Re: Is AOL Router software a virus?
From: Ed. (ejs_at_none.net)
Date: 10/22/04
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Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 01:48:11 -0400
AOL 9.0 installs Pure Magic Networks Port Magic if you have a router or not.
If you have a router, about the third time you open AOL it asks if you want
Port Magic to manage your router.
Port Magic opens needed ports when needed and when done with them closes
them so you don't have to go into your router settings to forward ports and
all that. Port Magic takes care of sending files in Instant Messages and
things like that.
If you don't want it, you can also go into Add/Remove Programs and remove
it. You can find some more info on it by going to keyword: port magic when
you can get signed back onto AOL. Click on How to install/uninstall Port
Magic. If needed, you can download it again from there and install it again.
If you reinstall AOL again, Port Magic will be installed again. Port Magic
is not a virus. It is now part of AOL.
"Chuck" <none@example.net> wrote in message
news:j6hgn0pujv3pf2n9ncsj668nm6i864nsmo@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 21 Oct 2004 16:02:41 -0700, "Ned Heller" <epheller@sbcglobal.net>
> wrote:
>
>>I recently installed AOL 9.0a. This morning, after turning my computer
>>on,
>>I was presented with in a window stating that I had a so-and-so router,
>>and
>>would I like to install AOL Router softward. I said yes. After
>>installation and restart, nothing would connect to the internet. Not AOL
>>or
>>anything. In fact, if I launched Outlook express, the AOL login screen
>>would come up. Ditto any browser.
>>
>>I had to unistall AOL and all its related software to get things to work
>>again. So my question, is it safe to reinstall AOL, or is this program a
>>virus?
>
> Ned,
>
> Some nasty folks might answer that AOL itself is a virus. ;-}
>
> Be that as it may, I do know that AOL is not a simple Ethernet over {Cable
> |
> DSL} ISP.
>
> Do you, in fact, have a router connected? Are you on AOL Broadband?
>
> Here's an interesting article:
> <http://www.homenethelp.com/web/howto/aol-share.asp>
>
> You also might want to check out the BBR AOL Forum:
> <http://www.dslreports.com/forum/aolplus>
>
> I don't see any Google about an "AOL Router" spyware or virus. That
> doesn't
> mean it doesn't exist though. Fortunately, there a number of reliable,
> free
> tools to identify any infection that you may have acquired.
>
> How current is your virus protection? Try one or more of these free
> online
> virus scans, which should complement your current protection:
> <http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php>
> <http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan>
> <http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/>
> <http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp>
> <http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp>
>
> Now check for, and learn to defend against, additional problems - adware,
> crapware, spyware.
>
> Start by downloading each of the following additional free tools:
> AdAware <http://www.lavasoftusa.com/>
> CWShredder <http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html>
> HijackThis <http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155>
> LSP-Fix and WinsockXPFix <http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm>
> Spybot S&D <http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download>
> Stinger <http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp?id=stinger>
>
> Create a separate folder for HijackThis, such as C:\HijackThis - copy the
> downloaded file there. AdAware, CWShredder, and Spybot S&D have install
> routines - run them. The other downloaded programs can be copied into,
> and run
> from, any convenient folder.
>
> First, run Stinger. Have it remove any problems found.
>
> Next, close all Internet Explorer and Outlook windows, and run CWShredder.
> Have
> it fix all problems found.
>
> Next, run AdAware. First update it ("Check for updates now"), configure
> for
> full scan (<http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=5877>), then scan.
> When
> scanning finishes, remove all Critical Objects found.
>
> Next, run Spybot S&D. First update it ("Search for updates"), then run a
> scan
> ("Check for problems"). Trust Spybot, and delete everything ("Fix
> Problems")
> that is displayed in Red.
>
> Then, run HijackThis ("Scan"). Do NOT make any changes immediately. Save
> the
> HJT Log.
> <http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=227>
> <http://www1.spywareinfo.com/articles/hijacked/prevent.php>
>
> Finally, have your HJT log interpreted by experts at one or more of the
> following security forums (and please post a link to your forum posts,
> here):
> Aumha: <http://forum.aumha.org/index.php>
> Net-Integration: <http://forums.net-integration.net/>
> Spyware Info: <http://forums.spywareinfo.com/>
> Spyware Warrior: <http://spywarewarrior.com/index.php>
> Tom Coyote: <http://forums.tomcoyote.org/>
>
> If removal of any spyware affects your ability to access the internet
> (some
> spyware builds itself into the network software, and its removal may
> damage your
> network), run LSP-Fix and / or WinsockXPFIx.
>
> Finally, improve your chances for the future.
>
> Harden your browser. There are various websites which will check for
> vulnerabilities, here are three which I use.
> http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/
> http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/
> https://testzone.secunia.com/browser_checker/
>
> Block Internet Explorer ActiveX scripting from hostile websites
> (Restricted
> Zone).
> <https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/main.htm> (IE-SpyAd)
>
> Block known dangerous scripts from installing.
> <http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html>
>
> Block known spyware from installing.
> <http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html>
>
> Make sure that the spyware detection / protection products that you use
> are
> reliable:
> http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm
>
> Harden your operating system. Check at least monthly for security
> updates.
> http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
>
> Block possibly dangerous websites with a Hosts file. Three Hosts file
> sources I
> use:
> http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/get_hosts.html
> http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
> (The third is included, and updated, with Spybot (see above)).
>
> Maintain your Hosts file (merge / eliminate duplicate entries) with:
> eDexter <http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/get_hosts.html>
> Hostess <http://accs-net.com/hostess/>
>
> Secure your operating system, and applications. Don't use, or leave
> activated,
> any accounts with names or passwords with trivial (guessable) values.
> Don't use
> an account with administrative authority, except when you're intentionally
> doing
> administrative tasks.
>
> Use common sense. Yours. Don't install software based upon advice from
> unknown
> sources. Don't install free software, without researching it carefully.
> Don't
> open email unless you know who it's from, and how and why it was sent.
>
> Educate yourself. Know what the risks are. Stay informed. Read Usenet,
> and
> various web pages that discuss security problems. Check the logs from the
> security products that you use regularly, look for things that don't
> belong, and
> take action when necessary.
>
> How did I get infected in the first place?
> http://forums.net-integration.net/index.php?showtopic=3051
> Essential tips for infection prevention
> http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=24339
>
> Cheers,
> Chuck
> Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
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