Jump to content

Task Manager Shows Too Many Applications


Stormig

Recommended Posts

Call me dumb, call me a moron, call me what you will - I don't have virus protection software and recently cleared a certain teekids.exe (related to the Blaster worm and I have only a tiny clue as to how I might've got it, for I don't engage in dubious online behaviour, exactly the reason for not worrying about virus protection). Both task manager and Zone Alarm show multiple windows of Internet Explorer open when in fact I don't! Never seen anything like that before? Or is it actually normal and I didn't get to notice until now?

The reason why I say I have a tiny clue is because recently I wanted to download belly dancing music from some site and I THINK they did say I had to download something - I gotta find that site, too, grrrrrr! Anyway, realizing my computer was slowing down, at some point I summoned task manager to look up what was draining my memory. Nothing out of the extraordinary, except there was a certain mp3player.exe - I don't remember downloading something like that but if in fact it was what I had downloaded (if I had), I couldn't remember where I had downloaded it to. I did a search for it on my PC - nada. Then a few days ago I shut down Zone Alarm to be able to voice chat with my friend in Boston. By the time I had pulled it back up, I had a teekids.exe in there (no mp3player.exe - and searching for the two online doesn't turn up results!). I got Zone Alarm to disallow internet activity and deleted it but now I am observing this weird behaviour (if you can call it that!) on the part if IE!

I can't believe I've been suckered. :( I'm gonna check out each and every application now... Anyway, get back to ya - http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/virusencyc...e=Worm_Gismor.A

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Storm - use an anti-virus please :) and keep it updated. I can't emphasize this enough. PS you don't need to disable ZA completely - just open a port, or approve an app that you want to give access to...

 

As for the IE problem - i've seen this happen a few times. Just restart, and it should go away provided you are virus free and have a pop-up blocker installed. (PS - whcih version of windows are you running?)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh, and another way to avoid viruses like this is to disable the preview pane of your email client. Ex. if you receive a virus & don't run it you won't get infected. If you receive the virus, but your email client runs it - (through the preview, or otherwise) or you run (double-clicking on the attachement) then you will activate the virus and be infected.

 

I strongly urge you to get a good anti-virus software - it's not expensive for the peace of mind it can give you... :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...