DSL users, read this

[cybergold]

Please read this article as it pertains to many ADSL users. Ptsnoop may be a virus in few cases, but in many cases, it may come with your DSL package. I recently found that mine actually was a virus when i found that it prevented me from clearing my history files in IE, and it may be doing other things which i am not quite sure about at this point. Please look at this site and find out if your Ptsnoop is actually a virus. Has anyone else run into this virus before? If so, please post any info you have about it, because i am still a little confused about how it got on my computer.

http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/ptsnoop.shtml

[cybergold]

Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE after you have turned your computer on to see if Ptsnoop is one of the programs running.

[replode]

i just checked, and im clean. i wonder if cable users have anything to worry about, since cable and dsl are similar.:/

[cybergold]

I don't know much about cable, but you could have a point.

[Voetsjoeba]

Clean here. And eehm, how come you say its for ADSL users ? They didin't say anythng about it in the article. I think cable users are just as vulnerable.

[cybergold]

I guess cable is in there too then.

[thoriphes]

Do you know exactly whose service was affected? (verizon, etc?)

[cybergold]

I haven't come upon that kind of information yet, all of the facts that i've learned about Ptsnoop are from that article. But it would be very helpful to find out what services don't have Ptsnoop so that you know it's not supposed to be on your system.

[cybergold]

Here is some talk about Ptsnoop.exe

http://www.computing.net/windows95/wwwboard/forum/13515.html

I'll try looking for ways to safely remove it from your computer incase anyone does run into it. I wouldn't recommend deleting the .exe and .lgc files directly, several people say that their computer runs into errors on boot up. Thanks for the input, i'll look for that removal method.

Here is Ptsnoop from another point of view, letting you decide whether you think it is a virus or not.

http://www.computing.net/windows95/wwwboard/forum/140152.html

[cybergold]

PTSNOOP: This background program is used by PCTEL modems. It is essential to the good functioning of those modems.

Recommendation :
If you used to have a PCTEL modem, but have since replaced it, use Startup Manager to delete the Ptsnoop.exe entry.

by
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist_p.htm

Here is one method, but this method is assuming that it is not a virus, and that you once had a PCTEL modem.

[cybergold]

If you regularly update your Norton Antivirus, and you scan your Ptsnoop.exe, and it comes out clean, there is nothing to worry about.

[cybergold]

Virus talk wears me out when there is no resolution and there are so many view points on whether it is a virus or not. :hangover: I hope i did not cause anyone to panic over this, it looks like something very small, nothing Norton can't handle, a regular scan every now and then should do the trick. :thumb:

[cybergold]

=) Anyone know anything about Macintosh/Apple? Do they encounter as many viruses as windows? Is Macintosh/Apple better for users when using 3d programs like Maya or 3ds Max? What do you recommend?:)