Computer Security & Viruses/CPU usage

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Expert: - 11/29/2004


Question
Hi
My question is that whenver I open my internet explorer as a browser for internet my CPU usage rise upto 100% immediately although i havent open any other program (the usuall antivirus program is running in he back ground which is Norton Antivirus 2003).
I sit due to any virus or there is else something wrong.
My OS is Windows XP
Cpu is 1.4 Ghz AMD Athlon
Ram is 512 Mb.
Regards.

Answer
It sounds like your browser has become infected by adware or spyware. Usually antivirus programs can't remove them. For instant free help, try Ad-aware,
http://lavasoft.element5.com/software/adaware and Spybot, http://www.safer-networking.org You can use one or both together, as they are compatible. In addition, if you are more of a power user, you can install BHODemon. It is free from http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm It enables you to control the "browser helper objects" of Internet Explorer (IE). Adware and spyware and some viruses and worms exploit IE.

Better yet, instead of using IE, get a safer browser. Firefox is free from Mozilla.org and it's the one I use.

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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