[Hidden-tech] Can anyone help my mom with a spammy virus?

[Aaron St. John]

I Would try doing a Standard "Software Update" First. This would eliminate the possibility that you're suffering from a known/patched security hole in Safari or any other apple products. Including the OS.

 http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1338

From this list, it seems like there have been several security updates to Safari. It's possible that you missed one:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1222


Also, some more specific steps that it takes to reproduce this:
1.) Does it only happen when you open Safari?
2.) Does it happen when you restart your computer?
3.) Are there any other symptoms (popup dialogs,, etc...)

Unless it's through a security hole in Safari, it's not really possible for a browser to switch you to another browser automatically. It's likely that you or someone else installed something that was infected or perhaps agreed to the wrong popup.
1.) Do you remember installing any programs recently or accepting any popups (hitting OK) from websites?
2.) Does anyone else other than you have access to this computer?

Last but not least, and I really hate to mention it because i've never,ever,ever had to do this for a mac. You might look at doing a virus scan or at least read up on the security features of your mac. This is a pretty good article for that which has some possibly useful scanners:
http://mac.appstorm.net/roundups/utilities-roundups/5-mac-antivirus-tools-for-os-x-and-do-we-need-them/

My hope for you is  that "Software Update" will just make this all go away. Good  Luck!

-Aaron

Aaron St. John
CEO Hitpoint Studios
c: 413.427.9417
skype: aaronbstjohn
twitter: @AaronHitPoint


On May 17, 2011, at 10:41 PM, Shel Horowitz, Ethical/Green Marketing Expert wrote:

>   ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>   ** If you did, we all thank you.
> 
> 
> She writes:
> 
> At 11:30 PM +0000 5/17/11, gloyoshi at comcast.net wrote:
>> A crazy thing is happning on my computer. I'm getting unasked for, 
>> full pages of graphic porn -- gay, s & M, etc, unasked and 
>> uninvited. It changes my browser to Firefox, also unasked for. 
>> what's going on and do I eliminate it?
> 
> 
> She is on a Mac running OS 10.4. I believe her usual browser is 
> Safari. She's not very tech-savvy, but if anyone has a good idea to 
> try, I can try to help her through it.
> 
> Please Reply to All so she and I are both in the loop.
> 
> Thanks!
> -- 
> 
> _________________________________________________
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