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Post by Everton on Sept 20, 2017 6:42:09 GMT -5
This is just a bit of a rant.
The fact that CCleaner was hacked is bad - no doubt about that.
I have read several reports blaming Avast! for this glitch. One report called it 'the terrible av avast!'
As far as I can see Piriform is still where CCleaner is downloaded from, even though Avast! has bought it..
It has been said in many reports that the free version of CCleaner does not auto update - correct but it can be set to inform the user when an update is available.
As for Avast being 'terrible' that is and always has been a matter of opinion. I have used it for years - the free version with no added bells and whistles.
Surely people can understand that all the 'bells and whistles' and the paid version are what allows those of us who use the free version to continue to do so.
None of these organisations are charitable institutions and there is always Microsoft's free Windows Defender software as an alternative to 3rd party apps.
Does anyone agree ?
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Post by jholland1964 on Sept 20, 2017 9:20:08 GMT -5
I agree. I don't use Avast but it always has ranked as one of the very best av programs in independent testing.
I use the Free version of Avira, always recommend the Free versions of AV and most programs if they are available. The "bells & whistles" are extras that really are not required and really don't keep you any safer. I've used Free av programs for probably 15+ years and can honestly say I have never had any type of infection that an av program will protect the computers from.
I firmly believe that it is just a coincidence that this happen to happen just after the Piriform sale to Avast was finalized.
Personally I think it is great that the free version does NOT auto-update because if that were the case every single user of CCleaner would have received the hacked version.
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Post by Everton on Sept 20, 2017 17:16:07 GMT -5
Personally I think it is great that the free version does NOT auto-update because if that were the case every single user of CCleaner would have received the hacked version. This is true but anyone who had manually updated to the 'bad' version would not have known there was a problem. Having notifications enabled would have been an alert to update again once the problem had been detected and fixed. It did not affect me as mine is the 64bit version it is ironic that CCleaner is now owned by an av program which should ideally have picked up the Trojan. |
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Post by jholland1964 on Sept 20, 2017 17:54:05 GMT -5
Personally I think it is great that the free version does NOT auto-update because if that were the case every single user of CCleaner would have received the hacked version. This is true but anyone who had manually updated to the 'bad' version would not have known there was a problem. Having notifications enabled would have been an alert to update again once the problem had been detected and fixed. It did not affect me as mine is the 64bit version it is ironic that CCleaner is now owned by an av program which should ideally have picked up the Trojan. My CCleaner does notify that new version is available. It just won't update automatically unless it is a paid version. At the time of discovery only One AV program correctly identified the Win.Trojan.Floxif that was included in the CCleaner installer file. That program was Cisco Talos which found it when conducting customer beta testing of their new exploit detection technology. Generally, AV programs do not see, nor remove many Trojans because a Trojan is not a virus. It can carry a virus but it is not a virus. A Trojan is a is a program that claims to be and looks like one thing but is, in fact, something else so most AV programs would not even notice a Trojan. There are a few Trojans that some AV programs are programmed to find but most of the time in order to find and clean a Trojan a program like MBA-M is necessary. SUPERAntispyware also finds and removes some Trojans. |
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Post by Everton on Sept 20, 2017 18:53:10 GMT -5
Avast Free does include a trojan remover I don't know how effective it is www.avast.com/c-trojanI regularly run MBA-M and Superantispyware. Most of the items in my Avast quarantine chest are JS-locky Downloaders which have tried to enter via scam emails. The last item detected was in April |
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Post by jholland1964 on Sept 20, 2017 19:06:41 GMT -5
I didn't say that Avast wouldn't remove a Trojan, I said AV programs, Avira included will remove some Trojans but Trojans are different than other malware so not all of them can be detected by an anti-virus program, mainly because that is not what AV programs are programmed to do.
With this particular Trojan just that one AV program saw it. No others did because that Trojan was not in their databases. I am sure many others have since added it to their data bases.
I have a question, you said, "Most of the items in my Avast quarantine chest are JS-locky Downloaders which have tried to enter via scam emails.
The last item detected was in April"
Why are you keeping these things in your Quarantine? You can empty the Quarantine and they will be gone.
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Post by Everton on Sept 20, 2017 19:47:36 GMT -5
 I don't keep them all in the chest- just the most recent ones, usually about 8 but at present it is more. It gives me a sense of security to have evidence it is working. They can't get out so I imagine it is quite safe. Also I find it interesting to see how there is often a spate of a certain kind of infection. The JS-Locky Downloader trojan is a particularly nasty ransomeware one and I am just happy that they were detected. If I get more I will be able to see the time between the attempts which is of course not of any great use but may give a clue as to why these email scams suddenly appear by perhaps being able to detect what I have been doing and where at the time. |
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Post by jholland1964 on Sept 20, 2017 22:01:02 GMT -5
Eight JS-Locky downloaders from spam mail in Quarantine right now?!?
Sounds to me like you need to use Mailwasher Free so that you can delete spam mail from your server even before it gets downloaded on your computer. It also will mark the sender as spam and that absolutely does stop even the sending of spam mail. I receive none, truly. I've used Mailwasher Free for at least 10 or 15 years.
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Post by Everton on Sept 20, 2017 22:16:23 GMT -5
They all arrived on 5/10/16 and 7/10/16.
I have used mailwasher in the past. I don't remember why I did not continue but normally I get so few spam emails.
My ISP is a small one that does a very good job of blocking many at source.
After I had that spate of ransomware threats I accessed all my mail on the server for a few weeks and deleted anything suspect from there but there was not much.
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Post by budgall on Sept 20, 2017 22:18:46 GMT -5
I'll second the use of Mailwasher, I like it so much I upgraded to the paid Pro version years ago and renew it every year. Good software should be supported in my opinion so I tend to support the programmer by buying the non free version.
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Post by Everton on Sept 20, 2017 22:22:40 GMT -5
I may try it again Their headquarters is up the road from me - a good New Zealand program ! |
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Post by Everton on Sept 20, 2017 22:30:59 GMT -5
Ok I went to download Mailwasher and this is the result - very weird, especially as I used it before. Attachments:
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Post by Everton on Sept 20, 2017 22:36:24 GMT -5
I did not notice I was accessing it from the Windows Store. Using Maxthon. Using Edge it is now downloading.
Mot sure what the difference is between the original download page and the Windows Store Version.
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Post by Everton on Sept 20, 2017 22:43:44 GMT -5
 Ok it is time for me to give up on this until another time. The Windows Store version is only for mobiles. I will go to the proper place next time Maybe I can be forgiven for this mistake looking at my attachment. I clicked on Get It On Windows 10 This was the address www.mailwasher.net/ |
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Post by Everton on Sept 20, 2017 23:06:12 GMT -5
So can someone tell me how to get the free version please ??
I downloaded and installed what i believed was the free version but am told my subscription ended 33 says ago on August 18 so I can not use it until I renew the subscription. Just for now I want the free one. I paid for the pro version and did not use it so want to be a bit more cautious this time.
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Post by bigbarney on Sept 21, 2017 3:26:25 GMT -5
So can someone tell me how to get the free version please ?? I downloaded and installed what i believed was the free version but am told my subscription ended 33 says ago on August 18 so I can not use it until I renew the subscription. Just for now I want the free one. I paid for the pro version and did not use it so want to be a bit more cautious this time. |
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Post by jholland1964 on Sept 21, 2017 8:59:10 GMT -5
So can someone tell me how to get the free version please ?? I downloaded and installed what i believed was the free version but am told my subscription ended 33 says ago on August 18 so I can not use it until I renew the subscription. Just for now I want the free one. I paid for the pro version and did not use it so want to be a bit more cautious this time. Did you uninstall the old version? You should have done that and checked to see that all files were gone. I think the downloads all are actually the Pro version which expires if you don't pay for it in two weeks but I believe there is a setting to override that and just only use the Free version. I just tried the download both ways, using the Download Free button and the Get It on Windows 10 button. I was automatically taken to the Windows Store and I was not offered a mobile version but was offered the version for Computers. Mobile version was available at the very bottom of the page. |
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Post by Everton on Sept 22, 2017 7:17:58 GMT -5
Ok I am now back on to it and have to say I think I am losing my mind or have entered another reality ! Initially I made the mistake of thinking I had previously uninstalled the pro version I had. It did NOT appear on my start menu. Entirely my mistake and I should have checked further. So I went ahead and downloaded the new version which I did notice said 'Pro' but thought just as Judy said above that it would relegate to the free version if not paid for.When I installed it I got the messages saying I needed to renew the subscription because it had expired last month. Once I realized what had happened I used Revo Uninstaller to uninstall the program. In Revo there were two instances of it. One in the normal alphabetical list which would have been the Pro paid version and another one in the "new" additions section. I thought would uninstall both so started with the old Pro version. I have to say I was amazed at how many left over items there were after its own uninstaller was run - well over 200. Ok so far so good - BUT doing that uninstall also appeared to have uninstalled the version I had just downloaded as well, so I had no Mailwasher installed (I thought). Both instances were gone from Revo. Tonight I come back intending to download another instance of it - just before I did I did a search for Mailwasher - and Mailwasher Free appeared ! It is still not listed in Revo but it is now on my start menu list. So all is fine and dandy - yes, I have the free version. Will I keep it and use it?- not sure yet. If I do uninstall it I shall miss not being able to have Revo do the clean up job. BUT it does not end there. I just got a message from within the program (see attachment) I have to say that was the quickest 10 days I ever experienced - it felt more like one day ! I am sure it is because of something having been removed with the old version but its all very confusing  . Attachments:
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Post by Everton on Sept 22, 2017 7:21:08 GMT -5
I have no idea why the attachment above is appearing twice - it is only the one upload.
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Post by jholland1964 on Sept 22, 2017 8:01:54 GMT -5
I am sure your thoughts concerning the removal of something by Revo caused the Free version to "spin through" those 10 days and leave you with a Free version is what happened.
Can't explain why your attachment shows twice though the top one is inserted and the bottom one is attached.
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Post by Everton on Sept 22, 2017 18:06:10 GMT -5
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I don't keep them all in the chest- just the most recent ones, usually about 8 but at present it is more. It gives me a sense of security to have evidence it is working.
