Security what security? (Norton)

Western_Campaigner

Where do you stand when your internet security fails to protect you?

A few weeks ago I followed an old link to a site that had been taken over by "ransom ware". No intention of calling the ransom number (USA), I shut down the browser, ran a few checks (no software installed) and carried on working. When I next wanted to shut down and restart the PC, it's BIOS had been corrupted and would not start up. I cannot prove it was the ransom ware site (no intention of re-visiting!), but it does seem a likely candidate.

It goes without saying that it has taken a lot of time and money to rebuild a working PC from the damaged one.

Norton 360 was running on the affected PC. It didn't provide protection against the damage. In trying to find out where to complain and ask Norton to check the affected website I have had a couple of "chat" sessions, but e-mails sent to Norton Support (as directed by their chat agents) have gone unanswered. Of course Norton do not advertise such points of contact on their website.

The company has no office in the UK to make a written complaint - for that I was directed first to the USA HQ, then to an office in Ireland.

So is it the case that there is effectively no warranty or action against Norton products when they fail to do what they are supposed to do?

AndyPix

Lesson learnt = Norton is complete garbage.


However, what you describe is not a virus , or ransomware, but actually a little naughty browser trick that is quite common and is easily fixed by resetting your browser.


No Av would have "protected" you from this

Uninstall Norton, install something free and lightweight, and engage brain for a few seconds before clicking links and you will be fine

Western_Campaigner

Thanks Andy, can you please explain what that "naughty little browser trick" is and how to reset?

In my defence, I had no reason to suspect the link had become dodgy (but then they all say that).

AndyPix

They just use little browser tricks to disable right click and some pretty simple code to stop you closing the webpage ..
You can read about it here :- https://blog.malwarebytes.com/threat-analysis/2014/11/psa-tech-support-scams-pop-ups-on-the-rise/


The link is safe to click i swear


If you dont know how to reset your browser then perhaps the best advice for you at the moment is to run malwarebytes followed by adw cleaner as chances are you have some other bits of nasties hanging around.


Malwarebytes :-
https://www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download/thankyou/


ADW cleaner :-
https://toolslib.net/downloads/finish/1/


Let us know how you get on


edit : If you're bored one day and fancy a laugh, hide you id on your phone and call the number (as long as its freephone).


I googled a list of indian names one day and sat there for an hour winding them up (It costs THEM money when you call the freephone number)
The conversation went something like this :


me : hello is Aadarsh there please ?
operator : No sorry there is no Aadarsh be workings here
me : ahh sorry, it must have been Aachman, can i get him back please ?
operator : sorry there is also no Aachman working here ..


etc etc until they get onto you.
then call back and repeat !!


If i get a hit and get put through to someone (ask for Raj, he works there!!) then i introduce myself as "Mr Bogus" and tell them im having terrible problems with my windows. I then make the call completely impossible for them in every way i can think of.


The way i see it, if i am wasting their time, it is less time they have to rinse old dears out of their pensions.

Western_Campaigner

Thanks again, Andy.

The recommendations in that article are fairly routine - as far as I can remember it was more or less what I did: using Task Manager to close the Browser and then open a new session. After checking and nothing appearing to be wrong, would I have been able to have seen that an attack had been made on the BIOS?

AndyPix

There is no way a browser hijack can have interferred with your BIOS.


This is most likely just an unhappy coincidence.


They want your computer to function, and display their phone number afterall dont they !!

Lumstorm

Western_Campaigner wrote: »

So is it the case that there is effectively no warranty or action against Norton products when they fail to do what they are supposed to do?

I don't believe there would be any warranty for security software failing to block a threat as none of them can block everything, they can only block what they are aware of and there's alway new threats appearing everyday.