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View Full Version : My PC is mass e-mailing!!!



B.Mac
12-14-2003, 10:03 PM
I've got updated Norton AV, and a firewall but my PC is forwarding hundreds of solicitations per day!!! I e-mailed aol......no response.....:eek:
Any clue what to do?
B.MAC:D

TTriton
12-14-2003, 10:05 PM
sounds like it got hacked.

Rickracer
12-14-2003, 10:09 PM
Sounds like somebody has hacked into your account. :eek:

at100plus
12-14-2003, 10:16 PM
Start by getting rid of that liberal freak sleezball company AOL and get a real ISP (Internet Service Provider).

What really cracks me up is people who don't know how to use a computer and think that AOL IS the internet, so they get cable for better speed but then pay for AOL too!! I guess AOL tells you that you still need their services even after getting a cable modem, I don't know how people get suckered into this.

You don't need AOL. All you need is Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Outlook Express and you can do everything with a regular ISP. Dump AOL, they suck and they are part of the Time magazine liberal agenda.

pyro
12-14-2003, 10:42 PM
All political stuff aside, AOL is a real rip-off deal anyway...

baddjonny
12-15-2003, 10:20 AM
Went to google typed in cheap ISP's got one with loads of local numbers for $6.00 a month I think it's called QuickKonnect.
None of that bs when you load AOL and it tries to take control of your computer.

two cents
jon b

at100plus
12-15-2003, 11:52 AM
I forgot to mention it tries to take control of your computer. This, in the long run contributes to the slow decline in performance of your PC. All those thing running in the background, if you don't know how to maintain, slows your PC and one day you thing you need a new one. I've cleaned up 133 mhz processors on 6 gig hardrive pentium II computers and had them running faster on a cable modem than some people with much newer computer and lots of junk accumulated on their system.

Cable or DSL in that order is best if you can afford it. If not, there are many much less expensive dialup ISPs. Maintain your computer, and KISS (keep it simple stupid). That way you get the most out of your machine.

beko21
12-15-2003, 12:12 PM
Mike, how do you clean it up? I think the same thing happened to mine a couple months ago, now it says I need more memory, I bought this computer originally for my sign business so I only got 128mb of memeory it now says 42% free so how do I clean mine up if it has been hacked? I just ordered 512mb of memory from Dell but I would like to make sure everything is ok before installing it, Thanks Kevin

B.Mac
12-15-2003, 05:17 PM
Originally posted by beko21
Mike, how do you clean it up?

I know, I know ......dump AOL.......I will but for now I'm stuck.
All the printed literature for the Harvesthouse ministry has the aol addy......Thank God my website developer insisted I maintain my own addy to forward mail so I can dump AOL someday.....

I changed my passcode today and I haven't seen any outgoing mail activity since......I'm assuming the hacker accesses the ISP/AOL and NOT my PC right? My Norton and firewall has always worked pretty good before.......I just thank God it was some benign spam and not some hot porno solicitation coming from a Christian ministry e-mail addy..........
My Pastor would be lookin' at me w/ a raised eyebrow:confused:
B.MAC:D

stvhelm
12-15-2003, 05:19 PM
just a little note... you dont need AOL software to have a AOL account. I have AOL and just go to aol.com to do email or anything I have to do. I use IE for the internet stuff.

at100plus
12-15-2003, 05:32 PM
That 512 MB of ram will not make your computer faster. RAM makes it possible to use more applications and larger applications that demand resources. The first link below will explain to you how little things like an active photo on your desktop, screen saver, power saver, automatic virtual memory management, all use resources. Leaving AOL instant mess. running in the background, MS Office toolbar, volume control, etc. all us resources. The only thing in my lower right task manager is my Norton Antivirus. BTW, you should disable that too when scandisk and defrag, and also when you load new software. You should scandisk and defrag before loading software too.

You need to keep your harddrive clean by defragging weekly. When you do scan disk and defrag you need to disable your virtual memory, and close ALL applications so that the computer can access all the hard drive (if you have stuff in use it will get confused and skip over portions) or it will get stuck in a loop. (Ever get that message scandisk has restarted 10 times...) that's because you have stuff running. You need to get rid of stuff from your start menu, auto updates, schedulers etc.... You need to go to MS Windows Update website and do regular updates, you have to keep your temp, temp internet files, cookies etc. clean.....There's a ton of stuff to do.

Here are some links:


You can do alot of this stuff even if you have Win. XP


http://www.burzurq.com/forum/trevtweak.html


Be a little careful with this one, I don't recommend everything here. It's a bit repetitive too.


http://www.windowsxpatoz.com/cgi-bin/performance/index.cgi

This is a good place to get some info and do searches if you have questions. It doesn't hurt to read PC world occasionally too.


http://www.computing.net/

I have a program called Traceless (do a google search for the freeware download) to clean up the temp cookies etc. quickly. I also use Enditall and Spybot Search and Destroy (Also freeware). Enditall is helpful in closing applications before scandisk and defrag. Just don't ever KILL programs with it, you want to CLOSE programs. Killing can cause crashes and should only be done if you know what you are doing. Spybot searches for adware (websites you visit plant cookie like tracking software on your computer and it uses resources).

Good luck, be careful, it takes a couple long nights at the computer to learn how to maintain, and if you screw it up, please don't get mad at me.......make sure you do backups and set a system restore point before you start playin around. Also, some recommend disable system restore. I don't.

at100plus
12-15-2003, 05:41 PM
If you have a software type firewall like Zonealarm, that too uses resources. My firewall is in my router hardware.

I've been trying to teach Helmut to dump AOL for years now. I don't know what's wrong with that boy.

beko21
12-15-2003, 07:50 PM
Thanks Mike, I usually have roadrunner for 6 months at 1/2 price then switch back to aol for a month and roadrunner calls and offers 1/2 off for another 6, I know, I know spend money on a boat and other chit and get tight when it comes to important stuff, as much time as I spend on here I should know better, I'm due to switch back any day.

Gerben
12-15-2003, 09:21 PM
Hi,

To see what's running in the backgound, hit CTRL-ALT-DELETE once. )Not twice, this will cause your computer to restart).

Now it lists all the programs that are currently running.
Some are really needed to run the machine, a lot are junk.

Gerben

msc5195
12-17-2003, 09:37 PM
NEED I SAY MORE?