Odd IE Problem

[WayneLigon]

Two people in the last couple of hours have called me with this problem: They get an error mentioning 'scvhost.exe' when trying to send mail though Outlook Express. Afte that point, IE seems to lose it's Version Number, Cipher Strength, and Product ID. Pulling up Help->About INternet Explorer shows blanks on those three things.

Anyone ever heard of this problem?

Edit- Another odd problem reported to me. They are using Windows 98 second ed. They went to Add/Remove programs. The list is blank. More suspiciously, the 'close' button for that window is now spelled 'cl@se'.

 

[Maraxle]

What version of IE? Is it fully patched?

 

[Psionicist]

Probably one of the new DCOM RPC viruses.

Tell them to update their antivirus software. Also run windows update.

Finally, run https://grc.com/x/portprobe=135
If it says "open", install a firewall or you are SCREWED!!!

Honesly, I am willing to help people here as long as they at least have a personal firewall and an antivirus software program installed. It isn't that tricky.

 

[Drawmack]

Honesly, I am willing to help people here as long as they at least have a personal firewall and an antivirus software program installed. It isn't that tricky.

what if they prefer to use housecall instead of installing virus software?

 

[herald]

Remind them that housecall only helps them after the infection. Sooner or later they will get an infection that will wipe thier system before housecall can deal with it.

If they like house call, I recommend PC-Cillin 2003. It has a mini firewall built in and autoupdate verywell for high speed internet connections.

 

[EricNoah]

I use the free version of Zone Alarm for my firewall needs.

 

[Drawmack]

I use zone alarm as well, which btw caught the worm because when it tried to connect to the internet I was alerted and told my system not to allow it.