A new way to disable AV software?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Potblak
  • Start date Start date
P

Potblak

I'm not sure how it happened but recently my PC's clock got set to 1/1/2008.
It screwed up my email program (Notes) for a while, till I rebuilt the
database from the server, and I thought everything was OK again.

Then I noticed that AVG wasn't updating on startup or when the preset time
came around.

When I checked for updates manually, I found one or two had been missed.

Then I noticed the auto update module was telling me the last update had
been sometime next year(!)

I reset the auto update and everything's now ok.

I just wonder.......

Is there some way I can protect my PC's clock from outside interference?
I realise this will mean I have to set the DST changes myself, but I could
live with that.
 
Then I noticed that AVG wasn't updating on startup or when the preset time
came around.
Click to expand...

Every day I see more and more reason to not use AVG.

--

Leythos - (e-mail address removed) (remove 999 to email me)

Fight exposing kids to porn, complain about sites like PCBUTTS 1.COM
that create filth and put it on the web for any kid to see: Just take a
look at some of the FILTH he's created and put on his website:
http://forums.speedguide.net/archive/index.php/t-223485.html all exposed
to children (the link I've include does not directly display his filth).
You can find the same information by googling for 'PCBUTTS1' and
'exposed to kids'.
 
Potblak said:
Thank you all for your in-depth, considerate comments.
Click to expand...

Setting the clock requires administrator rights on NT based systems.
If you, and programs running under your control, don't have those
rights it can't be reset. The DST change will still occur because a
system process controls that. If you need to adjust it manually, log
in as admin. Of course, if you are using Win9x this won't apply.

Running as an unprivileged user for normal day-to-day activities goes
a long way to protect your system from the effects of malware attack.
 
Ant said:
Setting the clock requires administrator rights on NT based systems.
If you, and programs running under your control, don't have those
rights it can't be reset. The DST change will still occur because a
system process controls that. If you need to adjust it manually, log
in as admin. Of course, if you are using Win9x this won't apply.

Running as an unprivileged user for normal day-to-day activities goes
a long way to protect your system from the effects of malware attack.
Click to expand...
Thank you Ant.
I appreciate what you say, and I'll consider removing admin rights for
regular day to day use;
but I think you missed my point.
I did not change my clock.
Something else did. (Twice!)
Are you saying that if I don't run with admin rights, NOTHING can change my
clock?
What about Mr Gates? HE obviously can, so why not someone else?
 
Potblak said:
Something else did. (Twice!)
Are you saying that if I don't run with admin rights, NOTHING can change my
clock?
Click to expand...
The Jan 01 part sounds like a bad battery or connection, but the "2008"
does not make sense.

None of the other CMOS settings were changed, were they?
 
Potblak said:
Thank you Ant.
I appreciate what you say, and I'll consider removing admin rights
for regular day to day use;
but I think you missed my point.
Click to expand...

You asked what could be done to prevent your clock being changed.
I did not change my clock.
Something else did. (Twice!)
Click to expand...

Then that something must have the required privilege. When you're
admin, anything run in the session inherits those permissions.
Alternatively, as Offbreed suggested, you may have have a low CMOS
battery, or perhaps it was just a glitch or a bug. My clock advanced
a couple of years once but I'm sure it wasn't done deliberately by
software.
Are you saying that if I don't run with admin rights, NOTHING can
change my clock?
Click to expand...

System processes (started before you log in) can.
What about Mr Gates? HE obviously can,
Click to expand...

He can't change mine.
so why not someone else?
Click to expand...

If you've allowed a malicious program to install itself, unknowingly
or not, while logged in as admin then your system is open to all.
 
Nah, The battery thing is unlikely to put the clock <forwards>, only back to
origin.
And no, no other CMOS setting were changed, I've checked since reading your
reply, Offbreed.
Upon reflection, I suspect a not dodgy, but badly written booking form on a
website might be the culprit.
So I guess taking your original suggestion will fix that for the future.
Thanks, Ant.
 
Leythos said:
Every day I see more and more reason to not use AVG.
Click to expand...

Sorry....I have used the free version of AVG since inception, and I find
it to be one of the best.
Lately it has been updating the files 2-3 times day and when it scans
automatically during the night, in my case, it has yet to fail finding
some nasty things, when they exist.

Certainly better than the MacAfee or Norton whose programs eat up
virtually all the resources on a machine.

Just my opinion.
 
Sorry....I have used the free version of AVG since inception, and I find
it to be one of the best.
Lately it has been updating the files 2-3 times day and when it scans
automatically during the night, in my case, it has yet to fail finding
some nasty things, when they exist.

Certainly better than the MacAfee or Norton whose programs eat up
virtually all the resources on a machine.

Just my opinion.
Click to expand...

And my experience with more than 100 machines in a University Sorority
environment, about as wild as you can get, is that it's the least
protective AV solution on the market.

I agree about McCrappy and Norton eating up resources, but it's better
to have a secure machine than a fast infected one.

--

Leythos - (e-mail address removed) (remove 999 to email me)

Fight exposing kids to porn, complain about sites like PCBUTTS 1.COM
that create filth and put it on the web for any kid to see: Just take a
look at some of the FILTH he's created and put on his website:
http://forums.speedguide.net/archive/index.php/t-223485.html all exposed
to children (the link I've include does not directly display his filth).
You can find the same information by googling for 'PCBUTTS1' and
'exposed to kids'.
 
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