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Old 02-18-2014, 09:19 AM   #19
poohbear_nc
Bah! Humbug!
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Posts: 63,714
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Durham, NC
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Running full system scans using SAS and Malwarebytes can probably eliminate around 90% of malware. The problem is there are literally millions of spammers out there writing code and modifying their code to elude recognition. SAS and Malwarebytes need daily updates of their files to improve their recognition of infected files or malware. The paid versions also offer active blocking - they stop infections rather than remove the files once your PC has been attacked.

The point is - any protective program has to recognize the infection before it can remove it - and the removal may not be complete - spammers are extremely smart and can leave inactive 'sleeper programs' or files that do not trigger any alerts now - but that will allow the spammer to reconnect at a future date - especially if they can modify resident Windows program files - that's why the other posters have advised you to perform a complete wipe. While you were filling out the survey, your PC was communicating with the spam website - even though you didn't submit the form - you still had established a connection between your PC and the spam IP - and you had no control over what was being sent and installed on your PC.

Bottom line - it's a matter of comfort level vs. security. Your PC was obviously infected. You've run the best programs you can find. Your PC may or may not be cleared of all infected files - unfortunately there's no sure way to tell unless you wrote the spam program and know what it was programmed to do.

If you are reluctant to do the complete wipe yourself, take it to a reputable shop and get it done. From your descriptions of the aftermath from this fake survey, I agree with the others -- it just isn't worth taking the risk of inadvertently sharing any of your personal information.
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