Virus?

Hi can anyone confirm & identify if this was a virus. I am using Windows
XP Home edition, running Norton Antivirus (Regulararly updated) & Zone Alarm
Firewall.

I recently downloaded some software, & whilst using it I checked a box to
carry out a function & my desktop picture & icons began to disappear. I
switched off the computer at the mains and found later that all of my work
had gone, including Address Book entries, e-mail, calendar entries & I.E.
Favourites. When booting up the computer I got a message mentioning a
fault with boot.ini (can't remember the exact wording). I was unable to
run Norton or repair the problem & had to re-format.

Oh & one last question. Can a virus be sent via e-mail without an
attachment?.

Many thanks in advance.

Roy.

Roy

Roy wrote:

> Hi can anyone confirm & identify if this was a virus.

It sounds more like a trojan, but that may be more semantics. I would have
to agree that your computer was infected with something, and it was
dangerous when executed.

> Oh & one last question. Can a virus be sent via e-mail without an
> attachment?.

Well, it depends. OE that comes with WX, for me anyway, sometimes does not
show that an attachment exists, even though there is one. But in such a
case, it seems the attachment wouldn't execute on its own. However, since
OE will interpret HTML-encoded messages by default, a malicious resource
like the jpg thing (executes a program instead of showing an image) or a
java applet could be started, and that itself could infect your computer.

As well, java mouse rollover events coded into an HTML-encoded message can
cause the equivalent of a mouse click merely by hovering over some portion
(or all) of an HTML message, which could cause malicious code to load and
run.

N1POP

Hi, thanks for the quick response.

I am now paranoid as Norton didn't see it. Oh well live & learn.
Thanks anyway.
Regards,

Roy.
"N1POP" <> wrote in message
news:btejaj$66ukn$...
Roy wrote:

> Hi can anyone confirm & identify if this was a virus.

It sounds more like a trojan, but that may be more semantics. I would have
to agree that your computer was infected with something, and it was
dangerous when executed.

> Oh & one last question. Can a virus be sent via e-mail without an
> attachment?.

Well, it depends. OE that comes with WX, for me anyway, sometimes does not
show that an attachment exists, even though there is one. But in such a
case, it seems the attachment wouldn't execute on its own. However, since
OE will interpret HTML-encoded messages by default, a malicious resource
like the jpg thing (executes a program instead of showing an image) or a
java applet could be started, and that itself could infect your computer.

As well, java mouse rollover events coded into an HTML-encoded message can
cause the equivalent of a mouse click merely by hovering over some portion
(or all) of an HTML message, which could cause malicious code to load and
run.

Roy

Norton 20004 and Zone alarm have problem co existing there are certain sttings needed in Zone alram or Norton will not
update correctly it is on the Norton site.
On Tue, 6 Jan 2004 13:59:38 +0000 (UTC), "Roy" <> wrote:

>Hi can anyone confirm & identify if this was a virus. I am using Windows
>XP Home edition, running Norton Antivirus (Regulararly updated) & Zone Alarm
>Firewall.
>
>I recently downloaded some software, & whilst using it I checked a box to
>carry out a function & my desktop picture & icons began to disappear. I
>switched off the computer at the mains and found later that all of my work
>had gone, including Address Book entries, e-mail, calendar entries & I.E.
>Favourites. When booting up the computer I got a message mentioning a
>fault with boot.ini (can't remember the exact wording). I was unable to
>run Norton or repair the problem & had to re-format.
>
>Oh & one last question. Can a virus be sent via e-mail without an
>attachment?.
>
>Many thanks in advance.
>
>Roy.
>

stew

> Hi can anyone confirm & identify if this was a virus. I am using Windows
> XP Home edition, running Norton Antivirus (Regulararly updated) & Zone
Alarm
> Firewall.

Doesn't sound like it. Sounds more to me like some site
is pushing profiles. I see them here too. When you shut the power
off, the install of the profile did not go to completion, and I've
seen that really sack a system. Of course a malicious profile can
do the same thing. Maybe let us know what site you were on ?
A big split drive with disk imaging can save you from that crap.
Image is recovered from a floppy boot ( PowerQuest ).

johns

johns

Roy wrote:
> Hi, thanks for the quick response.
>
> I am now paranoid as Norton didn't see it. Oh well live & learn.

Always remember: Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're NOT
out to get you!

John Larger