qondio.com/uZdL

Locked out by software

By Peter Simmons

The Strangest thing

It happened just over a week ago. I booted up my desktop system and got mail, then booted my browser and... whoops, it failed to load a page, then another, then another. Tried another browser and the same thing happened. What's going on? I asked no one in particular as I was alone. As all answers to my questions generally come from the internet [when did you last consult the Encyclopedia Brittanica or another reference book?] I was a bit stumped, feeling powerless, and somehow cut off from life online.

Don't panic!

I booted up my laptop and was able to access the net, so, expecting it too to lose the ability to load webpages, I hurriedly searched for 'web pages don't load but I can get email', and there they were, thousands of hits! I visited several and finally found a forum which appeared to hold the answer; several posters said it worked and they were now back to normal. So I typed into CMD the lines required, pressed ENTER each time and rebooted. Success! Web pages loaded again, I had clearly sorted out the problem and everything was back to normal. Not true.

The plot thickens

It was a while before I noticed as I had no need to visit any sites needing a login, but eventually, with a few moments to spare, I decided to pop over to Qondio to check things out and maybe write something [like you do!]. I logged in and clicked on one of my links, only to get a screen saying There was a problem, you have to be logged in to do that so I log in again and the same thing happens. I was unable to do anything, since every time I clicked on anything related to my account I was told there was a problem. This included contacting support!

Ask someone for help

Another member was kind enough to pass my desperate email on to Support who got back to me almost immediately but nothing seemed to be wrong this end.

Is it just this site?

To check if this was happening with any other sites,I visited Facebook and logged in, only to be told 'Cookies must be enabled to do that'. Another check of cookies later and I decided it must be Firefox at fault, and opened Internet Explorer, same result, so not the browser or the site, curiouser and curiouser - I wouldn't have been surprised if a white rabbit had popped out of a hole at that moment.

Is it just me?

I started googling again. I log in but the site loses the login immediately' elicited plenty of replies, but most seemed to be talking about viruses and worms and Norton not uninstalling properly. I tried lots of variations but nothing really seemed to address my particular problem, and most replies seemed to be talking about basic stuff like 'Have you got cookies enabled' duh!

Get professional help

Another search for help found someone who seemed hopeful. I contacted him and he said he would help me that evening by Skype, MSN and by remote controlling my desktop. What a really helpful guy! He spent hours working on my problem, recommended a free anti-virus/anti-malware program called Comodo as AVG Free which I had loaded 'is useless', and spent many hours puzzling over the problem and trying out a variety of approaches. Nothing worked, I remained locked out of any interaction with all the sites I was registered with, but had gained a lot of knowledge freely given, one ot the things I love about the web is so many people's willingness to help one another. I was thanked recently by someone who was clearly new to having a website offering to swap links, I had just explained a few things, tried to be helpful, gae him a hand. I wasonly continuing what I have received so many times.

If all else fails, format and reinstall

This was the advice from my tech expert helper who also advised that it could also help to set the router back to factory defaults and reprogram it. With the new anti-virus, Comodo, finding hundreds of infections [some may have been harmless little gizmos I've had for years, but I wasn't taking any chances, there were some nasty worms and trojans among them which AVG Free had failed to notice], and removing them, but this still failed to correct my cookie problem. I bit the bullet and formatted the system partition and reinstalled Windows, a time consuming task and utterly boring. Then I had to install all the software I use, customise it so it all looked 'right' and, taking a deep breath, boot Firefox and visit Qondio.

Oh no!

Nothing had changed, still unable to stay logged in long enough to do anything on any site. Close to despair and thinking of drowning myself in the river that's a few hundred yards away, I contemplated my chances of every getting my life back, or ever being able to understand computers and their vagaries, but the river is only a few inches deep and my chance of drowning myself slim, so I opted for bashing my brains out thinking further about the problem. I decided that it just had to be the router at fault since other computers using it were similarly affected, so unless they all had the same virus/worm and Comodo had failed to find and eradicate it on mine, there had to be something in common, and the router seemed the only candidate, I was reminded of the advice I had received.

Now where did I put the router documentation?

Always the way, at least with me, things that work I tend to forget about, and the router had worked since installation, so why keep documentation handy? Finding it at last, I started the router software and began to investigate via the control program, not really knowing what I was looking for, but unwilling to poke that paperclip into the hole marked Reset quite yet since I would then have to go through the whole process of changing it from the factory defaults on three computers. On the page called Security I noticed that Filter Cookies was checked... without knowing why or caring at this point, I unchecked it. Then I opened the browser and visited Qondio and VOILA I could stay logged in and do things! Problem solved, and hence this piece of intel in the hope that if this ever happens to anybody else [it could be one of those worms I had and which you also may have unknowingly] they will know what to do and will save days of anguish, frustration and disruption.

Warning: Social networks can seriously damage your [computer's] Health

I think all this rubbish on my system came from Facebook. I have no evidence for this other than I have been extremely careful for more than a year now with any sites that may be dodgy, don't click on email attachments unless I know the sender well, and then only if I'm expecting, or could expect, what they are sending. I've been on Facebook for some time, but dormant, and only recently became active since my grandaughter seemed to want me to join her. Since then I've gathered 'friends' and looked at some of their websites and pictures, left some messages and wondered what was the point of Facebook! I've decided now that there is no point other than a general networking one, and those people I found are all reachable in other ways. I hear that Facebook, apart from the security issues of it holding all this data on you that have surfaced recently, is a popular place to spread malware - well it would be if you think about it, everyone and their Auntie Enid and Uncle Malcolm are there and sharing everything. Totally unaware of what's going on under the surface, and as inexperienced as my grandaughter and her friends, they act as a conduit for anything the deviants who spread malware could wish to spread.

I'm closing my Facebook account

So, slightly nervous that merely logging in to Facebook again could compromise my system, but reassured by Comodo's obvious professional defence, I shall visit one last time and delete my account. Apparently, one of the top search phrases in Google at present is How do I close my Facebook account? so obviously a lot of people are concerned also, although it's probably regarding the security aspects rather than catching a malware worm.

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I rated this a FIVE star and think you couldn't have written your point any better about the threats that Facebook users can encounter, however i wanted to bring to your attention one quote from your intel...

THIS IS A MISLEADING THOUGHT! Email worms are designed specifically to be sent from what looks like a friends account, and indeed they usually are when their computer may be compromised. My best advice is to ask the sender if they actually sent you an attachment, (without returning the attachment to them).

I was glad to help where I can, contrary to common belief routers have writeable EPROM chips and are also prone to viral infection.

As I said to you before, finding and removing a viral infection is a process of elimination.

Facebook itself is not a threat to your computers security, however a small percentage of applications may be able to collect personal data and a very small percentage may pose a threat to your security and/or systems stability. These applications are not made by Facebook nor are they endorsed by Facebook.

Thanks Anthony, I needed reminding of that. Though I'm sort of hoping Comodo won't let me do anything stupid! Brings up another point however, how long have I been infected and sending attachments to friends and family? Oh dear.

I give it 5 stars as well. All should read this in case it ever happens to you. I have several retail locations linked to a central server. With so many people using computers from so many locations, I thought I had heard it all. this is a new one on me. Good intel

Jim Odom May 30, 2010 20:32

Wow... That was nasty Peter. I have always been suspicious about Facebook, etc., and am now totally paranoid regarding email attachments and forwarded messages.

Just get Comodo and you'll be safe. You may have a shock when it runs its first scan!
Sorry this appeared then disappeared then appeared. I had to edit to fit with guidelines, not mention host site or other members. Naughty me, I got carried away with joy and gratitude on being able again to stay logged in.

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