

Milamber

iTrader: (2)

Some people swear by it, I use it in addition to IE. For instance IE doesn't get on with suprnova.org for some reason (hhhmmm let me think!) but mozilla is fine.

Give it a go and see how you get on. Let me know.

Milamber

iTrader: (2)

Oh, and tell your dad to use drivecrypt to hide his adult art stash. Encrypted behind a multilevel password protection.