"Not-Very-Funny" Mouse Behavior

[Brangwen]

Dear Fellow Members:

My wife's computer is running Windows 98 Second Edition. Her antivirus program is up to date. In addition, she utilizes a cordless Logitech (optical) TrackMan for navigating around her computer programs. She may have opened an e-mail attachment that appeared to be from a relative but was not. On certain web sites, e.g., Verizon, the cursor appears & disappears at random, and then begins to "eat" images on her monitor similar to Pac Man! Has anyone reading this run into a virus that causes their computer to act in this manner? My wife just plugged in a "hard" mouse (non- cordless) and the strange behavior described above continues! Any comments and/or ideas?

Thanks!

Brangwen

[Sterling_Aug]

Start reading:

http://www.sysopt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=161595

[Kandar]

That sounds like a definite virus infection to me.

What Anti-virus scanner is your wife using?

[Midknyte]

the "eating" of images sounds related to a memory issue. the infection is sucking up memory.

what antispyware are you using? unfortunately the MSAS beta doesn't work on win9x, but you can try Counterspy or Spysweeper.

[Brangwen]

That sounds like a definite virus infection to me.

What Anti-virus scanner is your wife using?

We have both been using eAcceleration Stop-Sign for at least a couple of years on our office computers as well as our home computers. Neither of us have had any complaints at all and find it to be a superior and/or equivalent product to most antivirus programs, with excellent technical support. I believe my wife has just sent them (eAcceleration) an e-mail. I thought I would pose this question to the members here to see what they come up with.

Thanks!

Brangwen

"Ooops! Win2kPro, not Win98se!

[Midknyte]

Stopsign is not that great. They used to be on the list of Rogue Antispyware.

Note on eAcceleration Stop-Sign: eAcceleration's Stop-Sign anti-malware scanner was listed on this page primarily because of the company's history of employing deceptive advertising and drive-by-downloads (1, 2, 3, 4). The company was also known for removing and/or disabling competing apps. These objectionable business practices were employed primarily during the years 2002-2003.

Sometime during 2004 the company underwent reorganization. Not only have the worst of the company's download and installation practices been halted, but the company has completely overhauled its stub installer application, giving users much more control over the software modules to be installed on their systems (1, 2).

While testing indicates that the "threat scanner" is still slow and has occasional problems with false positives -- in large part because of the use of heuristics, which cannot be turned off by the user -- we can no longer classify this application as "rogue/suspect." Nonetheless, this anti-malware application -- at least in its current state -- cannot be recommended, given the many excellent competing anti-virus, anti-trojan, and anti-spyware applications that are available (some for free).

Domains: eacceleration.com, eanthology.net, stop-sign.com, veloz.com

(Note: other domains associated with this outfit include: accelerationsw.com, buttonware.com, button

Try Antivir instead. go to the link Sterling provided.

[BipolarBill]

If your AV program stopped working, you would likely still cruise along thinking that it was the best because these programs don't call attention to themselves when they are broken.

Stop Sign is lousy software at best and a virus itself at worst. You can get better protection with an array of free programs in Sterling's link above. All you need is the Google Toolbar for popups, AntiVir for viruses and Spybot and Spywareblaster for malware. Registry cleaners don't do a lot of good and can do some very bad things. I don't recommend them.

Scan here:

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

[Midknyte]

Stop Sign is lousy software at best and a virus itself at worst.

There is something about that woman on the TV commercial that I just can't trust.

[Rabbitrunner51]

Go to ZDnet news.comand read up on the latest MS exploit...

Have you read about the latest trojan affecting images and a MS exploit... it seemsthis may be what you got ahold of.... Read up on the latest exploits and keep on your toes... it bypasses every known virus protection.and it is nasty...

I have the latest in tech reports andall and it notifies me of such things...LOL

[G Ray88]

Before it goes to far try and backup everything of importance if you can. You should be able to remove any viruses or other nasty things before reinstalling your data. You might have to do new install of Win98 but only as a last resort. Try the different programs in Sterling's link above. Good Luck

[Brangwen]

If your AV program stopped working, you would likely still cruise along thinking that it was the best because these programs don't call attention to themselves when they are broken.

BP: Thanks for your response, but I think you would agree it can likely be written about most AV programs.

Stop Sign is lousy software at best and a virus itself at worst.

Hmm. A bit strong, but I'll politely defer to your "opinion" until I read [for sure] otherwise. By the way, my wife scanned her computer and forwarded via email the results to eAcceleration per their instructions. In turn, eAcceleration sent her a scan program which removed the nasty bug from her system.

You can get better protection with an array of free programs in Sterling's link above. All you need is the Google Toolbar for popups, AntiVir for viruses and Spybot and Spywareblaster for malware. Registry cleaners don't do a lot of good and can do some very bad things. I don't recommend them.

Scan here:

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Thanks for your help!

Brangwen