[ltp] Spyware - my Intrepid under attack?

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:49:42 -0400

--00c09f9b075a4c9a15047365e5f5
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I am pretty new to Ubuntu (Intrepid), finding my way around, practicing
clumsily with the command line,reading Keir Thomas...and I may have been
complacent about the risk of spyware. I hadn't even installed Mozilla
NoScript (till a minute ago!). I've updated faithfully when prompted.

On Firefox a half hour ago, I noticed things a bit...slow. Then a bit
'freezy'.  First attributed this to the measly RAM quotient on this 2003
Dell 5100 (which I believe is 256 megs. Still not sure where to find system
info - that's how new I am!) A Firefox update process  required restart of
FF, and so I thought it might have been the resource demands of this
process. All of a sudden - a classic sense of 'takeover': suddenly, my
monitor looks like a Windows machine, showing me my 'My Computer', 'C
drive', 'My Documents', etc, all tagged with red warnings, a pop-up tells me
I am under attack, do run-don't-walk to this antivirus site, etc. In my
panic (I don't yet know the equivalent of CTRL-ALT-DEL) I pulled the plug
and the battery to abort.

I had ... downloaded a spreadsheet from the New York Times site on costing
out home-buying.  Uh-oh! (Actually, I'd assumed I was about to simply open a
new tab, not download a document.)  Deleted this at the terminal.

So: how to scan for spyware, viruses? Or: is this necessary? How would I
know I'm infected?  Etc.!

Usually I check forums before posting threads - but I'm pretty rattled!
I use ESET Nod32 on my Windoze machines.

Thanks in advance!

-- 
This email and any files transmitted with it may be confidential and legally
privileged. They are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity
to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error, please
notify the sender by return email immediately, and then delete and destroy
this message and its
attachments.

--00c09f9b075a4c9a15047365e5f5
Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

I am pretty new to Ubuntu (Intrepid), finding my way around, practicing clu=
msily with the command line,reading Keir Thomas...and I may have been compl=
acent about the risk of spyware. I hadn&#39;t even installed Mozilla NoScri=
pt (till a minute ago!). I&#39;ve updated faithfully when prompted. 
 On Firefox a half hour ago, I noticed things a bit...slow. Then a bit &=
#39;freezy&#39;.=A0 First attributed this to the measly RAM quotient on thi=
s 2003 Dell 5100 (which I believe is 256 megs. Still not sure where to find=
 system info - that&#39;s how new I am!) A Firefox update process=A0 requir=
ed restart of FF, and so I thought it might have been the resource demands =
of this process. All of a sudden - a classic sense of &#39;takeover&#39;: s=
uddenly, my monitor looks like a Windows machine, showing me my &#39;My Com=
puter&#39;, &#39;C drive&#39;, &#39;My Documents&#39;, etc, all tagged with=
 red warnings, a pop-up tells me I am under attack, do run-don&#39;t-walk t=
o this antivirus site, etc. In my panic (I don&#39;t yet know the equivalen=
t of CTRL-ALT-DEL) I pulled the plug and the battery to abort. 
 I had ... downloaded a spreadsheet from the New York Times site on cost=
ing out home-buying.=A0 Uh-oh! (Actually, I&#39;d assumed I was about to si=
mply open a new tab, not download a document.)=A0 Deleted this at the termi=
nal. 
 So: how to scan for spyware, viruses? Or: is this necessary? How would =
I know I&#39;m infected?=A0 Etc.! Usually I check forums before post=
ing threads - but I&#39;m pretty rattled! I use ESET Nod32 on my Windoze=
 machines.=A0 
 Thanks in advance! -- This email and any files=
 transmitted with it may be confidential and legally privileged. They are i=
ntended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are add=
ressed. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender =
by return email immediately, and then delete and destroy this message and i=
ts 
attachments.

--00c09f9b075a4c9a15047365e5f5--