AIM.Spammer
Aliases of AIM.Spammer (AKA):
| [Kaspersky] | Flooder.Chat.AIM |
| [Eset] | Win32/Flooder.Chat.AIM trojan |
| [Panda] | Flooder Program |
How to Remove AIM.Spammer from Your Computer^
You can effectively remove AIM.Spammer from your computer with Exterminate It!.
After installing the program, run a scan to display a list of the files associated with AIM.Spammer in the Scan Result screen and remove these files. For information about running scans and removing malware files, see the Exterminate It! Help.
AIM.Spammer Categorized as:^
Trojan
A trojan is a program that is disguised as legitimate software but is designed to carry out some harmful actions on the infected computer.
Unlike viruses and worms, trojans don’t replicate but they can be just as destructive.
These days trojans are very common. Trojans are divided into a number different categories based on their function or type of damage.
Be Aware of the Following Trojan Threats:
DoS
A DoS (Denial of Service) attack is designed to disrupt or stop the normal running of a Web site, server, or other network resource. Hackers or malware writers resort to various ways to achieve this. A DoS attack can commonly result in a server being flooded with more network traffic than it is capable of processing. This hinders or prevents the server’s normal operation and sometimes causes its complete failure.
Unlike a DoS attack, a DDoS attack employs multiple PCs. The hacker or malware writer normally uses one infected computer - “master” - to centrally coordinate the attack across other, so-called “zombie”, computers. Typically, the malware writer gains control of both master and zombie computers by exploiting a weakness in an application or the operating system on those computers, in order to install a trojan or other malicious code.
Be Aware of the Following DoS Threats:
Application.HideWindow, Kontragapi, Generation, UDP.Bomber, Trout.
How Did My PC Get Infected with AIM.Spammer?^
The following are the most likely reasons why your computer got infected with AIM.Spammer:
- Your operating system and Web browser's security settings are too lax.
- You are not following safe Internet surfing and PC practices.
Downloading and Installing Freeware or Shareware
Small-charge or free software applications may come bundled with spyware, adware, or programs like AIM.Spammer. Sometimes adware is attached to free software to enable the developers to cover the overhead involved in created the software. Spyware frequently piggybacks on free software into your computer to damage it and steal valuable private information.
Using Peer-to-Peer Software
The use of peer-to-peer (P2P) programs or other applications using a shared network exposes your system to the risk of unwittingly downloading infected files, including malicious programs like AIM.Spammer.
Visiting Questionable Web Sites
When you visit sites with dubious or objectionable content, trojans-including AIM.Spammer, spyware and adware, may well be automatically downloaded and installed onto your computer.
Detecting AIM.Spammer^
The following symptoms signal that your computer is very likely to be infected with AIM.Spammer:
PC is working very slowly
AIM.Spammer can seriously slow down your computer. If your PC takes a lot longer than normal to restart or your Internet connection is extremely slow, your computer may well be infected with AIM.Spammer.
New desktop shortcuts have appeared or the home page has changed
AIM.Spammer can tamper with your Internet settings or redirect your default home page to unwanted web sites. AIM.Spammer may even add new shortcuts to your PC desktop.
Annoying popups keep appearing on your PC
AIM.Spammer may swamp your computer with pestering popup ads, even when you're not connected to the Internet, while secretly tracking your browsing habits and gathering your personal information.
E-mails that you didn't write are being sent from your mailbox
AIM.Spammer may gain complete control of your mailbox to generate and send e-mail with virus attachments, e-mail hoaxes, spam and other types of unsolicited e-mail to other people.
Running an update right before activating seemed to do the trick. Many thanks. (Also, once I had it properly activated, Exterminate It! got rid of the SpySnipe trojan I’d been battling with for a week, so the news is even better!)