Virus from Fake Instant Message

[EyelessArchfiend]

This is the second time in the past week that this has happened. I'm not sure if it's a virus on my computer or hers.

I'll see that she signs on, and as soon as she does, I get an IM from her saying, "check out this kewl photocube i made for u!" It links to a page that spawns a virus immediately. Luckily, Avast picked it up right away and I was able to hit 'Abort Connection.' About 30 seconds later, she signs off.

So I texted her saying, "fuck yourself, what was that photocube bullshit." She said she had no idea. A couple days later it happens again and I texted her to let her know.

Neither of us know what's up with this, but I'm not sure what's causing it. It's either a virus on my computer or hers. I should ask some other people she knows if they got that same IM.

[Killing-joke]

They have the virus, the virus is trying to pass itself on to your machine, just ignore it.
My friend had one where it disguised itself as a file send. As some random song, but she never had sent me a song, so, MSN and IM viruses normally do nothing to the PC but slow it down, or work as a tracking cookie or a Data miner.

[EyelessArchfiend]

At 3/14/09 07:08 PM, Xarnor wrote: You're screwed.

Well I'm glad you got a +1 post count, but you obviously didn't even read the thread.

[ChaDMcBaDD]

the only logical answer is that some dude is fucking with you.

[ThoseSneakyFrench]

Huh, I got the same virus once. I would suggest a full scan using avast. Once you have the virus, it creates a directory in your system32 folder, among which your aim passwords are saved. I don't remember the name of the folder, however, you need to manually delete it in safe mode.

=(

[EyelessArchfiend]

Yeah I really wish people would read the whole thread. I mean I know we're all from the same generation of ADHD-ridden, LSD-weened babies with short attention spans, but would it kill you to read for another 30 seconds to see that I don't have the virus?

[RubberTrucky]

I have those all the time.

I think it happens when other peoples mail gets cracked and then the virus uses their accounts to pass themselves around.

One time even a download started out of itself for some odd reason. Luckily I managed to halt it.

But then it goes against the logic that a virus can only work if you execute a certain file manually. If this is so, how can such messages automatically fuck up your PC?

[Killing-joke]

At 3/14/09 07:11 PM, ThoseSneakyFrench wrote: Huh, I got the same virus once. I would suggest a full scan using avast. Once you have the virus, it creates a directory in your system32 folder, among which your aim passwords are saved. I don't remember the name of the folder, however, you need to manually delete it in safe mode.

=(

My anti-virus always deletes them as spam messages. They come through as a Tracking cookie. I had a virus on mine once that downloaded form MSN's website and MSN found out that the guy who "owned it" (I couldn't think of a better way of putting it) was trying to find out peoples bank details out by using MSN as a way of adding tracking cookies and data miners on your PC. Traking cookies obviously have nothing to do with getting bank details but, MSN said the virus contained them in some way.

[CreakyGames]

Those virus's are everywhere , best thing to do is just ignore the link (most of the time it includes your username in the link so use that as a warning)

[ThoseSneakyFrench]

I should also add that the virus is very clever in spreading. Once you have it, it logs your aim passwords on all your screennames. It then runs a script which signs onto the accounts, sends the malicious links to everyone on your buddy list, and signs them off.

Changing your passwords will stop it from spreading, but you will still need to deal with it on your computer. Tell your friend to download a good antivirus, and change her passwords. Also warn everyone about messages like these.

[Xinxinix]

Stop opening Instant Messages then... geesh.

[Brick-top]

Tell her to change her password.

It'll help trust me.

[Alchemist94]

Wow. Loads of people get them. She has a virus which tries to send itself to people.

[Randomini]

Yeah, That's a bad one. It's your friend's machine that has the virus. I have a friend who had that virus too - it gets annoying but if you don't have it on your machine just ignore them.

[yurgenburgen]

It's something on her computer. Whenever you get a message from someone as soon as they sign in with an invitation to view an unknown site or they want to send you a suspicious-looking ZIP file, ignore it.

[Dogmeat]

It's an old virus spread trick. Just ask people if they sent you a link or not. And even if they said they did send it, ignore it.

Also, what the fuck is a photo cube?

[killslasher]

At 3/14/09 07:11 PM, ThoseSneakyFrench wrote: Huh, I got the same virus once. I would suggest a full scan using avast. Once you have the virus, it creates a directory in your system32 folder, among which your aim passwords are saved. I don't remember the name of the folder, however, you need to manually delete it in safe mode.

=(

Ouch. But I would also recommend a thorough scan allowing archive files to be scanned, along with any removable media that you had while the virus appeared.

Although, avast says there is a worm virus on NGlog. I'm not going to ignore it, even though it is NGlog.

[Matt2k8]

I'ts a virus alright, they normaly come up thinks like "i took some pictures of me for you, how do i look?".

Very annoying. DO NOT CLICK THE LINK. Whoever she is, she picked it up like you almost did by clicking on the link. My freind got rid of it by not signing into MSN for 20 hours.

[Steven-Polley]

lol you are screwed.

[Killing-joke]

At 3/14/09 07:22 PM, Matt2k8 wrote: I'ts a virus alright, they normaly come up thinks like "i took some pictures of me for you, how do i look?".

Very annoying. DO NOT CLICK THE LINK. Whoever she is, she picked it up like you almost did by clicking on the link. My freind got rid of it by not signing into MSN for 20 hours.

That just seems like a ad-ware style thing more than an IM virus. I got those all the time, the virus I had never went away until we went through and deleted every single virus our PC had downloaded. only two, as my anti-virus killed off the MSN virus'. I don't think your friend had an actual virus.

[Lost-Chances]

Retarded, beyond retarded even.

[Lizzardis]

I get one from people saying "Hey [e-mail] check out the pictures from last nights super rave party!"
It's quite obvious it's a virus because I'm sat there thinking "I didn't go to a party....!" I get it from Off-line contacts though!!!!

[Brick-top]

At 3/14/09 07:39 PM, Lost-Chances wrote: Retarded, beyond retarded even.

Not really. I get a lot of these instant messages but I never click them. However I have came close several times.

Generally when someone sends you a message you don't instantly check who it's from or if they're online you mainly focus on the content of their message. A lot of these virus messages are clever they do occasionally sound genuine and leave the user signed on for a while.

So staying aware of what messages you're getting similarly to way people check emails and the virus problem will naturally disappear.

[Thimbles]

This happened to me a few times. Almost every time I tell the person, they don't respond (must be some sort of primitive self preservation measure the maker added in), so I tell them again. I usually end up taking them through the process of uninstalling whatever bullshit norton version they have and recommend the most idiot proof antivirus I know of; avast!.

You know you're being duped when you're sent to a link like http://www.partypics.com/IS-THIS-YOU.JPG .EXE

[1Tyla1]

About 2 friends of mine had it so far. I don't really have many friends on MSN (thankfyully, I guess) but I always thought there was something dumb about the link.

[j2witz]

At 3/14/09 07:14 PM, EyelessArchfiend wrote: Yeah I really wish people would read the whole thread.

People don't read threads anymore. I mean if you can be bothered check out the thread i made the other day. I highly doubt anybody looked at the video. I'm sure people just looked at the topic and talked about the stereotype of American football [soccer in America]. The tread is not related to that. FUCK.

back to your thread: Yea I had that same problem too with a person. I think the virus if it gets into your computer will give that same message to other people on ur msn. So if people complain about it, you know whats going on.

[manonthemoon516]

Something's wrong with her computer. It's happened to me before. Tell her to try a system restore.