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Original poster

I've just lost all of the £100 I had saved for dp's b'day - did you do it on purpose???????????

175 replies

Zephyrcat · 05/01/2005 16:26

Someone from Mumsnet who had added me to their msn sent me a file through msn this morning. As I have recieved photos from them before I trusted it and opened it. It has completely wiped my hard drive and wrecked my computer. DP relies on the net at home to help with his work so I had to try to fix it. It's just cost me every penny I had saved for his 40th birthday on Saturday, and it's still not fixed.
If you sent this to me on purpose I hope you are happy. Thanks a lot.

OP posts:
secur · 05/01/2005 16:47

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Zephyrcat · 05/01/2005 16:48

It wasn't that one, it was funny.exe I should have thought about it before accepting an exe. file but i trusted the person who was used to send it and had no idea at all that a virus could be sent using someone's message window What an idiot. DP is going to be gutted bless him

OP posts:
JanH · 05/01/2005 16:54

Sorry this has happened to you, ZC, but thanks for starting the thread - I had no idea Messenger could be used like this either.

CarrieG · 05/01/2005 17:04

Yeah, me too - I use msn all the time & wouldn't think twice about opening a file from a trusted contact!

Thanks for the tip-off & I'm sorry you've had such bad luck with this .

Original poster
Zephyrcat · 05/01/2005 17:05

ok I have found this page - it's all about the file i got this morning.... here

OP posts:
galaxy · 05/01/2005 17:11

Not on Messenger as dh wont allow it - it's renowned for transmitting viruses. Messenger bought down our work network and we have countless firewalls.

I wouldn't think anyone would do this deliberately. I had an email recently from someone I sold some stuff to on mumsnet 6 months ago and they were asking me why I'd emailed them and sent them a virus attachment (luckily their anti-vuris picked it up). They weren't even in my address book so God knows how these things work.

Original poster
Zephyrcat · 05/01/2005 17:17

Oh no - I realise now that this wasn't sent deliberately. I only thought it was maybe because I had no idea that people could send a virus through someone else's messenger. I would be really surprised if it was - she's not that sort of person!!

OP posts:
juniperdewdrop · 05/01/2005 17:19

thanks for posting this zephyrcat, so sorry it's cost you though

Have you tried doing the free panda scan? I use them now as they found a couple of viruses on mine a while back.

Gwenick · 05/01/2005 17:19

galaxy - can I recommen Trillian - can't remember the address but if you google it you'll find it.

You can access MSN, Yahoo, and a few other IM services using the one programme - it means you can still sign up to MSN messenger and chat to friends BUT have the security (and it takes up less space) of not using a vunerable microsoft product. DH wasn't happy with me having MSN but he's find about Trillian

GeorginaA · 05/01/2005 17:22

Gwenick - looks like it doesn't it .

I'm always very wary now of email/messenger things which are files without any discussion or comment from the sender - for much this reason.

Also, I always scan .exe files even from trusted senders. This because the first virus I ever got was from a magazine cover disk which was supposedly virus checked at source.

I'm surprised AVG let it through though (although not unheard of if it's a "new" virus). Worth checking on the new install that the resident shield is active and all updates have been installed (I have mine set up to automatically get the updates when they appear).

GeorginaA · 05/01/2005 17:24

Trillian - can use multiple instant messengers at once (which is why I got it - have friends on ICQ, AIM and MSN)

Original poster
Zephyrcat · 05/01/2005 17:24

I hope it hasnt passed on from me now to other people i was talking to at the time. What a mess.

OP posts:
Gwenick · 05/01/2005 17:33

Thanks Georgina - haven't quite to grips with 'links' on here (and supposed to be doing the shop at tesco.com not chatting on here so didn't have time to find the page LOL).

Tell me - I've never tried this, but can you chat to someone on Yahoo in the same window as someone on MSN? Obviosuly you can have as many people as you want from MSN in one window but does it work if people are on different programmes???

GeorginaA · 05/01/2005 17:36

Good question Gwenick - never had the occasion to try, to be honest. Had a quick look and you don't appear to be able to...

Gwenick · 05/01/2005 17:38

To be honest - I've needed to try either - just wondered if you could. Guess the only way to find out is to get friends from at least 2 messengers services to log on and see if you can invite them into the same window

GeorginaA · 05/01/2005 17:41

Well dh has accounts on all 3 so I tried on him and it didn't work

Original poster
Zephyrcat · 05/01/2005 22:05

still got no pc. Apparently he's getting there, but everytime he tries to load my ntl broadband disk it freezes up.

OP posts:
Yorkiegirl · 05/01/2005 22:25

Message withdrawn

CarrieG · 05/01/2005 22:33

If it was I'd've prob got it too YG? Don't think I have!

secur · 05/01/2005 22:38

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Zephyrcat · 06/01/2005 11:32

it wasnt you yg. I'm trying to get hold of them to let them know but i deleted them yestereday when it happened!!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Zephyrcat · 06/01/2005 11:36

I#'m not sure what to do for his birthday now secur!! The plan was my mum was having the kids for the night and the money was for us to go for a meal, a few drinks and a hotel!! Typical!!!

OP posts:
Moomina · 06/01/2005 11:38

Zephyr - I also got an MSN message a couple of days ago from an MNer with a file attached to it. Can't remember if it was called 'funny' but may well have been. I didn't open it as for some reason, I couldn't, which is probably a blessing. I assumed it was just a happy new year message!

Original poster
Zephyrcat · 06/01/2005 11:41

good on you!!! I'm still shocked that a virus can be sent through an msn message in someone elsesname!!

OP posts:
Moomina · 06/01/2005 11:47

Bizarre isn't it? I must admit I thought it was a bit strange at the time but just thought it was round-robin type thingy (which I suppose it was in a way!)

Really sorry about your money and dp's birthday though. Hope you can have a good day anyway