Internet/computer security question?

Question

How can a potential virus get into my e-mail inbox? I did not open--just deleted, so no harm, but I'm perplexed on how it even got that far if I'm so "protected". I have AVG Anti-Virus, Windows Firewall, Spy Bot, SpyWare Blaster,and AdAware, and a potential nightmare still got into my computer. Is this normal??? Any other security measures I should add? Thanks to all in advance.

Answer 1

Sounds to me like your security measures worked as advertised, you were informed thar you had a problem with your e mail and then deleated it, just like you were supposed to do. always remember when it comes to computers and possible infections nothing is 100%.

Answer 2

Try running some scans from safe mode. Sounds like you have Win XP on your PC, just hit F8 (really tap on it a few times) once you get past POST. This will bring you to a menu, select either safe mode or safe mode with networking. Log in as "Administrator" - if you have never done this, there is most likely no password on your admin account. This is also a security risk you might want to take care of.
Anyway, run some virus scans from the admin account.

When you are in safe mode very few programs and drivers are loaded. So it makes treating the infected computer a bit easier and often times more effective.

You might consider downloading "hijackthis" - should be able to get it at download.com. This program creates a list of all running processes on your computer. You can then go through the list and for most processes, just pop it into a search engine and find out if it's malicious. For example, there is a process called lsass.exe that runs. There is also a virus out there (Sasser I think) that creates lsasss.exe. Going through a list can take some time, but it should help pinpoint the problem. This program would be run using your normal user account.

Another thing you could do would be to get ahold of a Bart's PE or Knoppix disk. And run your scans out of RAM, this is a bit more complex and would warrant at least a page of explanations.

Answer 3

I get the feeling you're using an email client program like Outlook Express.

If that's the case, simply enable the email scanner in AVG and it won't happen again.

On a side note, even if the email got to your inbox, if AVG knows the virus it should block it from executing even if you try to open the attachment.

Answer 4

If the router belongs on your loved ones, it will be set up for encrypted site visitors basically. That way, no person steals your information superhighway and no-one genuinely intercepts your site visitors. you need to have some style of integrated secure practices equipment. McAfee, Symantec, Kapersky, a number of others make such issues. and you need to USE the only you get. i individually like Kapersky 2009, notwithstanding that is somewhat progressed at circumstances. See what different applications anybody is using. at last you will settle for one that does what you want at a reliable value. i'm putting out to work out applications that have "domicile" licenses for as much as 3 computers interior the container. My spouse and that i take advantage of Kapersky for different motives yet that become an extra merchandising factor.

Answer 5

Make your computer armed with a lot of anti-virus software doesnt really help to prevent from virus-attack, instead it will add up a lot of pressure to your CPU and memory. In this case, your computer will slow down. What i reccomand is to install one anti-virus software and one major etwork-firewall and to make them up-to-date on the weekly basis, but charge might be levied, to prevent your situation!!!!

Answer 6

Probably the way that your virus protection is setup or the way that it works by default. It probably doesn't scan it until it is opened. If you want it scanned at the server level before you touch it, you do that with server side software (not running on your PC).

Answer 7

Is this web email or through a email client? If it is web email, it could be coming through the browser, Internet Explorer is the likely culprit. If it is an email client, some of them preview, or automatically open emails when you click on them. So that is how it got through.

Answer 8

Try to change ur firewwall. Micrososft firewall dont works properly. U need kind of more powerfull like zone labs.

Answer 9

it didn't really have to go through the e-mail I notice you didn't put what virus it is or what it was. you probably got that from a site you went to.