Computer Security & Viruses/NY Times Rogue Ant Virus Software

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Expert: - 9/15/2009


Question
Carolyn:
I received a rougue piece of software when I downloaded the NY Times. It basically has disabled Internet Explorer unless I purchase their software. Very clever blackmail. Are you familiar with this new problem and if so how can I get rid of it. Hope you can hel and thansk for volunteering

Answer
Could you please help me with a little more information. What exactly does the popup asking for money say? This information would tell me which of these sorts of malware has infected your computer and this would make it possible to give you the easiest way to fix your computer.  

Computer Security & Viruses

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Carolyn Meinel

Expertise

I cover Windows, Linux, TCP/IP and Ethernet security questions. I do not cover Mac, smart phones, or other networking issues.

Experience

Books by Carolyn Meinel: wrote a chapter for The Hacking of America book (see http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567204600/happyhacker) My article Code Red for the Web for Scientific American was reprinted in the book Best American Science Writing 2002 (see http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060936509/happyhacker). My book The Happy Hacker: A Guide to Mostly Harmless Hacking is now in 4th edition with a Japanese edition (see http://happyhacker.org/hhbook/).

Organizations
IEEE, AAAS

Publications
See a list with some online links at http://cmeinel.com

Education/Credentials
MS, Industrial Engineering, The University of Arizona Took a course in computer forensics at the University of Texas at Austin/

Past/Present Clients
DARPA, SAIC, Palmer Labs

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