Hi, I found out this morning I have been the victim of credit card fraud and my bank feels that it is likely my computer is compromised. The fraudulent charges came soon after I had made two charges at Amazon.com. I have Norton Internet Security with all protection enabled and a full scan comes up clean. I have a fairly new computer with Windows 7 and am very careful about what sites I visit and I never open email attachments or that sort of thing. My wireless network is secure. There is nothing about the way my computer is operating that seems unusual. What should I do next to be sure my computer is not compromised? I'm a little nervous about using online banking, etc, now.
oxford0614 - Sorry to hear you had that problem and let me welcome you to the Community. If you are asking for a second or third opinion, have you tried Malwarebytes' and/or SUPERAntiSpyware? They are both free on-demand programs and work well with Nortons.
Hi oxford0614,
Did the bank offer any reasons why they suspect your computer rather than some other method of compromising your credit card account? Certainly, if the only recent transactions were online one might suspect either a keylogger, or an insecure connection, but if you have used the card in other places besides the internet, then other possibilities such as ATM and gas pump skimming devices would seem more likely. Do you use the card often, and in many different places?
Thanks so much for the answers- I really appreciate it!
My only other recent use of this card was at the local Walmart. No gas recently and I never use an ATM.
I downloaded and ran an Ad-Aware full scan and it found 2 files it identified as trojan.js.obfuscator.m (v) in my Google Chrome cache (I use Google Chrome very infrequently, usually I use Firefox with Ad-block and NoScript). It says it has removed them but I am apprehensive...
I will download the Malwarebytes and run that and see what happens.
oxford0614,
As backup scanners to make sure that your PC is clean, Microsoft offers three free programs that you can run: Windows Defender, the Malicious Software Removal Tool, and the Microsoft Safety Scanner.
If your computer is new, it probably came with Windows Defender. Look for it in your list of programs from the Start menu, and run a Full Scan.
A new version of the Malicious Software Removal Tool is downloaded every month as part of the regular "second Tuesday" Microsoft updates. See if it's already on your PC by searching for "mrt.exe". If you do have it, then run it.
The Microsoft Safety Scanner is a brand-new offering. You can get it at http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx. Download it and run it; the filename is msert.exe.
No single antimalware program will catch everything, so it's prudent practice to run multiple secondary scanners to make sure that nothing was missed. (However, do keep only one antivirus software resident on your PC's memory at any given time, otherwise they can conflict with one another.)
Good luck with your PC.
--JorgeA
Okay, I ran Malwarebytes and it says I am clear.
oxford0614 wrote:Hi, I found out this morning I have been the victim of credit card fraud and my bank feels that it is likely my computer is compromised. The fraudulent charges came soon after I had made two charges at Amazon.com. I have Norton Internet Security with all protection enabled and a full scan comes up clean. I have a fairly new computer with Windows 7 and am very careful about what sites I visit and I never open email attachments or that sort of thing. My wireless network is secure. There is nothing about the way my computer is operating that seems unusual. What should I do next to be sure my computer is not compromised? I'm a little nervous about using online banking, etc, now.
If you're into `Internet Banking' try the free version of `Trusteer Rapport' Browser Software. Claims to block `Keyloggers' in infected machines. You can find it at:-
http://www.trusteer.com/webform/download-rapport
Keep safe. AK
Thank you, SpywareScolder- actually I do have this software, our bank offers it to their customers who do online banking. Do you feel that it is pretty safe to use online banking with this software then?
oxford0614 wrote:Do you feel that it is pretty safe to use online banking with this software then?
The banks are certainly pushing this product, and it is specifically designed to thwart keyloggers. I did not install it because I have read some reports that the benefits of the product are outweighed by its tendency to adversely impact system performance and to slow web browsing to a crawl (I have seen the term "resource hog" frequently used). If you are knowledgeable about computer security and keep everything properly locked down, you probably do not need Trusteer Rapport running in the background, but for others there is certainly no harm in adding it to your arsenal, and the extra protection it offers, especially against keyloggers, may be of some value.
Of course, the bank gets the most benefit from this extra protection. In most cases, the bank already covers your online transactions and assumes the risks.
oxford0614 wrote:Thank you, SpywareScolder- actually I do have this software, our bank offers it to their customers who do online banking. Do you feel that it is pretty safe to use online banking with this software then?
I have noticed that `Trusteer Rapport' does tend to slow my browser down, I'll suffer slow, to be safe.
I have had a problem with a MS Windows Update (browser security). I had to uninstall `Trusteer Rapport', run the `update'; then reinstall `Trusteer Rapport'. I've made a complaint to `Trusteer Rapport', and I'm awaiting a resolution.
Unless your bank is going to hold you personally liable for any Internet Banking Fraud on your personal account, without `Trusteer Rapport'. It comes down to a personal choice.
Be safe out there. AK
oxford0614 wrote:Thank you, SpywareScolder- actually I do have this software, our bank offers it to their customers who do online banking. Do you feel that it is pretty safe to use online banking with this software then?
comment from the peanut gallery
If you use Norton as your primary security product then the other two can be used as 'on demand' scanners you can run at will for peace of mind or if you have the feeling that something just isn't right. If you use one of the other as your primary then you will need to remove the Norton Product using the Norton Removal Tool. They don't play well together at the system level and there isn't an on demand Norton scanner you can download.
Hope this helps
The `Trusteer Rapport' software has an anti-tamper package. It lives 2-layer down, behind a `password'. You have to have a good look, to find it.
Another issue springs to mind. When MS offer a completely new browser IE9, will `Trusteer Rapport' let the `uninstall / install' happen ?
I feel sure the answers will come flooding in !
On the `compatibility' front, the `Trusteer Rapport Help' indicates it's fully compatible with N360.
I've seen a `conflict issue', not with N360.
`Trusteer Rapport' doesn't like MS trying to maintain their `Browser' (msascui).
So, `Windows Updates' potentially conflicts with `Trusteer Rapport'. `Trusteer Rapport' potentially conflicts with `Windows Updates', and `Windows Defender'. I haven't seen any `conflicts' with N360. I don't feel confused; just `triple-safe' ?
Yes, your right, all this movement of data does slow the browser down.
Be safe out there ! AK