Security Tools Malware My parent's neighbor called me this afternoon...his computer had a virus.

There was no virus software installed.

I told him to try AVG (which makes me want to put parenthesis after it with a GROUP BY clause), scan the computer and then call me back.

He did call back, but he was unable to download the software. He kept getting messages that his computer was infected and that his credit card details were being delivered to the 'tubes. Just bring it over and I'll take a look.

I tried opening up Task Manager, no deal, Security Tools identified it as a virus. WTF?

I tried opening up a shell window. Ditto.

Here's what "Security Tool" looks like:



Hmmm...I could use the Ubuntu Live CD and try to remove it...you know, since I'm an expert and all that.

So I opened up a terminal and started poking around the file system (/media/disk). Nothing jumped out at me. So I googled and found this entry. It suggested installing AVG for Linux and then scan the Windows disk. So I did. Took about 2 hours to complete and it came back with nothing.

I gave up on trying to solve the problem with Linux. I really thought I would be cool. Oh well.

So I did some more research and found this entry on "Security Tool." It suggested downloading MalwareBytes’ Anti-Malware, but it was impossible to do anything. I then found this post on the Symantec forum which suggested opening up Task Manager as soon as you login. That seemed to work. Found the process and killed it immediately.

I then installed MalwareBytes', scanned the computer and removed the infected files. Voila! It only took about 6 hours from start to finish. I will get a free lunch out of it though...I'll take all the free I can get these days. I also updated Windows, installed Firefox and avast! so we can hopefully avoid these same issues in the future.

On a side-but-related note, I ran across an infected site last week and it looked like this:



I found it quite amusing...but probably authentic enough to fool a number of people.

Hopefully some poor soul out there will get good use out of this.

Labels: funny, support

  ¶ 11/11/2009 11:52:00 PM   2 Comments Links to this post

  My Oracle Support Fiasco I haven't had access to metalink for about a year now. I certainly don't envy those who do though.

Last week, Oracle deployed My Oracle Support, a new flash based system.

In the post, Classic MetaLink:Na,na,na,Nah,na,na. Hey hey Goodbye, by Chris Warticki, Sr. Customer Support Manager [ Twitter ], says

Goodbye old friend. Thanks for the memories. As old blue eyes crooned..."And now, the end is near". We did it our way with My Oracle Support.

If you've been off the grid, or totally out of the loop and completely clueless (poor word choice, but this in the context of getting customers to the training), Classic MetaLink retired on November 6th. My Oracle Support training sessions can be found here. Please register. Change is here. Get in front of this one...seriously.

Some of you have been very vocal with your therapists, on OTN, Twitter, Linked-In Groups, OracleMix, UserGroups and other channels, including this very blog.

In case you didn't read in the FAQ - there will be an HTML version for anyone unable to use flash. Hint: If your browser allows flash, there isn't an HTML option. You'll have to figure out the rest.

Visit the Information Page for the Latest Details

Oracle announced that Classic MetaLink will retire and My Oracle Support will be upgraded and become the single support interface. Review the Transition Information Page for significant changes, benefits, training, communications and FAQs

According to all reports, this transition has been an unmitigated disaster.

oracle-l

Metalink Fiasco - so far there are about 30 replies. Let's not forget the off-shoot of this one, Metalink Fiasco -- Home many names can we come up with for MOS?

Issues with My Oracle Support - Only about 20 responses to this one.

There there's one advising patience, helping Oracle help us.

And the funny, Quotes from Oracle Support.

Comments that weren't posted (or I didn't see them): Oracle Support Blog

Blogs

Quite frankly warticki, you should apologize! by Nuno Souto

#Fail: My Oracle Support by rnm1978 [ blog | twitter ]

MetaLink, we barely knew ye from Jared Still.

It's a mess...but it's no a surprise, by Daniel Fink.

My Oracle Support by Doug Burns. Then another from Mr. Burns (eggcellent!).

Fanning the Flames of Support Discontent from ManagingAutomation

Hans Forbrich has come out in support, sort of, with In support of My Oracle Support? - Part 1

Tech Magazines

From COMPUTERWORLD Users call new Oracle support portal a 'fiasco'

PCWorld, Oracle Support Portal Woes Could Erode Users' Trust

CIO, Users: New Oracle Support Portal a 'fiasco'

Mr. Warticki did provide an update yesterday:

This weekend we migrated Oracle & BEA customers over to My Oracle Support from Metalink. Yesterday (Nov 9th), some customers experienced problems expressed in the comments that I wrote about in this blog. The issues were mostly around performance and registration, but to our knowledge, we have resolved these issues. If there are problems that we don't know about, please contact us!

I just want to highlight an important step in the migration -- one that we tried to communicate through repeated postings and email blasts. Customers need to validate their MetaLink email address against Oracle's corporate single sign-on prior to conversion (the migration uses Oracle's corporate single sign-on to improve security). For users who may have missed this notice, there is a link to an FAQ on the landing page that will guide you through the registration process.

My Oracle Support is really a terrific platform and this change is going to bring value to customers. But please, if you experience any issue migrating, don't hesitate to contact us -- we want to hear from you so call your local support phone number - hit this link http://www.oracle.com/support/contact.html

Today he apologized for his perceived misinterpretation:

To all Oracle Customers, I do apologize for any misinterpretation I may have caused in that blog entry.

As you have just read, I do accept responsibility and accountability for my actions.

Please understand that my intent was not to insult anyone. The purpose was to draw attention, call to action for the training and to add some humor to what most view as bland blogging.

I'm happy that everyone is getting their frustrations out, even if I need to wear kevlar. I have thick skin. I can take it. I know that you're upset at the portal not the person, the UI and not the individual, and the portal performance not the personal performance. I know that Oracle's leadership is reading, listening and responding.

I have always been FOR the customer. Many of you know that.

Sincerely, Respectfully and Apologetically,

I certainly don't envy him right now.

I do hope this gets resolved either by rolling back to the Classic Metalink or all the problems solved in the new system. I'm certainly glad that I am not dependent on MOS at this point.

Update
Chris has linked up to a Migration of Classic MetaLink Users to My Oracle Support FAQ.

Update 11/18/2009
Mr. Fink published the results of his survey, you can find them here, My Oracle Support Survey Results!.

Update 11/23/2009
My Oracle Support is starting to perform from Hans Forbrich.

There's not a lot of love for My Oracle Support from Duncan Davies, aka the PeopleSoft Tipster.

Update 12/06/2009
Hans Forbrich has written MOS one week later, things are ???

Labels: oracle, support

  ¶ 11/11/2009 02:10:00 PM   2 Comments Links to this post