I clicked on a bad link - what should I do?

[Jamin43]

I was reading a facebook page - and in the Notes - some dope had a link that ( I'm pretty sure ) was malicious - and I clicked on it.

My computer immediately shut down - and during the shut down process - it was making system changes. When I rebooted - I got a message that my computer was resetting windows.

Before my PC was shut down - I disabled internet access by unplugging my LAN cable - and went to a restore point 2 days ago as CYA principle.

I'm now running Virus Scans Malawarebytes now - will do spybot and AVG when malawarebytes is done.

1) What kindof application would download via a link that would cause my PC to shut down immediately and make system changes like that?

2) If my virus scans don't come up with anything - would I still need to be concerned re: security purposes.

I'm do whatever is possible to protect myself on the net - and feel pretty dumb that I clicked on that link - learning it was obviously not what it appeared to be.

If need be, I can re-install windows 7 RC - but I don't want to do that unless I need to. For now - the PC is offline - and I'm in damage control mode.

Scanning Results
Malawarebytes - Result - no Malicious software
Spybot - No problems
AVG - No Infections - but 45 tracking cookies - this is not uncommon ( 1 healed - 44 moved to Virus Vault )

Anything else I should do - or should be looking for? Is it clear to go online again - or should I still be concerned about security breach?

Thanks

 

[aviation_man]

I was reading a facebook page - and in the Notes - some dope had a link that ( I'm pretty sure ) was malicious - and I clicked on it.

My computer immediately shut down - and during the shut down process - it was making system changes. When I rebooted - I got a message that my computer was resetting windows.

Before my PC was shut down - I disabled internet access by unplugging my LAN cable - and went to a restore point 2 days ago as CYA principle.

I'm now running Virus Scans Malawarebytes now - will do spybot and AVG when malawarebytes is done.

1) What kindof application would download via a link that would cause my PC to shut down immediately and make system changes like that?

2) If my virus scans don't come up with anything - would I still need to be concerned re: security purposes.

I'm do whatever is possible to protect myself on the net - and feel pretty dumb that I clicked on that link - learning it was obviously not what it appeared to be.

If need be, I can re-install windows 7 RC - but I don't want to do that unless I need to. For now - the PC is offline - and I'm in damage control mode.

Thanks

Those scanners should come up with something if there's something there. If not also try Avast Free.

Has a random shutdown ever occurred before?
Did the link redirect you to a 'facebook' page?
Did it look like this: http:/facebookxxx.x10hosting*
If so, that is a malicious link.

I'm pretty sure that if it was the 'hacked' facebook that you went on that they only want to steal your password (and go on from there)
But if it was another site, then yes, something could be potentially unwanted on your computer.
Scan to see if anything shows up and report back.
Also, you should probably change you facebook password.

*not real link

 

[Jamin43]

Those scanners should come up with something if there's something there. If not also try Avast Free.

Has a random shutdown ever occurred before?

NO

Did the link look redirect you to a 'facebook' page?

I don't remember - but in the past - when I've clicked a similar link - I get a message saying you are about to leave facebook and I have to click the link to leave facebook. I'm not sure if that message popped up this time or not - it all kindof happened so fast - and I went into damage control mode.

Did it look like this: http:/facebookxxx.x10hosting*
If so, that is a malicious link.

Nope - it was a link like http://www.supportthisperson.com

The link was non-facebook link - that I was curious to view based on the http link name. I never was taken to the link - I clicked - and my PC went right to shut down - and change the system settings while shutting down.

I'm pretty sure that if it was the 'hacked' facebook that you went on that they only want to steal your password (and go on from there)

I don't have a facebook account. I just read a couple public pages occasionally to see if there is anything new worth reading.

But if it was another site, then yes, something could be potentially unwanted on your computer.

Like I said - I've scanned 3 applciations - none of them came up with anything malicious. And the computer settings that were changed to - I reset to a past restore point via a windows utility program.

Scan to see if anything shows up and report back.
Also, you should probably change you facebook password.

I don't have a facebook account or password - should I go about resetting all my other passwords? AOL, Yahoo, etc.?

 

[aviation_man]

The link was non-facebook link - that I was curious to view based on the http link name. I never was taken to the link - I clicked - and my PC went right to shut down - and change the system settings while shutting down.

Is it possible that your computer just updated itself and at the time you clicked on the link, it wanted to restart because of the updates?

Like I said - I've scanned 3 applciations - none of them came up with anything malicious. And the computer settings that were changed to - I reset to a past restore point via a windows utility program.

Have you tried scanning using Avast Free?

should I go about resetting all my other passwords? AOL, Yahoo, etc.?

Does everything on your computer seem to be fine/normal? I'm not sure if you have to worry about that for right now. We need to figure out what caused this.

 

[Jamin43]

Does everything on your computer seem to be fine/normal? I'm not sure if you have to worry about that for right now. We need to figure out what caused this.

I'm downloading Avast right now. So far - everything looks ok.

Perhaps I fixed the problem whatever it was - when I used system restore. I know that if an application was installed - Restore point would uninstalls any applications that were installed at a date beyond my selected Restore point.

I was most curious as to what type of application could cause my PC to react the way it did. With this knowledge - I'd better know what I should be doing to protect my privacy.