Viewing Thread:
"Trogan Horse Dialer"

Ok... so I've got one of these and every now and then it'll start dialing up to some number, to which I usually turn off the PC asap. What I really need to know are what are the consequences of a dialer (i.e. cost, damage to computer etc.), how I can track the dialer down and any programs that can deal with the problem.

Thanks for your time.

Forest Fan

Afternoon wrote:
> Well I'm on a P3 450 here so I won't notice the difference only that
> when it shuts down I no longer get a screen saying its safe to
> turnoff

XP doesn't have a "safe to turn off" screen, not that I've ever seen and I'm running 4 machines with Pro SP2 ranging from:

Athlon 2400+ XP/1GB Ram to P2/256MB Ram?

I though they killed off that screen in Win98?

Tyla wrote:
> cookie monster wrote:
> I hate service pack 2 already, its takes at least 5 seconds longer
> for
> my computer to boot.
>
> Does it? Mine got faster! From power on to login in - 7 secs, to
> login to desktop, 25 sec. Just outside of the Microsoft reccomended
> 30 secs from Boot to Desktop. And thats with 9500+ fonts installed!

Yeah, its quite sluggish, MSN messenger took a dizzy earlier today as well. Although whether that is related to SP2 im not sure.

Well I'm on a P3 450 here so I won't notice the difference only that when it shuts down I no longer get a screen saying its safe to turnoff

I've just downloaded Spy Hunter and it's amazing! It's already found dozens of dialers or 'parasites' as it likes to call them and gives you a full picture of what they are, including a severity rating.

cookie monster wrote:
> I hate service pack 2 already, its takes at least 5 seconds longer for
> my computer to boot.

Does it? Mine got faster! From power on to login in - 7 secs, to login to desktop, 25 sec. Just outside of the Microsoft reccomended 30 secs from Boot to Desktop. And thats with 9500+ fonts installed!

I hate service pack 2 already, its takes at least 5 seconds longer for my computer to boot.

If you have XP I recommend you get Service Pack 2 as it has some pretty good measures to stop things like this happening.

OK, so I got a bill today of £40 for the dialer, which isn't nearly as bad as it could have been, so I'm somewhat relieved. Some computer bloke should be coming round, but has anyone got any more programs/ideas or settings for me to try for the time being. Thanks in advace.

Tomoose wrote:
> True, but surely if he has BB, he wont still be paying for Dial-Up,
> so whats the point in still havin the comp connected to the phone
> line?

I've got broadband also, but the modem still comes in handy.

Occasionally I use it to send faxes. And then there's always the odd occasion when the broadband service is down and I still need net access - in which case I use Freeola dial-up.

WòókieeMøn§†€® wrote:
> No need to disconnect the line or remove the modem. Just disable the
> modem in your hardware settings.

True, but surely if he has BB, he wont still be paying for Dial-Up, so whats the point in still havin the comp connected to the phone line?